Tweet
7/2/2009 - The Gold Cup has been an all North American show since it began in 1991. Either the United States or Mexico – and Canada once, have won every title.
Could it be someone else’s time?
Mexico comes in with another new coach, Javier Aguirre, and sitting uncomfortably fourth in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. The United States arrives as the two-time defending champion but having played two World Cup qualifiers and five games in the Confederations Cup over the past month.
U.S. manager Bob Bradley comes into the Gold Cup with a hybrid roster, a core of experimental players from Major League Soccer supplemented on Thursday by several from his Confederations Cup team.
"It's a great opportunity for guys," Bradley said. "Part of the planning of the summer was trying to bring a strong group [to South Africa], but understand to use the second tournament for a way to look at certain guys, to give them an opportunity. That's important."
Javier Aguirre of Mexico similarly will be relying on lesser-established regulars like Giovani Dos Santos and Carlos Vela as well as Gerardo Torrado, Omar Bravo and Memo Ochoa.
"The Mexican national team does not depend on anybody," Aguirre said. "There are no starters. We are all Mexican. There are some people who may not agree with me. They may have favorite players. But that's the right I have been given, to choose who I want."
The most obvious choice to issue a challenge to the traditional powers is Costa Rica. Although the Ticos have reached the final only once, in 2002 – when it lost to the United States in the title match, it is riding high in CONCACAF, atop the final round of World Cup qualifying standings.
Much of the credit has been bestowed on manager Rodrigo Kenton, who after a year on the job has elevated Costa Rica from 79th to 47th in the FIFA Rankings.
"Right now, we are really motivated as we begin our Gold Cup campaign because coach Kenton has brought back the trust of the fans and media, and brought a lot of motivation to the players," Costa Rica defender Gonzalo Segares said.
The tournament will open Friday with Canada facing Jamaica at The Home Depot Center, the home of the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA. Costa Rica will then take on El Salvador in the nightcap.
The Gold Cup will move to Seattle on Tuesday with Honduras facing Haiti and United States opening against Caribbean runner-up Grenada. The first series of group matches will conclude on Sunday in Oakland with Panama taking on the surprise of 2007, Guadeloupe, and finishing with Mexico against Gold Cup debutante Nicaragua.
The tournament will be unprecedented in that games will be played in a record 13 venues across the United States, starting on the West Coast and moving eastward to the final in Giants Stadium outside New York on July 26.
The United States will be trying to tie Mexico with a third straight title and win an unprecedented fifth. The Mexicans will be looking to reclaim the crown it last won in 2003.
But other teams also have claims to make. Nicaragua will be playing in its first major event, an achievement it likens to going to the World Cup.
Guadeloupe wants to repeat its 2007 run, when it reached the semifinals before finally succumbing to Mexico. Like Nicaragua, Grenada is making its debut as the smallest nation (population about 90,000) ever to qualify for the regional championship.
Canada and Jamaica are both coming off semifinal round eliminations in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying and have new, interim coaches as they look to start the rebuilding process for 2014.
Panama, which reached the final in 2005, arrives with its first Central American title, having knocked off Costa Rica in the UNCAF final in February.
And there is Central American rivals Honduras and El Salvador, still in the heat of World Cup qualifying and hoping to solidify for the stretch run.
Could it be someone else’s time?
Mexico comes in with another new coach, Javier Aguirre, and sitting uncomfortably fourth in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. The United States arrives as the two-time defending champion but having played two World Cup qualifiers and five games in the Confederations Cup over the past month.
U.S. manager Bob Bradley comes into the Gold Cup with a hybrid roster, a core of experimental players from Major League Soccer supplemented on Thursday by several from his Confederations Cup team.
"It's a great opportunity for guys," Bradley said. "Part of the planning of the summer was trying to bring a strong group [to South Africa], but understand to use the second tournament for a way to look at certain guys, to give them an opportunity. That's important."
Javier Aguirre of Mexico similarly will be relying on lesser-established regulars like Giovani Dos Santos and Carlos Vela as well as Gerardo Torrado, Omar Bravo and Memo Ochoa.
"The Mexican national team does not depend on anybody," Aguirre said. "There are no starters. We are all Mexican. There are some people who may not agree with me. They may have favorite players. But that's the right I have been given, to choose who I want."
The most obvious choice to issue a challenge to the traditional powers is Costa Rica. Although the Ticos have reached the final only once, in 2002 – when it lost to the United States in the title match, it is riding high in CONCACAF, atop the final round of World Cup qualifying standings.
Much of the credit has been bestowed on manager Rodrigo Kenton, who after a year on the job has elevated Costa Rica from 79th to 47th in the FIFA Rankings.
"Right now, we are really motivated as we begin our Gold Cup campaign because coach Kenton has brought back the trust of the fans and media, and brought a lot of motivation to the players," Costa Rica defender Gonzalo Segares said.
The tournament will open Friday with Canada facing Jamaica at The Home Depot Center, the home of the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA. Costa Rica will then take on El Salvador in the nightcap.
The Gold Cup will move to Seattle on Tuesday with Honduras facing Haiti and United States opening against Caribbean runner-up Grenada. The first series of group matches will conclude on Sunday in Oakland with Panama taking on the surprise of 2007, Guadeloupe, and finishing with Mexico against Gold Cup debutante Nicaragua.
The tournament will be unprecedented in that games will be played in a record 13 venues across the United States, starting on the West Coast and moving eastward to the final in Giants Stadium outside New York on July 26.
The United States will be trying to tie Mexico with a third straight title and win an unprecedented fifth. The Mexicans will be looking to reclaim the crown it last won in 2003.
But other teams also have claims to make. Nicaragua will be playing in its first major event, an achievement it likens to going to the World Cup.
Guadeloupe wants to repeat its 2007 run, when it reached the semifinals before finally succumbing to Mexico. Like Nicaragua, Grenada is making its debut as the smallest nation (population about 90,000) ever to qualify for the regional championship.
Canada and Jamaica are both coming off semifinal round eliminations in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying and have new, interim coaches as they look to start the rebuilding process for 2014.
Panama, which reached the final in 2005, arrives with its first Central American title, having knocked off Costa Rica in the UNCAF final in February.
And there is Central American rivals Honduras and El Salvador, still in the heat of World Cup qualifying and hoping to solidify for the stretch run.