First played in 1993, the Gold Cup is the championship for CONCACAF, the regional federation which governs soccer in North and Central America. The tournament is held every year. The United States won the previous two tournaments, including a penalty kick win in 2005 over Panama at Giants Stadium.
1. No letdown from the United States
Coming off a strong showing in the Confederations Cup, this U.S. 'B' squad -- no Dempsey, no Donovan -- could be poised for a let down. Who can blame them? Coming off a two-week stretch where they played five-time World Cup winners Brazil, current World Cup holders Italy and the current No. 1 team in Spain, it might be easy to overlook the likes of Grenada. But this is a young team of players looking to prove themselves on this stage and is not the veteran team that head coach Bob Bradley fielded in the Confederations Cup. Having sat on the bench the whole tournament, much hyped teenager Freddy Adu should see a lot of minutes for the team.
2. Montezuma’s Revenge
How the mighty have fallen. Mexico once ruled the region until the rise of the United States in the '90s and more recently, Costa Rica. Now, Mexico is struggling to qualify for the World Cup and after winning three of the first Gold Cups. It hasn’ t won the tournament since 2003. Now, new head coach Javier Aguirre better perform well or else he risks losing his job just months after being appointed. Mexico is too deep and seasoned, with the likes of Omar Bravo and rising star Giovani Dos Santos bringing too much savvy not to advance to the finals.
3. Jamaican Amends
The Reggae Boyz are usually one of the stronger teams in CONCACAF with a number of players on English teams and starring in MLS. Recently, however, the team has suffered. Jamaica failed to advance to the final round of World Cup qualifying and didn’t even make the last Gold Cup in 2007. New coach Theodore Whitmore has plenty of experience on the field as a former Jamaican international but is a relative novice on the sidelines. With a chip on their shoulders and a statement to make, look for Jamaica to advance to the semi-finals.
Stat of Note:
The United States and Mexico hold the most Gold Cup titles with four a piece. Only one other nation, Canada in 2000, have won the Gold Cup.
Joseph’s Gold Cup Dreamcoat
Who says you can’t come home? If Shalrie Joseph has his way, that won’t be the case.
Now a star midfielder with both the New England Revolution and the Grenada national team, Joseph’s family emigrated to New York City when he was a teenager. He played his college soccer at St. John’s before joining New England in 2003 and becoming one of the league‘s top midfielders. Now, Joseph is hoping to lead Grenada to the Gold Cup Final at Giants Stadium on July 25.
“It would be great to be there, to have Grenada play in that stadium,” Joseph said. “It would be big for our country, big for all of us, to be there. It would be huge for every one in the Caribbean as well.”
Grenada, ranked 102nd in the latest world rankings, faces No. 14 United States this Saturday at Qwest Field in Seattle.
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