All change for CONCACAF.
By: FIFA.com.[/size]
As the curtain came down on the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™, it signalled the end of an era for the footballing heavyweights of the North, Central American and Caribbean region. While some begin their quest for a new coach, others search high and low for a supply of hot new talent ready to take the South Africa 2010 by storm.
The final whistle of Mexico's dramatic second-round defeat to Argentina at the summer's FIFA World Cup™ finals not only signalled the end of El Tri's tournament hopes but the end of an era for sides in the North, Central American and Caribbean Zone. The wind of change is currently gusting through the region, with a number of national teams throwing themselves wholeheartedly into a process of revolution and rejuvenation.
Mexico themselves are prime examples of this phenomenon, after Mexican Football Federation (FMF) President Alberto de la Torre decided against extending the contract of Argentine coach Ricardo Lavolpe. The announcement has sent the country's press into a frenzy of speculation concerning potential replacements, while the FMF has chosen not to make any official statements on the process thus far.
Meanwhile, a generation of talented players are readying themselves to shoulder the responsibility for the Tricolor's future success. Captain Rafael Marquez is sure to play a vital role as the Mexicans look to build on their performances over on German soil. The FC Barcelona man may only be 27, but the classy defender has already accumulated a wealth of international experience. Marquez's central-defensive colleagues Carlos Salcido and Ricardo Osorio will be hoping to take their game to the next level on the back of recent transfers to European top-flight clubs, while younger stars like Gonzalo Pineda, Jose Antonio Castro, Francisco Fonseca, Omar Bravo and Andres Guardado are determined to underline their importance to the national team set-up.
Coming up fast behind them is an even younger generation of gifted Mexicans led by Giovani dos Santos and Carlos Vela, the stars of Mexico FIFA U-17 World Championship-winning side. Allied to a number of other promising youngsters including Luis Landín, Ángel Reyna and Joel Huiqui, fans of El Tri can look forward to a bright future.
Big shoes to fill
Mexico's northern neighbours find themselves in a similar situation. Bruce Arena's eight-year reign as national team coach has now come to an end, and the USA must now find a replacement able to continue the good work of the well-respected strategist. On the playing side, the US will look to explosive front-runner Eddie Johnson and battle-hardened duo Landon Donovan and DaMarcus Beasley to usher in a wave of new talent, offsetting the loss of experienced stars like Claudio Reyna and Brian McBride.
Amongst those tipped for a big future are giant defender Oguchi Onyewu, who was involved at Germany 2006, lethal striker Tyler Twellman and the golden boy of US football Freddie Adu.
Over in Costa Rica, coach Alexandre Guimaraes chose to step down after this summer's showpiece tournament, along with the team's biggest star, well-travelled frontman Paulo Wanchope. While it remains to be seen whether the Tricolor can find replacements for such legendary figures, gifted individuals like Christian Bolaños and Alvaro Saborío will be desperate to keep the team on the right track ahead of South Africa 2010, starting with September's friendly games against Austria and Switzerland.
Trinidad and Tobago also find themselves without the two men who played the biggest roles in helping the team qualify for their first-ever FIFA World Cup finals. Dwight Yorke bowed out of the international game after the tournament in Germany while globe-trotting coach Leo Beenhakker has headed to Poland in search of a new adventure. Veteran playmaker Russell Latapy has also departed the scene, leaving front-man Stern John to keep T&T's dreams alive.
Time for action
For those teams who missed out on this summer's showpiece event on European soil, the next few months could be crucial in ensuring that history does not repeat itself in four year's time. Guatemala appear to have taken an early lead in the race to reach South Africa, moving swiftly to sign up Colombian coach Hernan Darío Gómez, the man who masterminded Ecuador's historic qualification for Korea/Japan 2002. Neighbours Honduras and El Salvador are both still in the hunt for a national team coach, although the Hondurans can take a number of positives from their U-21 side's notable displays at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games held in Cartagena.
