Gold Cup Plays
- Thread starter braves
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Toronto_Mike
Scent of a Woman
remember the 2011 version when Cuba and Grenada were just really shit??? Man felt like yesterday when were all in the in game cheering for a team to conceed
evalagoal
Pretty much a regular
braves
Pretty much a regular
Yeah, it's a tough group. I don't expect Costa Rica to be dominant in this tourney just because of last years success. The 14th FIFA ranking is a joke plus they are out at least four regular starters from what I've read due to injuries
I think Canada and Jamaica have a great shot at winning this group.
The travel for this group is a bit rough in 7 days they go from LA to Houston then to Toronto. Great advantage for Canada being able to play Costa Rica in Toronto. That game could be for the group.
Think USA and Mexico will basically face teams that just sit back on them, so I just don't expect the games to be very entertainingr. U.S. And Mexico are the class but they will have a lot of difficulty breaking down some of these teams( see US woman in the group stages) I feel like I will be on a lot of unders with these two teams.
Officiating is always brutal with concacaf , so that's the real wildcard in this
ArizonaKid
Pretty much a regular
Has Canada been making progress ?
Why is Jozy still on the USMNT ? I made a homer bet USA to win the Gold Cup +145 for 2 units
Good Luck
Why is Jozy still on the USMNT ? I made a homer bet USA to win the Gold Cup +145 for 2 units
Good Luck
D
dudleysdad
Guest
How is this gold cup shit interesting?
Basically all bad teams
Basically all bad teams
braves
Pretty much a regular
I think Canada has some good young talent. I think the fact they get Costa Rica in their final game in Toronto is a big advantage. They should beat El Salvador and certainly can get a result off Jamaica
Jozy is our best striker, and in CONCACAF he is an impact player.
braves
Pretty much a regular
The fact it is being played in a dead part of the sports year makes it interesting since there is nothing else o. Plus I like watching the USA play.
Yeah, some bad teams for sure in this
D
dudleysdad
Guest
guaranteeed
Pretty much a regular
really dissapointing Hutchinson and Borjan arent playing
they have played well under Bento though, decent chance at making that last 4 besides US/Mexico and getting in to copa/gold qualifying for next year
guaranteeed
Pretty much a regular
I think it's a fun tournament
lack of elite talent especially on the back end for a lot of these teams can make some real entertaining games
lack of elite talent especially on the back end for a lot of these teams can make some real entertaining games
braves
Pretty much a regular
All the games are on Univision and I get that in hd
braves
Pretty much a regular
Thanks...Good preview article of how Honduras will play. They are now coached by Pinto, who coached Costa Rica last year. This will be a tough game I think for USA to get a W
The U.S. national team begins defense of its Gold Cup title on Tuesday in a match against Honduras, which is now coached by a familiar, and difficult, foe.
FRISCO, Texas—The stifling summer heat in Texas is going to make for a difficult environment to play in when the United States national team begins its 2015 Gold Cup on Tuesday night, and the heat won’t be the only tough thing for the Americans to contend with.
Standing in the way of a positive Gold Cup start for the U.S. is a resolute and tenacious Honduras side. The Hondurans may not have some of the familiar names of years past, but what they do have is a coach with a history of transforming teams into difficult ones to play against.
Jorge Luis Pinto’s Costa Rica was the surprise of the 2014 World Cup, reaching the quarterfinals behind a stingy defense, stellar goalkeeping and opportunistic finishing. Pinto has instilled those same defensive philosophies into a Honduran side that was already known for being physical, and now we find a ‘Catrachos’ side that doesn't hesitate to put a body or a strong tackle into attackers.
“We saw them play against Mexico, we saw them go, they were all over the place,” U.S. goalkeeper Brad Guzan told Goal USA. “They’re a lot more physical than Guatemala, a better footballing side. You just have to be careful on the counter. They play with five backs so you have to be patient. We have to be move the ball a lot faster than we did against Guatemala to open them up.”
Honduras has shifted from its traditional four-man defense to the five-defender setup preferred by Pinto, though he's also deployed a 4-5-1. The system posted a shutout against Mexico in a 0-0 friendly draw last week, and the early impressions of Pinto’s Honduras is that it will be a team that is very tough to break down.
“You saw last summer, with Costa Rica, you saw the other night, they’re organized, a lot of numbers behind the ball,” U.S. captain Michael Bradley said of Pinto’s coaching influence. “But it’s not just the numbers. It’s the organization and the willingness to close down and make it hard on the other team."
“It’s easy to just put numbers behind the ball, but if you add in the organization and if you add in the mentality from every guy to close down, and step up and make it hard in close space,” Bradley continued. “It makes for a tough game. Especially early in a tournament when they’re still, in a lot of ways, fresh and have energy and enthusiasm. It won’t be an easy game.”
“Patience is one key word,” U.S. manager Jurgen Klinsmann said at a news conference. “If you’re not breaking them down, and not opening the account in the first half, you have to stay patient and move the ball around quickly and hopefully it opens up things.”
Bradley’s combination play with Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore will be important for the U.S. team’s chances of a breakthrough, as will be the speedy presence of flank options such as Fabian Johnson, Gyasi Zardes and DeAndre Yedlin.
Though Honduras is expected to trot out a five-man defense, don’t expect the ‘Catrachos’ to just sit back and bunker. Speedy former MLS wingers Andy Najar and Mario Martinez will look to work the outside, with Najar being Honduras’ most dangerous player. His potential matchup with U.S. defender Timmy Chandler will be crucial toward determining who gets the result they want Tuesday.
With Najar and Martinez on the flanks, and Houston Dynamo midfielder Boniek Garcia looking to spearhead counter attack chances, Honduras is more than capable of finding scoring chances, particularly against a US. defense still coming together as a unit.
“You saw in that game against Mexico that Honduras was prepared to go forward,” Klinsmann said. “Honduras was prepared to play the game also in the Mexican half. If you look at the last 15 minutes, they were close to winning the game against Mexico.”
Working in the favor of the Americans is the fact that Honduras lacks proven forwards. The Catrachos never really replaced retired standout Carlos Pavon, with some younger prospects failing to fully develop yet.
If the Honduran forwards find it tough going against the U.S. defense, Honduras may have little choice to but to try an grind out a draw. That may not be easy against a U.S. team fully aware of Honduras’ strengths, and a team still boosted by the confidence gleaned from last month’s victories in Europe.
“They’re very hard to play against,” Bradley said. “So we’ll be committed to stepping on the field, and trying to be sharp and trying to push the tempo and getting after them and seeing if we can start [the Gold Cup] off with a good result.”
The U.S. national team begins defense of its Gold Cup title on Tuesday in a match against Honduras, which is now coached by a familiar, and difficult, foe.
FRISCO, Texas—The stifling summer heat in Texas is going to make for a difficult environment to play in when the United States national team begins its 2015 Gold Cup on Tuesday night, and the heat won’t be the only tough thing for the Americans to contend with.
Standing in the way of a positive Gold Cup start for the U.S. is a resolute and tenacious Honduras side. The Hondurans may not have some of the familiar names of years past, but what they do have is a coach with a history of transforming teams into difficult ones to play against.
Jorge Luis Pinto’s Costa Rica was the surprise of the 2014 World Cup, reaching the quarterfinals behind a stingy defense, stellar goalkeeping and opportunistic finishing. Pinto has instilled those same defensive philosophies into a Honduran side that was already known for being physical, and now we find a ‘Catrachos’ side that doesn't hesitate to put a body or a strong tackle into attackers.
“We saw them play against Mexico, we saw them go, they were all over the place,” U.S. goalkeeper Brad Guzan told Goal USA. “They’re a lot more physical than Guatemala, a better footballing side. You just have to be careful on the counter. They play with five backs so you have to be patient. We have to be move the ball a lot faster than we did against Guatemala to open them up.”
Honduras has shifted from its traditional four-man defense to the five-defender setup preferred by Pinto, though he's also deployed a 4-5-1. The system posted a shutout against Mexico in a 0-0 friendly draw last week, and the early impressions of Pinto’s Honduras is that it will be a team that is very tough to break down.
“You saw last summer, with Costa Rica, you saw the other night, they’re organized, a lot of numbers behind the ball,” U.S. captain Michael Bradley said of Pinto’s coaching influence. “But it’s not just the numbers. It’s the organization and the willingness to close down and make it hard on the other team."
“It’s easy to just put numbers behind the ball, but if you add in the organization and if you add in the mentality from every guy to close down, and step up and make it hard in close space,” Bradley continued. “It makes for a tough game. Especially early in a tournament when they’re still, in a lot of ways, fresh and have energy and enthusiasm. It won’t be an easy game.”
“Patience is one key word,” U.S. manager Jurgen Klinsmann said at a news conference. “If you’re not breaking them down, and not opening the account in the first half, you have to stay patient and move the ball around quickly and hopefully it opens up things.”
Bradley’s combination play with Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore will be important for the U.S. team’s chances of a breakthrough, as will be the speedy presence of flank options such as Fabian Johnson, Gyasi Zardes and DeAndre Yedlin.
Though Honduras is expected to trot out a five-man defense, don’t expect the ‘Catrachos’ to just sit back and bunker. Speedy former MLS wingers Andy Najar and Mario Martinez will look to work the outside, with Najar being Honduras’ most dangerous player. His potential matchup with U.S. defender Timmy Chandler will be crucial toward determining who gets the result they want Tuesday.
With Najar and Martinez on the flanks, and Houston Dynamo midfielder Boniek Garcia looking to spearhead counter attack chances, Honduras is more than capable of finding scoring chances, particularly against a US. defense still coming together as a unit.
“You saw in that game against Mexico that Honduras was prepared to go forward,” Klinsmann said. “Honduras was prepared to play the game also in the Mexican half. If you look at the last 15 minutes, they were close to winning the game against Mexico.”
Working in the favor of the Americans is the fact that Honduras lacks proven forwards. The Catrachos never really replaced retired standout Carlos Pavon, with some younger prospects failing to fully develop yet.
If the Honduran forwards find it tough going against the U.S. defense, Honduras may have little choice to but to try an grind out a draw. That may not be easy against a U.S. team fully aware of Honduras’ strengths, and a team still boosted by the confidence gleaned from last month’s victories in Europe.
“They’re very hard to play against,” Bradley said. “So we’ll be committed to stepping on the field, and trying to be sharp and trying to push the tempo and getting after them and seeing if we can start [the Gold Cup] off with a good result.”
KJ
Bump. Set. Shuma!
Oh yeah me too, just have to listen to something else I guess
US game has 2-0 written all over it but no chance I could wager on our back line shutting Honduras out, gotta sit back and watch. Would be shocked to see US lose to them in Dallas the way they've been playing, guess over in the Panama game could be ok
GL hope you get em all
braves
Pretty much a regular
Honduras defended really well as I thought. Besides the two goals and yedlin chance we weren't very dangerous. Did not expect Honduras to be anywhere near as dangerous going forward. Under was on life support from the very start.
Bryan Acosta for Honduras is probably going et some European teams interested in him after that performance.
Like Canada tomorrow but probably going lay off. Need to see them first
Bryan Acosta for Honduras is probably going et some European teams interested in him after that performance.
Like Canada tomorrow but probably going lay off. Need to see them first
guaranteeed
Pretty much a regular
interested to see Larin, he's looked good so far with Orlando
dylanphan
Pretty much a regular
I actually thought Honduras was just okay in defending last night. It's a bit easier to defend when you're sitting 5 in the back and keeping 2-3 midfielders low too.
If Yedlin was a bit more polished, U.S. should have had 3-4 goals pretty easy last night. He missed the breakaway and then tried to force one into Dempsey on a 3v2 where there was another runner in a much more dangerous position.
I think the U.S. was okay, but holy fuck did they give the ball away cheaply A LOT. At least 15+ passes, easy passes, were kicked into touch, or well out of reach of a wide open U.S. player. It's very, very frustrating watching the US national team.
Bradley, Johnson, Dempsey were all good.
Chandler, Yedlin were okay.
Zardes (sp) was poor. He looked lost, was drifting, and the ball did not get to him near often enough - albeit when it did, he was poor.
Altidore was PISS poor. This guy is fucking terrible, I'm sorry, but he is. He is terrible with the ball at his feet in the midfield. He is terrible while being marked in the box. He is okay at winning balls driven deep to him, but once he gets pressured he almost always loses it straight away. He is a danger man when he has space in the box, but ffs, so am I. The problem is he doesn't not make his own space, ever. Probably the most frustrating player on the U.S. team.
I was also surprised at how well Honduras was on the counter. They were continually able to get early balls out to attacking players in space. U.S. defended pretty well, but are obviously vulnerable on the counter. U.S. defended awesome in the box, Brooks is a beast back there.
Where is Jermaine Jones & Julian Green? Geoff Cameron? fuck these guys are better options than some of the starters I saw out there. Never even heard of Alvarado before - but he did play pretty well, I'll give him props.
braves
Pretty much a regular
Jones is hurt, stoke asked for Cameron to not be involved to help recover from injuries, and Green had a terrible year and needs to figure out his club situation .
My guess is Jozy is not 100%, hence why he got subbed off so early. His hold up play was okay but for the most part he looked really slow. The thing is the attacking part of the USA is reliant on quality holdup play of Jozy. There isn't a like replacement for him, so while he isn't playing great the other options aren't any better. We remember Dempsry being forced into that role last summer. Why JK didn't bring in a guy like Charlie Davies I don't know. Jk continues to make questionable calls on the roster
Chandler for the most part was terrible. He completed something like 50% of his passes and had two awful giveaways that against Mexico or CR would have probably been goals. Right back is the biggest issue, I'm afraid they will get exposed against the likes of Costa Rica and Mexico.
Yedlin isn't skilled enough to be an outside mid and he stays too wide most of the time. He is neutralized. Zardes is the same, and on top of that he is a terrible defender. We need a healthy Bedoya or at least throw Mix in one of those spots.
Brooks is a very promising talent. Makes some mistakes but that is to be expected from someone so young.
Yes, it becomes easier to defend when you essentially play 5 backs as Honduras did but Pinto has them organized . It's Costa Rica all over again. He is a quality coach. I think he plays the style that will give his team the most success. Give Honduras a lot of credit , most of the ugliness of this game was his tactics. Just look back at the WC with Costa Rica last year and how they muddied up every game.
Toronto_Mike
Scent of a Woman
so whats this news that 7 players and the HC are missing from Cuba lol
braves
Pretty much a regular
Haiti conceded a ridiculous amount of possession last game, but that stat can be misleading since Panama did little with it. Same thing should happen here except USA has better skilled players to take advantage. I still expect Haiti to bunker in and they do have players dangerous on the counter. See a 2-0 or 3-o type win. Haiti is not Cuba bad and that is kinda how they are priced here
USA/ Haiti u3.5 -119
USA/ Haiti u3.5 -119
braves
Pretty much a regular
Strange lineup, strange formation, and JK tactically didn't adjust that well. Average at best in game coach. Jozy looks shot, I hope it's just because he is still not healthy because he looked terrible. Oh well another 3 points I guess
2-1-1 +.86
7/11
Missed the good price on Costa Rica.
Canada/Jamaica O 1.5, 2 -120
2-1-1 +.86
7/11
Missed the good price on Costa Rica.
Canada/Jamaica O 1.5, 2 -120
braves
Pretty much a regular
If this doesn't get ugly I'll be upset
Brian Dunseth @BrianDunseth
BEST PLAYER THEY HAVE :: 29yr old #ArielMartinez becomes 4th player to #DEFECT from #Cuba #GoldCup2015 http://www.mlssoccer.com/goldcup/2015/news/article/2015/07/17/gold-cup-striker-ariel-martinez-becomes-fourth-player-defect-cuba …
6:20 PM - 17 Jul 2015
USA -3 +104
Brian Dunseth @BrianDunsethBEST PLAYER THEY HAVE :: 29yr old #ArielMartinez becomes 4th player to #DEFECT from #Cuba #GoldCup2015 http://www.mlssoccer.com/goldcup/2015/news/article/2015/07/17/gold-cup-striker-ariel-martinez-becomes-fourth-player-defect-cuba …
6:20 PM - 17 Jul 2015
USA -3 +104
ArizonaKid
Pretty much a regular
Nobody has got anything on tonight's matches ?
I got USA-Jamaica over 2 -124 small and a little on USA wins 2-1 +800...
I got USA-Jamaica over 2 -124 small and a little on USA wins 2-1 +800...
Toronto_Mike
Scent of a Woman
just read that even Guardado felt the penalty call was pretty weak but then again it saved his squad big time.
