Photo by ISIphotos.com
by GIANFRANCO PANIZO
The 2009 Gold Cup is in the books, and while no American fan wants to remember how poorly the tournament ended for the U.S. national team, there were still some great performances to draw from it.
CONCACAF acknowledged this as it named four U.S. players to the 18-man Gold Cup All-Tournament team. Stuart Holden, Kenny Cooper, Clarence Goodson and Chad Marshall received those honors, while the U.S. also received the tournament's Fair Play Award.
The complete All-Tournament team is listed under the jump:
2009 Gold Cup All-Tournament team
Goalkeepers – Keilor Navas (CRC), Guillermo Ochoa (MEX)
Defenders – Mike Klukowski (CAN), Freddy Fernandez (CRC), Fausto Pinto (MEX), Luis Moreno (PAN), Clarence Goodson (USA), Chad Marshall (USA)
Midfielders – Julian de Guzman (CAN), Celso Borges (CRC), Stephane Auvray (GLP), Gerardo Torrado (MEX), Giovani dos Santos (MEX), Stuart Holden (USA)
Forwards – Alvaro Saborio (CRC), Walter Martinez (HON), Miguel Sabah (MEX), Kenny Cooper (USA)
While the inclusion of the four Americans is a strong indicator of the United States' overall depth, one has to wonder how and why Kyle Beckerman was left off this team.
While Beckerman did not leave an impression on the CONCACAF officials (at least the ones who named this team) he surely has to have left an impression on U.S. head coach Bob Bradley, who must have turned his attention to the Aug. 12 World Cup qualifier against Mexico in Estadio Azteca.
For Americans everywhere, that game can't come soon enough.
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What do you think of the four U.S. players named to the Gold Cup All-Tournament team? Is someone on there that shouldn't be? Wondering where Beckerman is on this team? Did any of your favorite CONCACAF players get snubbed?
Share your thoughts below.