I've neglected mentioning the Gold Cup up to this point for the simple reason that the tournament is sorta stupid. In 2007, the Gold Cup winner earned a trip to the 2009 Confed Cup, but most years, like 2009, the Gold Cup awards nothing more than a shiny gold cup. While it's played in the USA, the tournament conflicts with the domestic MLS season. For European players, the tournament coincides with early-season training and has resulted in numerous Americans missing the crucial first few weeks with a new club (Jonathan Spector, Benny Feilhaber, Freddy Adu), or, worse, showing up injured (John O'brien).
Nevertheless, the 2009 version provided some exciting moments. The US team consisted mainly of domestic-based players who have little shot of making the World Cup roster. Bob Bradley brought his A-squad to the Confederations Cup, and all those players (except for Adu, Feilhaber, and Charlie Davies) were allowed to rest during the Gold Cup. As for Adu, Feilhaber, and Charlie Davies, they each played two early games and bolted to their clubs so they wouldn't miss the preseason (wise move). This left the US with a group of relative no-names and Brian Ching. Most other countries were in similar predicaments. With nothing on the line, Honduras, Canada, Costa Rica, and Mexico left many of the regulars off the squad, but it made little difference. The powers of Concacaf all advanced through the group stage. The US dusted off Panama and Honduras to reach the final against Mexico.
It was a pretty impressive run. Few of the US players wore a national team jersey before, and they were still able to steamroll through Concacaf. It certainly doesn't mean they're ready to win the Cup, but it further illustrates how MLS has improved depth. Unfortunately, the Final against Mexico proved that the US's new depth only works against the minnows of the region.
Like the US, Mexico brought almost exclusively a domestic-based team, and the teams were evely matched in the first half. The US had a number of quality chances, especially on restarts, that they failed to finish. At the end of the half, the US was caught pushing forward, and Giovanni Dos Santos (a Spurs product) split the US defense and passed to Alberto Medina who completely botched the shot. The game seemed destined for extra time.
That was most definitely not the case. At the half, Mexico inserted Carlos Vela (an Arsenal sub), and Bob Bradley's halftime speech must've consisted of "Anybody watch True Blood last night?" Vela caused immediate problems for the US right back Jay Heaps. In the 54th minute, the referee awarded Mexico a penalty kick on an extremely dubious call. Jay Heaps and Dos Santos both crumbled in the box after Heaps grabbed Dos Santos' jersey and Dos Santos elbowed Heaps in the face. PK for El Tri! Dos Santos and Medina then celebrated the call as if they won the lottery. The only thing that raced through my mind was that the players must be thinking, "The ref finally bought one of our dives!" Honestly, the bad PK is standard procedure in Concacaf football, and, while the call will likely not be called in a World Cup match, depending on the ref's cahones, it could get called in Azteca. Mexico buried the penalty, and the US team completely crumbled. The US defense tried to press, and the Mexicans counter-attack easily slipped behind and pummeled the US net. FOUR GOALS LATER the game was finally over. It was the most lopsided loss I've seen for the US since the 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Czechoslovakia in the '90 World Cup.
To be fair to the US, the penalty call completely altered the tone of the game, but, to be far to Mexico, they absolutely dominated after the first goal and were clearly superior.
This is the second Cup final for the US in which the team imploded in the 2nd half. Three goals against Brazil in the Confed Cup and now five goals to Mexico. Bob Bradley is no strategist. He appears locked into his gameplan regardless of what's happening on the field. Despite Concacaf allowing him an enormous 30-man roster, Bob chose to play the same exact lineup that beat Honduras three days earlier. Perhaps the players were gassed. Perhaps they were simply outplayed. Perhaps outcoached. Or all of the above. The bottom line is that the 5-0 drubbing on home soil suddenly made the Gold Cup relevant. No US fan, player, or coach wants to be embarrassed so thoroughly.
Charlie Davies, from France, tweeted immediately after the game: "This really hurts to watch. I feel the pain. Good thing we play Mexico August 12th!"
A win or draw at Azteca on August 12th will surely put this loss in perspective. Mexico is currently 4th in the Hex right now, and they'll be desperate and now confident against the US. I doubt few players from either Gold Cup lineup will be around on the 12th, but the odds will be stacked against the yanks. They've only managed one draw ever in Azteca. While the Mexican national team struggled in recent qualifiers, their top players are having much more success in Europe than their American counterparts. The top Mexican players used to stay in the domestic league, and I feel the shift to Europe has hindered their chemistry. It's only a matter of time, though, before the team starts to click. They've got too much talent.
As for the US, the 5-0 drubbing should not overshadow the true aim of the tournament. It allowed Bob to investigate new talent. No US player helped himself more than Stuart Holden. The attacking midfielder, currently at Houston Dynamo, was regularly the best American player. Other than Holden and Ching and perhaps the keeper, Troy Perkins, I doubt any other yank played himself onto the World Cup squad.
As for El Tri, we learned they're great front-runners. When they landed that PK, their eyes lit up, and they started to believe. After the game, one of the players actually shook hands with the Americans. Evidently, their ardido allowed them that. Pride, confidence, attitude now restored. Mission accomplished, I guess.
On a side note, the US may get a small measure of retribution in the form of Edgar Castillo. The 22 year old left fullback from New Mexico was formerly cap-tied to El Tri. Yet, a new ruling by FIFA allows players to switch national teams if they haven't played in a "full international." Evidently, a friendly doesn't count as a full international. The US is desperately thin at left fullback and Castillo is keen to join the yanks. Get that paperwork in motion, USSF!
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