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Gold Cup lacks the intrigue of the 2007 edition
Two years ago, the Gold Cup was rife with intrigue. It was the first time U.S. coach Bob Bradley had managed the team in a tournament setting. Ditto for Mexico manager Hugo Sanchez, who was fired less than a year later. There were plenty of compelling matches along the way, with Guadeloupe stunning all and sundry with its run to the semifinals. And the U.S. came from behind to beat Mexico 2-1 in what was a captivating final.
This time around, the subplots are tougher to find. The U.S. is sending a "B" team to this year's edition, while teams such as Mexico, Honduras and Canada are all missing some or most of their top players.
Yet the performers on show all will have something to prove. For those World Cup aspirants, the Gold Cup amounts to a Last Chance Saloon of sorts. Players will be eager to wedge their way into the consciousness of their manager in the hope that a trip to South Africa is in their future. It also will be an opportunity for a coach such as Mexico's Javier Aguirre to answer some pressing questions about the makeup of his team, especially with World Cup qualifying set to resume in August.
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Two years ago, the Gold Cup was rife with intrigue. It was the first time U.S. coach Bob Bradley had managed the team in a tournament setting. Ditto for Mexico manager Hugo Sanchez, who was fired less than a year later. There were plenty of compelling matches along the way, with Guadeloupe stunning all and sundry with its run to the semifinals. And the U.S. came from behind to beat Mexico 2-1 in what was a captivating final.
This time around, the subplots are tougher to find. The U.S. is sending a "B" team to this year's edition, while teams such as Mexico, Honduras and Canada are all missing some or most of their top players.
Yet the performers on show all will have something to prove. For those World Cup aspirants, the Gold Cup amounts to a Last Chance Saloon of sorts. Players will be eager to wedge their way into the consciousness of their manager in the hope that a trip to South Africa is in their future. It also will be an opportunity for a coach such as Mexico's Javier Aguirre to answer some pressing questions about the makeup of his team, especially with World Cup qualifying set to resume in August.
(continue)
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