By J Hutcherson (Jul 3, 2015) US Soccer Players – Credit CONCACAF for one thing amid their bureaucratic turmoil. They came up with a way to prioritize every Gold Cup rather than every other one. Until this cycle, it was easy enough for the elite teams to only fully focus on the Gold Cup that led to the Confederations Cup. Now, it’s not that easy.
In the 2015 Gold Cup that starts next week, the USMNT is in the odd position of not only having to defend their 2013 title, but also defending against a potential playoff for the Confederations Cup in the Fall. Everybody else in the tournament is playing to knockout the USMNT, creating the opportunity that the playoff represents. Mexico, of course, looms but they’re not the only contender in a tournament that can surprise.
Costa Rica and their lofty FIFA World Ranking is still in the mix. Sure, that ranking might be the most deceptive in the region. Costa Rica, not Mexico or the United States, leads all CONCACAF teams in 14th-place. That’s nine places higher up the table than Mexico and 13 places better than the USMNT. Over three friendlies in June, Costa Rica lost to Colombia in Buenos Aires, scored in a 201 away loss to Spain, and drew 2-2 with Mexico at the Citrus Bowl. Under a new coach and a new setup, Costa Rica is tough to downplay.
Mexico has its own problems, reworking their attacking options now that Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez is officially out for the Gold Cup with a fractured collarbone. Mexico may have another problem after taking a different group to the Copa America. Though it was a completely different squad, the malaise on display in Chile can certainly carryover to the Gold Cup squad. It’s hard to draw a sharp line between one group wearing the jersey and another, especially when the coaching staff is the same. El Tri coach Miguel Herrera taking to social media last month to involve himself in Mexican politics probably didn’t help.
It’s Mexico carrying the full weight of expectation. A playoff with the USMNT for the Confederations Cup spot is a big ticket item for the region. It’s also a chance for Mexico to put two over their nearest and dearest rivals, taking the 2015 Gold Cup and that Confederations Cup spot. It’s a different kind of pressure than what the USMNT is dealing with in their preparations.
For Jurgen Klinsmann and the USMNT, this Gold Cup is about defending that title in the big picture sense. It’s an odd circumstance for the team, who won in 2013 without any idea that it would carry over to a potential playoff. Under the old rules, the 2013 Gold Cup was the odd year tournament with less pressure. The focus would be on 2015 regardless, with that Gold Cup spot up for grabs. Instead, the USMNT finds itself with half a Confederations Cup spot.
Turning that into entry into the 2017 tournament in Russia might be straightforward for Klinsmann, but he has a safety net. The focus is, of course, on the USMNT making the playoff irrelevant by winning the 2015 Gold Cup. The coaching staff would say nothing else, keeping that intensity of focus throughout. This is another proof of concept for Klinsmann, showing his squad can adapt whether it’s a European or regional power that they need to beat.
Right now, there’s no downplaying the situation for the team with half a Confederations Cup spot. CONCACAF’s changes turn the second Gold Cup in the cycle into a tougher tournament for the defending champion. That’s part of the point. CONCACAF wouldn’t have come up with the Confederations Cup playoff if they didn’t want to eventually see it played.
J Hutcherson started covering soccer in 1999 and has worked as the general manager of the US National Soccer Team Players Association since 2002. Contact him atjhutcherson@usnstpa.com.
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