GOLD CUP: Group C Preview, Predictions

As promised, here's a more serious look at the US national team's (down a peg to #19 in this month's world rankings) group stage opponents in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in June.

Canada - June 7 (Ford Field, Detroit)

Of all three US opponents, the Canadians definitely have the biggest chip on their shoulders, which may prove to make them the toughest to beat.  Since their 2000 Gold Cup title, the last 10+ years have been plagued with mediocrity for manager Stephen Hart and company.  Their lack of success has been highlighted of late by some miserable World Cup qualifying campaigns.

Les Rouges, ranked 8th in CONCACAF and 84th in the world, are led by Toronto FC leading scorer and leading bitcher-and-moaner Dwayne DeRosario.  "DeRo" has 15 international goals and 55 caps to his credit, but has had quite the offseason--making headlines for complaining about pay and leaving for Scotland to train without permission.  He will likely be joined in the starting midfield by Atiba Hutchinson and Real Salt Lake's Will Johnson.  However, the midfield is about all the Canadians have going for them, with no proven goal-scorers at the striker position.  They are led on defense by captain Paul Stalteri and goalie Lars Hirschfeld, but severely lack the depth (at all positions) to get anywhere near a Gold Cup title this year.

(You could possibly argue that having a few clubs in MLS will help the development of the national team.  But without a solid grassroots developmental system that builds strong, technical players from the start, Canada will continue to flounder in the tiers of CONCACAF nothingness.  And the way things are run at the Canada Soccer Association, I don't see that happening anytime soon.)

Panama - June 11 (Raymond James Stadium, Tampa)

Ranked 7th in CONCACAF and 68th in the world, Panama is most definitely one of the most overrated squads in the region.  I watched them play a few games in the recent Copa CentroAmericana, and even with home field advantage, they failed to impress me.

La Marea Roja are led by Blas Perez, Roberto Brown, and 2005 Gold Cup MVP Luis Tejada up top, and captain Felipe Baloy on defense.  The team's biggest asset in this tournament certainly will be their speed, which could cause the Yanks some trouble (a la Costa Rica in the final round of World Cup qualifying).  Although Perez, Brown, and Tejada combine for 142 caps and 54 goals on the international stage, they lacked solid finishing in the late stages of the CCA, when it counted most.  Also, does anyone remember the 2005 Gold Cup final?  I wish I could find a video of Tejada's PK miss that helped the US take the title.

If the Yanks can stay organized on defense and don't let any quick counterattacks slip by them, this could be a walkover.


Guadaloupe - June 14 (LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, Kansas City)

This one is the hardest to call, seeing as I've never once seen them play.  They aren't even affiliated with FIFA and therefore don't participate in WC qualifying or anything (as a French overseas department, Guadeloupe is kind of a Hawaii equivalent).

Les Gwada Boys are captained by Stephane Auvray, who plays professionally for Sporting KC at this very same stadium (I DARE you to tell me CONCACAF didn't do that on purpose).  During the 2010 MLS season, his first for the Wiz, he appeared in 21 games and did not score.

The Elo Ratings, an independent alternative ranking system that includes non-FIFA nations, have Guadeloupe at 86th in the world (out of 232; the system has Canada at 59th and Panama at 63rd--I don't care, take it all at face value, I guess).  They had an unbelievably impressive run, however, at the 2010 Caribbean Cup, where five wins, a loss and a draw over two group stages took them to the final, where they lost to Caribbean powerhouse Jamaica in penalties.  So, this no-name country of no-name players could actually give their opponents some headaches.  They did reach the Gold Cup semis in 2007.  But who the hell really knows?  I would love someone to enlighten me on this one.

Predictions (maybe I'll have the balls to do full tournament predictions when we get closer to this summer's festivities)

USA def. Canada, 3-0
USA def. Panama, 2-1
USA def. Guadeloupe, because people will die if they don't.