So Salvador gains the all important three points with this victory, leaving Belize with one point from its draw on Friday. Still that one point is enough to keep Belize tied with Nicaragua, which also has one point. While only the first four teams qualify for the Gold Cup, the fifth place team does qualify for a wild card playoff. President of the FFB Marlon Kuylen explained today:...
Marlon Kuylen, President - FFB
"Expectations are always high, but we have to be realistic: we are not going to the COPA and coming in 1st, 2nd or probably 3rd. But the 4th, 5th and 6th position is up for grabs. While 4 of the top teams automatically qualify for the Gold Cup, the 5th place team will play against the 5th place team of the Caribbean which is Haiti and then I believe it's a home and away match with Haiti and the winner of that series will decide the final team that goes to the Gold Cup. Now, we believe that we matched up good against Salvador. We matched up good against Nicaragua. If we can get a draw and a win against Nicaragua, we're in."
"We all hope for a better outcome. However, in the big scheme of things, we are playing against world cup qualifying countries. Costa Rica just beat USA 4-0, two or three months ago. These guys are professionals - the other countries, all they do is football. That's their living. When you look at us, Belize, we have teachers, soldiers, policemen on our team and yet we can hold up against these big teams. So in the grand scheme of things we hold up good against these countries. It's not to say that we condone mediocrity. It's just what it is right now."
Belize is currently in last place due to goal differential.
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