OT: USA vs Jamaica - Gold Cup FINAL/Drinking Thread
Kick off in about an hour (9:30 ET).
USMNT currently ranked #35 in the world. Jamaica is ranked #76.
EDIT- Starting XI announced, same as semifinal.
https://twitter.com/ussoccer/status/890372007400886272
At this point in time, there is nobody else unless we put FJ back at LB. With the emergence of Puli and Nagbe, our best 11 will most likely see FJ moving back to LB.
Only slots that I would be interested to hear your rationale for are:
Graham Zusi - has not in my opinion showed defensive positioning necessary for a WC squad. While he does provide a lot of effort and some excellent crosses, there are better options like Garza or Lichaji.
Dax McCarty – Dax is a fantastic player in MLS, but seems to struggle with the higher pace of international games. At best he would be used at the end of games or as an emergency sub for Bradley in the #6 role. There are others who can provide what Dax can do, like Danny Williams, and don’t have the issue with faster games.
Should we include a youth player or two like Andrew Carlton (Atlanta United F) & Justen Glad (RSL D)? Giving younger players experience with the squad would be very helpful in the long term.
Would love to see some younger guys get some looks. Andrew Carlton and CCV come to mind. Weston Mckennie if we are feeling extra optmisitc.
In the past I might have said Emerson Hyndman, but who knows how he will do going back to Bournemouth.
So who lost?
Mexico
A couple of rows back. Mexican fan but has a huge grin. Think he's just happy to be on the camera lol
14 game unbeaten streak with Bruce in charge. Still a lot of ugly/sub-par play, but at least we are trending upwards.
I really like the looks of Pulisic (obviously didn't play in Gold Cup), Nagbe, Arriola and Morris. Even Villafana looked pretty good yesterday. Feel pretty decent about our roster headed into the next set of WC qualifiers.
There are a couple of things to note from this tournament.
First, the US won at least a chance to represent the CONCACAAF at the Confederations Cup in 2021. Having a spot in the Confederations Cup is a great opportunity to see the venues and scout out locations for the WC the following year.
Second, this tournament was a great opportunity to see players who have been not used (Lichaji, Acosta, Corona, Arriola, and others) and show that the US has created more depth than in the past. Unfortunately, we only have one Christian Pulisic who is both an absolute difference maker and not already 35 years old.
Overall, anytime you get a result you have to be happy with it. Next we need to move on and use winning the Gold Cup as a catalyst for finishing the Hex with one of the automatic qualifying positions.
GO USA!