The Gold Cup is underway, July 3-26, a Concafac run tournament that will be represented by North America, Central America and Caribbean countries
Can Team USA defend its 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup title over the next three weeks in the United States?Maybe. But it will be a very hard road to glory. And don't worry, there will be plenty of controversy along the way.
Group A
This group is easily the Group of Death.
Costa Rica (7+ points) — The only guarantee in this group is that CONCACAF World Cup qualifying leader Costa Rica will come out the winner with at least seven points.
Jamaica (4+ points) — Jamaica will play with something to prove this Gold Cup after an unsuccessful World Cup qualifying campaign. With prolific, underrated Stoke striker Ricardo Fuller (who was rarely used for the Reggae Boyz in qualifying), the team will turn some heads and finish second.
El Salvador (4+ points) — The surprise of CONCACAF qualifying will probably come out on the losing end of the dead heat for second. They have handily defeated both Jamaica (without Fuller) and Canada in qualifying, and they will give Costa Rica a run for its money.
Canada (1+ points) — Unlucky draw for the Canucks, who would probably get out of the group in any other edition of this tournament.
Group B
The microcosm of CONCACAF. Two continental powers against two lowly, no-hope minnows.
United States (7+ points) — Expect every formation of no-names possible in routs of Grenada and Haiti. All eyes will be on Freddy Adu against Honduras, an opponent the USA will surely not underestimate this time around.
Honduras (6+ points) — They will look for a similar spark against the United States while overestimating the other two minnows. That doesn't mean they lose to them.
Grenada (1+ points) — Shalrie Joseph and the Caribbean Championship runners-up could make Honduras sweat, but most likely in a losing effort.
Haiti (0+ points) — A cast of lovable no-names in a shark tank. Nothing to lose, and could definitely shock Honduras or Grenada.
Group C
A similarly predictable group with a slight twist.
Mexico (9 points) — How is it Mexico gets the host's easy-pass group? Expect Carlos Vela and Omar Bravo to compete for the Golden Boot through this group alone. Easy domination for Mexico.
Guadeloupe (4+ points) — Here's a bold prediction. Tiny Guadeloupe finish ahead of Panama in second place. The tiny Caribbean island claims birth or parental lineage rights to Lilian Thuram, Thierry Henry, and Sylvain Distin, and have players all over Ligue 1, Ligue 2, and the rest of Europe.
They had a nice run through the Caribbean Championship, dominating most opponents and placing third in a thriller against Cuba. This team has the potential and pedigree to continue upholding their rising form.
Panama (4+ points) — In contrast, this is a team with older players, broken potential, and declining talent from 2007. Jaime Penedo, who played for Osasuna in 2007 and was Panama's only La Liga player, now plays his club ball in Guatemala.
Blas Perez, the dangerous striker tapped for Real Betis in 2007, plays for Pachuca. Add to these two an undisciplined, chaotic supporting class and no supporting midfielders, and you'll see this team's fall from grace to Guadeloupe soon enough.
Nicaragua (0+ Points) — But that doesn't mean Panama or the rest of the group won't beat up on these first-timers. Like Haiti, Nicaragua will be on damage control and has nothing to lose except all its games in the group stage.
0 comments:
Post a Comment