If Mexico Misses The World Cup And Thereby Implodes Into A Black Hole Of Pure Despair, Does That Mean Central America Would Then Be Part Of South America?

The USMNT's crisis of faith after getting waxed in Costa Rica passed with a diving Carlos Bocanegra header against Honduras. Yes, the team still has issues all over the pitch, but they've also got ten points after five matches. It would take new vocabulary to describe just how spectacular of a collapse it would require for the USA to not reach the 15 points which has been the automatic-qualification Mendoza line in CONCACAF since the adoption of the hexagonal.

Meanwhile, Mexico's crisis of faith might not be just starting but it has begun to reach a fever pitch after supposed minnow El Salvador converted an 84th minute penalty to win 2-1. Not even a visit from the President helped. Here's a random Mexico fan at Big Soccer: 

If El Tri does fail to qualify (which I find unlikely), Mexico will have mass hysteria on its hands that will make the swine flu, drug war and contested election of 2006 look like practical jokes on El Día de los Santos Inocentes.

Though that guy remains pretty confident Mexico will make an appearance in South Africa, El Tri are currently fifth(!) in the hexagonal and face an absolute must-win Wednesday at home against Trinidad and Tobago. If El Salvador hadn't tied Trinidad and Tobago at home it would be time for full-on panic.

As it is, it's time for almost full-on panic. In the aftermath of the game, Cuauhtemoc Blanco launched this spectacular accusation at the Costa Rican referee:

“He said we were sons of bitches and that’s why we were going to miss the World Cup. I wish he dares to repeat that."

Apparently the ref is a Mexico fan.

Meanwhile, Guillermo Franco launched his own broadside:

“The referee is a shame. I had never experienced something like this; it is shameful.”

Quite a difference from "Javier [Aguirre]'s arrival has taken away all our doubts." Wednesday's game against T&T promises to be one of the most compelling games of the year, with eleven guys watching every minute that ticks by tighten the noose around their neck. Here's to a 0-0 draw.

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.