With the plethora of US and international sports events occurring this sunmer, I haven’t kept track of the progress of the the Gold Cup this summer. I fully expected a US-Mexico showdown at the end, and indeed that is happening. But where are the big names on the US team? The US always avoids their regular Copa America invitation (to my chagrin), so the Gold Cup should be their Euro or Copa America. I may skip the game on principle.
Because they just played Nations League and World Cup Qualifiers are this fall. The European players haven’t gotten a break in a while due to the compressed Covid schedule.
In addition the GC prior to a World Cup usually sees the US and Mexico send a B team so players aren’t overworked for WCQ. Only this time Tata Martino is on the hot seat so he brought a better team than usual.
They’re largely an MLS based team this year because the players involved with European clubs did the CONCACAF Nations League Final then got a break to recuperate and get to training camps on time after a highly compressed schedule.
And the US doesn’t get a regular Copa America invitation. They get them some, but not that often.
Probably because they always decline, but they’d easily be able to compete in it if they wanted to. Point is, I couldn’t imagine a European or South American team sending B teams to the Euros or CA just due to resting players.
Well other years, the Nations League and Gold Cup wouldn’t be in the same year. The Nations League was supposed to be last year, but got postponed due to COVID. Plus there has been a lot of schedule compression across all types of leagues and tournaments for the same. Expecting the same players to cram in two major tournaments, world cup qualifying, and their many professional obligations is a bit much. Compromises had to be made and this gives a chance to explore a wider variety of talent.
Hell of a game, and a B team won it all.
Yeah, was a great game! I’m glad I watched.
Man was that a tense, fun match. Amazing to watch the US players still running their asses off in the overtime…youth and timely substitutions will do that for you.