Three months into the tenure of new U.S. MNT boss Bora Milutinovic, the team tackled the inaugural CONCACAF Gold Cup that was played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. As long as they can find a way to at least stabilize things, they’ll be just fine – but if they can actually get the defense playing better, then they can easily dominate this tournament.
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Stats Don’t Lie: The stats about the success of the USMNT in the Gold Cup are startling. And last night it was none other than Clint Dempsey who actually rose to the occasion to net both goals for the defending Gold Cup champions. “You have to try to get on the same page as quickly as you can, and it’s not always easy”.
Gold Cup Titles: United States-1991, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2013.
“We played it like it was a very important game and it was good preparation for the Gold Cup“. The experience and results were historic. Usually the U.S. only has the Gold Cup and CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers to prepare in competitive environments. The men’s team plays tonight at 9:30 pm ET and the game will be televised on FoxSports 1. Jorge Luis Pinto’s strategy has been successful on the largest of stages, picking up wins over Uruguay, Italy and Greece (in PKs) during the World Cup. He made two huge saves in the game’s opening minutes after Honduras shot out of the starting gate, allowing the U.S to stay in the contest.
Jurgen Klinsmann’s United States side will next face Haiti in group play on Friday in Boston.
To add some context, over 91,000 had watched Mexico beat the U.S. two years earlier. Panama should have qualified for Brazil but in their final qualifier against the U.S, midfielder Graham Zusi scored in extra time for a 2-2 final.
Honduras began the game just as Klinsmann and Co. thought they would – quickly, aggressively and with near-reckless abandon. “I’m looking forward to having more minutes”.
Coupled with their confidence, the Ticos also have the easiest group.
July 14 – Jamaica vs. El Salvador, 3 p.m. “It gives the game here another big push, and they inspired millions of kids with their achievement”. “It’s just his personality”.
This was the first win for the Red, White, & Blue over the Netherlands in five meetings. This summer, he looks for redemption.
Check here for more on the United States win.
The more time goes on, the more it seems like Altidore’s time as America’s Chosen Striker has come to an end.
Interestingly, German head coach Winfried Schafer has named 17 of the players in his squad that also recently participated at the Copa America. I’m not the captain there.
The Canadian coach said his management team is tracking some 80 to 100 Canadian players around the world but only a few, like highly touted Queens Park Rangers winger Junior Hoilett, are not part of the program.
The league that’s now in the middle of its 20th season has at least one player on nine of the 12 teams competing.
US – Brad Guzan, (save) 6th minute: Honduras pressured quickly on a counter attack down the left side. He had a couple good showings for the United States recently, especially the game against the Dutch. And, due to his skill on the ball, people think the only way he can score is by getting the ball at his feet and creating a chance.
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The tip of the spear, Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore, didn’t really bother him.
