2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup

[DocRed]

USMNT recently announced their roster and I understand that for many reasons it would basically be a B team but man....zero stars on this team. Aside from maybe Dike and a couple youngsters like Busio/Hoppe...not sure who I am excited to see play. Julian Araujo turning down the call up worries me...

Gotta think Mexico is a big favorite here. The fact that I actually recognize some of the players on their roster is probably a bad thing for us.

Would like to hear others chime in who know the players much better than I do as I am an admitted novice fan who basically only follows the USMNT.

[BuckeyeRed27]

The Mexico roster make up isn’t that different from the US. Mostly young guys with a couple more established players who aren’t really starters in their top 11. I would say they are the favorites though. Canada actually has the closest thing to their strongest roster.

When they had to compress the schedule with the Olympics and WC Qualifying and put more emphasis on the Nations Cup, the Gold Cup was just going to take a huge back seat this time around.

[DocRed]

Isn't Mexico B team better than our B team though? Is Dos Santos over the hill?

[BuckeyeRed27]

Isn't Mexico B team better than our B team though? Is Dos Santos over the hill?

I would give them a slight edge yes.

Jona isn’t over the hill, but he’s pretty comparable to Llegett in terms of standing. He is still a very solid defensive mid.

[RedTeamGo!]

Dike might be best player on either roster

[DocRed]

Watched some of the game last night. Dike looks great as did Hoppe and Busio. The 3 guys I wanted to see played well.

[RedTeamGo!]

Dike might be exactly what the USMNT has lacked for generations. A striker in the mold of Kane or Lukaku. A bully in the box with touch and skill. If he is what I think he might be, the USMNT will be a legit World Cup contender for the next decade.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Dike might be exactly what the USMNT has lacked for generations. A striker in the mold of Kane or Lukaku. A bully in the box with touch and skill. If he is what I think he might be, the USMNT will be a legit World Cup contender for the next decade.

He’s so good. Him up top with Pulisic, Mckinnie and Reyna behind him….

[RedTeamGo!]

He’s so good. Him up top with Pulisic, Mckinnie and Reyna behind him….

Yep, Busio too.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Yep, Busio too.

I need to see him more.

Didn’t blow me away last night, but I haven’t seen him play besides that yet.

[RedTeamGo!]

I need to see him more.

Didn’t blow me away last night, but I haven’t seen him play besides that yet.

I was just on a teams call with a Sporting KC season ticket holder/super fan and he was saying he’s really bummed out Busio will be going to Europe shortly. Said the kid is just special, only way to describe him.

[BuckeyeRed27]

I was just on a teams call with a Sporting KC season ticket holder/super fan and he was saying he’s really bummed out Busio will be going to Europe shortly. Said the kid is just special, only way to describe him.

Looks like he as just sold to Venezia for about $5M.

[M2]

Busio needs to improve his general command of the game, but he can make line-breaking passes. We didn't used to have players like that in the U.S. Very cool he's headed to Venezia - newly promoted club with minutes to give a promising player. Also doesn't hurt that he's part-Italian. That will buy him some minutes and a few benefits of a doubt.

[BuckeyeRed27]

The US scored 22 seconds in and then hung on for dear life, but won 1-0. Zimmerman got hurt and they don’t really have a back up, but the next game isn’t for a week so hopefully he gets better.

Mexico also barely hung on against El Salvador but also won 1-0.

US will play the loser of Costa Rica Jamaica tomorrow and is on the opposite side of the bracket from Mexico and Canada. So despite not looking very good, I’d still bet they’d make the final.

[Betterread]

First half - USA v Jamaica. Really poor football from USA. LLetget and Busio are not good enough. LLetget lacks confidence and Busio lacks everything but speed. Acosta is trying hard, so he stands out.

[Betterread]

Hoppe commands the far post and leaps highest for a header for 1-0 lead. Cross from Rolland was a looper, not driven, but just out of GK Blake’s reach.

[M2]

First half - USA v Jamaica. Really poor football from USA. LLetget and Busio are not good enough. LLetget lacks confidence and Busio lacks everything but speed. Acosta is trying hard, so he stands out.

Turner got to show off a little bit in the 1st half. Really happy for him. Also really want this tournament to be over so he can get back to his day job.

[Betterread]

Gold cup final between US and Mexico: 1-0 Robinson with a heroic header in minute 117 off a perfect free kick delivery by Acosta. Both squads played positive, attacking football, but both teams did not not finish attacks with any confidence at all.
Acosta, Robinson, Williamson and Turner were standouts.
Zardes and Arriola were just awful. Arriola has had three shots with only the goalie to beat and missed them all. Zardes completely wiffed on two perfect crosses. US could easily have scored 3-4 goals.

[BuckeyeRed27]

That was an absolutely beautiful header. Will remember that one for a long long time.

I’m not sure Berhalter is some tactical genius or anything, but he does make adjustments and those guy play their tails off.

[IslandRed]

This wasn't a great competition in terms of quality of play, what with us and other squads missing top European players (but with Qatar?), but it's a good sign that we can grind through CONCACAF games with less than our best. World Cup qualifying is just around the corner and missing out again is unthinkable.

[RedTeamGo!]

Qatar are the reigning Asian champs. They are actually a solid team.

[membengal]

Qatar are the reigning Asian champs. They are actually a solid team.

This. That was a really quality win for the US frankly, especially with our B team.

[RedTeamGo!]

This. That was a really quality win for the US frankly, especially with our B team.

The Qatar win actually bumped the USMNT up to 16th in the world in FIFA rankings

[DocRed]

Wow..amazing win. Thank GOD I DVR'd it as I almost didn't thinking we had no chance to win last night. Acosta, Hoppe, Turner and Robinson all played their hearts out. Arriola's shots were oh so close too.

Even though that wasn't Mexico's starting 11 come WC time including their best player Jimenez its a lot closer than El Tri fans will admit. I'm seeing at least 5 or 6 guys on team Mexico that likely will be starting compared to probably no starters for the US. Acosta was great but I can't see him staring over a healthy Adams. Turner is worthy of the conversation but I can't see Steffen losing his spot. Miles Robinson has a shot but is still an underdog. On the other hand Mexico will likely start Gallardo, Araujo, Chaka, Herrera, Alvarez, Tecatito and possibly even Salcedo, Moreno, Guttierez and Pizarro who all played last night. Forget Vela and Chicharito who ain't gonna play for different reasons. Last night Mexico fielded their A- team and ours was a B/C team. The Mexican squad was not far below what they fielded in the Nations League Final really.

Below is a good thread by El Tri fans more knowledgable than me.

https://www.reddit.com/r/LigaMX/comments/ljjbxm/world_cup_2022_starting_11_and_roster/

Here's another..

https://sofifa.com/squad/662058?hl=en-US

[BuckeyeRed27]

I think Turner absolutely put himself into the conversation over Steffen.

Steffen is absolutely more talented, but he makes me nervous.

I don’t think anyone else is part of the best 11, but with the way the qualifying schedule is set up, several of those guys will get a lot of minutes.

[DocRed]

It wasn't that long ago that ppl were calling for Horvath to start over Steffen too though...

[BuckeyeRed27]

It wasn't that long ago that ppl were calling for Horvath to start over Steffen too though...

He did have that killer final against Mexico a couple months ago.

I’m not saying either one of those guys is a starter, just that it’s a conversation. I don’t think you can just write Steffen is the starter for sure.

[M2]

I think Turner absolutely put himself into the conversation over Steffen.

Steffen is absolutely more talented, but he makes me nervous.

Steffen's got to play. He can't be dealing with rust, especially for one of his main strengths which is playing the ball out with his feet.

I've gotten to see Turner's whole career. The guy makes big stops. He's got the nerve you want in a #1. Some European club really should pony up some cash for him in the January transfer window. He's outstanding.