OT: Gold Cup Day 1

Submitted by uncle leo on

For my fellow soccer fans out there, Gold Cup kicks off tonight.

Canada took out French Guiana tonight, 4-2 in an absolute downpour. I know, you guys are wondering the same.. Canada has a soccer team.

Honduras vs Costa Rica going on currently.

 

States open up with a pretty damn tough game against Panama tomorrow afternoon.

Sydney, what do you think?? I know you have been pumped for this tournament.

fksljj

July 7th, 2017 at 9:55 PM ^

If USA somehow makes it to the Rose Bowl semi final I think I might make the drive. Maybe I'm stating the obvious but USA-Mexico final? Don't know much about Martinique or Curacao.

xtramelanin

July 7th, 2017 at 10:16 PM ^

Image result for hydroplane boat racing detroit river

used to crew on the committee boat in the middle of the races on the detroit river, o those many years ago. 

MGOTokyo

July 7th, 2017 at 11:06 PM ^

With living outside of the area, clicked on to see if the real Gold Cop was still around. It was a big deal when I was growing up in Michigan.

lilpenny1316

July 8th, 2017 at 1:09 AM ^

I used to enjoy going out to Belle Isle during the week to see the speedboats racing down the river.  Man, the combination of that and the Grand Prix made June in downtown a lot of fun.

MGOTokyo

July 7th, 2017 at 11:32 PM ^

I've played/watched almost every sport that you can name, but have never liked full-field soccer, especially to watch. I find it boring, and not because I don't understand the sport. Only middle school gym class was OK. But why one would have to 'think outside the box' and unconditionally like something is beyond me. The soccer minority needs to accept the fact that despite their efforts for decades, it's never going to be a major league sport in America. Especially in this case, where it is a second-class event that even some of our best players are ditching.
But, it's off-season and no one has to click into the OT.

truferblue22

July 8th, 2017 at 12:11 AM ^

Baseball and golf are infinitely more boring than soccer, yet they're major sports in America. Pro basketball is fucking ridiculous because the same two teams are going to be in the finals for the next 5 years....yet people still watch these sports. So why is it that soccer, despite enormous popularity amongst millenials can't become a top 3 sport in this country in the near future? 

M-Dog

July 8th, 2017 at 12:25 AM ^

The US is big enough for more than one sport.

Everyone relax.

You don't have to be the biggest sport in the country for your favorite sport to survive.

I don't know where a sport like college basketball ranks, but it's probably not one of the top 5 sports in the country.  Does it matter?  It still has a very large and passionate fan base.  It's not going anywhere.

Soccer will have a prominent enough place in US sports.  Is it going to be #1?  Proabaly not, but it doesn't have to be.

MGOTokyo

July 9th, 2017 at 4:27 AM ^

that many sports are boring to others. Can't agree, though, that soccer is immensely popular with millennials. Yes, as an elementary school sport, cheap and easy to start playing. Parents love it. But statistics show the drop off in interest at the late middle school and high school levels is quite acute, especially amongst boys.

In reply to by MGOTokyo

BuckNekked

July 9th, 2017 at 8:19 AM ^

Lacrosse is as big in Livingston county as soccer. Thats after maybe 10 years with the sport at the HS level as opposed to maybe 40 for soccer.

Impact_Panda

July 7th, 2017 at 10:47 PM ^

Even with a B squad, the United States has literally no excuse not to reach the final and should win the tournament. The Gold Cup is traditionally won by only the US or Mexico, with one Canada win in 2000.

I love international soccer and will watch most of the Gold Cup with interest, but it's always hard to shake the feeling that it's a second-rate tournament, especially when compared to the Copa America and the European Championship. I think CONCACAF should change the format to every 4 years instead of every 2 years. Might make it more special. Adding VAR and goal-line technology wouldn't hurt, either.

The USMNT seems to be on an upswing in Arena's second tenure thus far. Klinsmann once said that the goal for the US was to make it to the semifinals in the 2018 World Cup. While that may have been ambitious, I have no doubt we can break through to the quarterfinals next year with the current form and trajectory of the team. And the trajectory can continue with a comfortable and disciplined showing in this Gold Cup.

TrueBlue2003

July 7th, 2017 at 11:17 PM ^

it is a second-rate tournament.  There's only two (US and Mexico) biggish teams in CONCACAF so most of the games are, meh, until the semis (Like, wtf is Martinique?).  For star power, it'll never be on a plane with the European or South American tourneys.

But even the US and Mexico bring their B teams, so as long as they treat it like exhibition, the fans will too.

NittanyFan

July 7th, 2017 at 11:52 PM ^

The Gold Cup definitely has a "oh, this yet again" feeling to it.

It's also going to 16 teams in 2019.  I suppose it makes $.  But Belize vs St Kitts and Nevis doesn't sound thrilling.

The US Cup that was a thing during the 1990s - I'd like to see that brought back.  Hold it in a year that loses a Gold Cup (if the Gold Cup went from every 2-years to every 4-years).

Some of those US Cups had interesting teams - Germany, Italy, Ireland, Colombia, Nigeria, et cetera.  Definitely more interesting than yet another game w/ Panama or Jamaica.  No offense, to them, but we see them regularly in WC Qualifiers.

Unicycle Firefly

July 7th, 2017 at 10:55 PM ^

I live in the Nashville area and will be at the U.S. game tomorrow. The weather has been so miserably hot and humid the past couple weeks, I hope it isn't an added advantage for Panama.

fksljj

July 8th, 2017 at 6:12 PM ^

I realize the defense is getting beat badly right now but LOL Guzan. He made all those impressive saves and lets that soft goal in.