Pre-match: 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup Quarterfinal: USA vs Curacao - June 30th

This is an A-team Gold Cup. We've only won three of those ever.

This one, even if devalued with no CWC, is still important. And Egg is a new manager, trying to get the fans behind him.

It makes complete sense he's trying to win it. Playing youth is important, but at this point it's a trap: he'd lose, and the let's-fire-the-manager movement would gain traction.

As a matter of fact, I don't think it's a coincidence those who want him out ASAP are also the ones who wish he were played a young, inexperienced, more likely to lose team.

 

Energy is in the air ⚡

Kickoff vs. 🇨🇼 🔜👀#GoldCup2019 pic.twitter.com/DdsVsMsS2X

— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) June 30, 2019

USSF not leaking the captain this time.

I'm seeing a bunch of the white "vaporknit" USA shirts popping up on clearance. I think I need to grab one.

 

I don't know if this distinction makes sense before the 2002 World Cup. The 2002 Gold Cup, for example, clearly looks like a "B team" Gold Cup to me. It would probably need to be judged on a case-by-case basis.

*although I wasn't paying much attention to the sport in the 1990s

 

Zardes retains his starting spot - everything else in the starting XI is as expected:

U.S. Soccer MNT‏Verified account @USMNT 1m1 minute ago
Seize the moment Your #USMNT Starting XI to take on Curacao in tonight's @GoldCup Knockout Round action!




Pulisic is captain.

 

It's not a coincidence in the way that you're implying.

Sarachan's rosters were good, except for the continued inclusion of Captain Trapp. If 3G gave us Sarachan-like rosters, people wouldn't set the bar at winning the Gold Cup, and people would expect results like the ones we saw against Jamaica/Venezuela.

But, 3G went all-in on winning now. So those results aren't acceptable. And losing, unless it's a tight game against Mexico in the Final, isn't acceptable

 

Same lineup as the first two games. Pulisic captains his return to Pennsylvania.

 

Sigh.

Such faint expectations for the USMNT. Pretty sad.

 

Why is this even a thing? Was winning the gold cup in 2017 a good thing for MLS? What about not qualifying for the WC?

I think this tournament has been a terrible advertisement for the Americans in MLS. I'm not sure if any of them look like they should be starters and only a few should be comsidered in the pool.

 

im a little bothered to not have any updates on pulisic getting to see his dog

 

This, coupled with Sebsasaur’s “losing to Mexico shouldn’t be unexpected” perspective above puts MLS and its supporters in a no-lose situation if they make the finals.

I could see how this is the mantra for Garber and his team every night before bedtime.

It bodes poorly for the USMNT, of course, but I can see the logic in that we’re good enough to make the finals, particularly if Costa Rica is in the other bracket and limited downside in the finals.

I personally can’t imagine not expecting to beat Mexico dos a cero at home. The only time a loss is excusable is at azteca

 

There is a Gold Cup and we're in it. So why not try to win it? And if we do, hey that's great, and Don Garber and friends will highlight that it was largely MLS players. What's the problem? I think the team looks alright so far, and I think Berhalter has, given the injuries, picked the best 23 available. I don't know what all the whining is about. The pool is what we thought it was.

I

 

Egg is trying to win this puppy so:

a) Losing to Curaçao = fireable offense. He'd have to be kicked out right after the game.

b) Losing semi to Jamaica = big black eye, and he should be kept on a short leash. A couple of defeats starting the qualifiers and goodbye it is.

c) Making the final but losing it badly = grumpily accept that's where we are at this point and remark we could use a better coach.

d) Losing the final in a tight manner = accept that's our level and Egg is not doing a bad job, keep waiting to see what he does after.

e) Winning the final against a depleted Mexico = admit we did better than expected based on the friendlies and grudgingly praise Egg.

f) Destroying Mexico in the final = start calling Egg Berhalter.

 

This.

For myself, I'm not going to change my sig till he gets to the GC Finals.

 

Gold Cup attendance for a US-Mex final would be nowhere as friendly for US as a WCQ in Columbus. If US has 50% fan attendance in Chicago assuming a US- Mex final, that would be good.

 

This roster is worse than what people thought the pool would be and I dont think this is close to our best 23. I think the team has struggled most of the tournament and hasnt put any of the three weak teams we have played away in the first 60 minutes.

You think Mihailovic, Roldan, Trapp, Lewis, Gonzo, etc are in the best 23 eligible players?

If they dont win this little tournament, I hope many point out that it was mostly MLS players and the top few players that were difference makers were non-MLS players.

 

We need a lot of defense from Arriola and Boyd...oh, and MB.

Btw, MM? I was hoping to see him get some mins, but skunked again.

 

Tyler Adams -- injured
John Brooks -- injured
DeAndre Yedlin -- injured
Seb Lleget -- injured (or was at start)
Duane Holmes -- injured
Josh Sargent -- rusty
Antonee Robinson -- not good enough
Cameron Carter-Vickers -- I was a bit surprised by his exclusion, but he does have a propensity to commit fouls, which could be costly

I think they are in the top 35, and with injuries, perhaps can provide cover for the starting 11 as one of the 22 substitutes.