Gold Cup: USMNT vs. Honduras, 8:30pm CDT, FS1

Submitted by Wolverine In Iowa on

Now the men's turn for some trophy action.  The first of three group games for the US is tonight versus Honduras.  US then play Haiti and Panama.

If the US wins this tournament, they will be the CONCACAF representative at the Confederations Cup (a sort of warm-up tournament a year before the World Cup at the WC host's venues) in 2017.  If the US does not win this Gold Cup, they will face the winner in a two-leg play-off to determine the CONCACAF representative at the Confederations Cup.

Given the recent form of the USMNT (and that this is the A-squad), I expect them to waltz through this group and then crush Costa Rica and Mexico.  GO USA!!!!

MichiganTeacher

July 7th, 2015 at 9:31 PM ^

Looking forward to it.

US lineup: Guzan, Chandler, Alvarado, Brooks, Johnson, Beckerman, Yedlin, Zardes, Bradley, Dempsey, Altidore

Yeah, Chandler. Sigh.

bacon1431

July 7th, 2015 at 9:34 PM ^

He's been gradually getting better for the US. Still makes some silly mistakes. I am not able to watch, but I guess he plays lights out in Bundesliga and it just hasn't translet to the national team quite yet. But that would explain why he is given more chances by Jurgen. 

bacon1431

July 7th, 2015 at 9:53 PM ^

Stoke wanted Cameron to take a break for the summer, and get fully healthy, which is why he hasn't featured in a while. Jurgen doesn't have to agree to such a thing, but he did this time. I don't see JK agreeing to such a thing next summer with Copa America Centenario 

HarBooYa

July 7th, 2015 at 10:36 PM ^

Cool guy. Let my kids take a bunch of pictures, signed their shoes and answered a bunch of questions from them.

He is much more stout back there than the current crew but did say he was healing up.

Crash

July 8th, 2015 at 9:07 AM ^

I'm not convinced Cameron is anything more than a defensive sub late in games to guard against long headers.  In last year's world cup games he showed no killer instinct to win the 50/50 balls, and his ball skills on the ground are not up to par with the other inner defensemen.  Not a fan.

IndyBlue90

July 7th, 2015 at 9:40 PM ^

Is it just me or does the field look like it has really narrow dimensions? I know it can vary widely, but this looks like a HS field. The ball also looks like a volleyball.

alum96

July 7th, 2015 at 9:57 PM ^

Can I just say if Timmy Chandler is one of our top 4 defenders we simply are at a massive disadvantage.  No idea what pictures he has on Jurgen.  He is a turnover machine and looks nervous on the ball.  Not just this game - but every game I watch him.

With that said the 5 across the back doesnt give Yedlin any space to make his runs and Honduras is able to counterattack well with just 4-5 guys so kudos to their coach.    Difficult to attack wide with this defensive posture so we have to come down the middle where we dont have a lot of technical players.

Dempsey has been mostly a ghost this game and the warmup v Guatamela.  Maybe he needs to come back deeper in a formation as he gets no service.

bacon1431

July 7th, 2015 at 9:56 PM ^

A majority of the starting lineup not being featured together  since last fall is really evident in this match so far. Nobody has any idea where anyone is or what they're doing. Bad chemistry so far. 

MichiganTeacher

July 7th, 2015 at 9:59 PM ^

Haven't seen so many long balls since Thomas Dooley was our main/only skill guy.

No urgency in our counterattack either.

swan flu

July 7th, 2015 at 10:01 PM ^

Our gamelan blows. Going wide is just trapping us because the off the ball movement isn't good. ... And we score. Alright then. Woo hoo!

MichiganTeacher

July 7th, 2015 at 10:01 PM ^

GOOOOOOAAAAAAAL

Collapse by the Honduras D!

Dempsey extends his international all time goal lead over the entire Honduras team, I guess.