My excitement for the US playing in the Gold Cup can be summed up with the statement that I watched about half the game today, fast forwarding using the DVR. In light of the Confederations Cup, it just doesn’t hold my interest this year.

The problem? Most of the teams in CONCACAF aren’t that good. In 2007 the US fielded a fairly strong team and won, beating Mexico in the final on a fantastic Benny Feilhaber goal. The US is fielding a B, maybe even C team at this year’s Gold Cup and after watching the opening 4-0 thumping of Grenada, I’m not sure what that match teaches us. I mean, sure, Heath Pearce looks decent at this level and can hold his own but he’s already demonstrated that he struggles quite a bit when facing the next tier of international competition. And sure, Robbie Rogers and Kyle Beckerman looked decent enough, but it’s Grenada for God’s sake. How would they look against much stronger teams?

The best part about the Gold Cup? Winning it qualifies them for the Confederations Cup where they can meet some high-level non-CONCACAF competition for a change. I have said ad nauseum that playing CONCACAF teams over and over again—in qualifying, in friendlies, in these tournaments—doesn’t help the US improve. That’s why US Soccer’s decision to send a rookie squad to the Copa America didn’t seem to make much sense, especially now that we’re not being invited back. The best experience for them would be playing in tournaments that simulate the World Cup, with the same group and knock-out stages against relatively unfamiliar opponents.

I guess I shouldn’t sniff at the Gold Cup and should look at the benefits as a whole. It gives Freddy Adu an extended platform to perform and if a couple others can put in seriously dominant performances then they should be in the mix for the 2010 squad. I definitely want the US to defend their Gold Cup crown and it will be interesting to see how some of the younger generation cope with the pressure, but the whole thing fails to get the heart racing.

Current Mood: Sure |