By CALEB SONNELAND
Mexico has emerged from group play as the team to beat at Gold Cup 2011.
After thumping El Salvador and Cuba by a score of 5-0, the Mexicans closed out Group A in style with a 4-1 win over a Costa Rican side that was seen by many as the second strongest side in the group.
New York Red Bulls defender Rafael Marquez found the net in the recent win over Costa Rica, as did Andres Guardado and West Ham's Pablo Barrera. The win locked down first place in the group and set up a clash with either Canada, the United States or Guatemala on June 18th in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Los Tricolores has looked lethal in front of goal, smashing in 14 goals in just three games.
Cuba has emerged as the whipping boys of the group, losing all three of its matches with a goal difference of -15, and, despite losing to Mexico by such a hefty margin, Costa Rica pips El Salvador to second place on goal difference alone. A 95th minute goal from Randall Brenes saw their head-to-head clash finish 1-1 on their June 9th matchup in North Carolina.
Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez has not disappointed following a very successful transition to life at Manchester United and has notched five goals in three games so far in the tournament. Substitute striker Aldo di Nigiris has come off the bench in all three games to get on the score sheet in two of them.
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Surprised Mexico handled Costa Rica so easily? Think anybody can stop Mexico?
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wake up Bigmeat…better yet lay off the drugs….you are on some of that S**T!!!!!!
I remember all the US fans saying we had the better players….. What changed on Mexico? They have pretty much the same team, for the last few years. Hmm
Wow speaking of people sounding like they just came back from “playing on a freeway”… Lol
Gulati is the 0ne pulling the strings. Its time to clean house and get a president who sees soccer as more than just a hobby.
There’s no way BB will get fired even if the team doesn’t make it to the final. Bradley works for cheap and is under the control of USSF. That’s why we don’t have a Capello or Klinsmann. They cost too much and want total control.
I’m sure USSF already has the talking points ready in case we get eliminated. Some players are injured, others tired, the rest are inexperience. We’ll be ready by WC 2014.
Bizzy, go play on the freeway. You know nothing about this game.
Mexico has beaten up on really lousy teams so far. Costa Rica is on the way down and Mexico always seems to have their number anyway. During the final of qualifying, the last two cycles,U.S. has not blown out any team, while other teams have. But who has won their group and been more consistent as far as winning? Right, the U.S.
Mexico has always had the better technical player and the U.S. has always imposed their physical attributes on the field and have kicked Mexico’s as*. 2002 World Cup Mexican players had a smug look like they do now and the U.S. kicked some butt.
El Salvador had about four chances to score on Mexico in the first half but when Mexico scored, they opened up and got killed. A Cuban player, forget whom, split the Mexican defense and came close to scoring. Mexico’s defense sucks.
I would be just fitting if the U.S. smashed Mexico. But I like the 2-0 in favor of the U.S.
Like playing them in NY will be any different
Right. He is a good header and I never understood why they would not take advantage of that. Have some small midfielder take corner kicks.
This is why Marquez should not be taking corner kicks New York.
Chicken littles?
Mexico has 15 or 16 goals in 3 games. We have 3 in 2 against worse teams. If anything, there isn’t enough realism.
you sound like a mexican L.
Mexico is no doubt the best players but as a team the USA can win on a good day.
If losing this early in the Gold Cup gets Bradley fired then perhaps this is a necessary pain to have success in the next World Cup…
Not questioning that, if you read again you’ll understand what I am getting at.
Mexico also lost to El Salvador 2-1 away and didn’t do so well in away matches in general except for the win in Costa Rica. This Mexican side has absolutely improved.
I wish you chicken littles would settle down a bit. Mexico is greatly improved partially because it IS 2 years later. Chicarito and others have improved over that time and Mexico is a much better team now than it was a few years ago. Meanwhile, the US has become a bit unsettled with key starters like Gooch out of form and Holden injured. We are still working on putting a team together and that may take some time. Only time will tell if we can develop a good team with the players we have available now, but Mexico are obviously the favorites for this Gold Cup.
So is either the Gold Cup or fire Bob…
Lol true jamaica plays good. But to actually beat Mexico nope I don’t see it. Maybe Jamaica may have more physical than Mexico but Mexico has more technique and better players.
good news for the dynamo
Mexico would kill us 5-0(again), they have a real team and a REAL coach period.
If its not USA-Mexico in the final, i would love to see Jamaica-Mexico in the final, the Jamaicans have been playing really really well, and attractive soccer as well
Mexico beat teams by 4 or more goals. We can’t even beat el salvador by 5 goals. We can’t beat costa rica in our own home. I think Mexico may be champ this year. We lost to panama. I don’t think we are ready to face Mexico.
If you guys read all my post in the other Gold Cup articles, then you will understand that I have proven my point………ohh, and Andres guardado’s goal is simply astonishing…
“barely beating el Salvador and stressin on C.R”
What are you talking about? Mexico defeated El Salvador 4-1 at home and defeat C.R. away 3-0.
It’s almost like this tournament is proving to be a necessary sacrifice for USSOCCER. We may see some embarrassment as the hosts and co-favorites, but in the end we may get a breath of fresh air in a coaching regime change. And even more than that, a paradigm shift for our entire soccer culture. We need someone fresh–no disrespect to BB and what he has accomplished. But for now, it’s about what’s best going forward.
And when they were struggling, Mexico did the sensible thing and fired the coach. He’s the only difference between this side and the side of last year.
We struggled and kept our coach for another cycle!
But I agree – Mexico are not unbeatable and they have yet to face a well organized side. My dark horses pre-tournament were Jamaica and so far they have shown well.
Our lads always take it up a level against mexico so we wouldn’t go down as whipping boys.
Low blow.
How do you dream something off? Just kidding, but seriously, anything can happen in knockout stages.
There’s even a possibility that we won’t advance out of the group.
(for some reason I hit reply and it made it’s own post at the very bottom.. so here’s hoping this time it works!)
Alright, well played. But seriously, I love the kid.
Me too. We are always more dangerous coming off of poor performances and with our backs against the wall. They are always very vulnerable when they come in thinking they are big favorites.
Prediction: Mexico smokes USA in Gold Cup match up. Bob Bradley gets the boot.
I honestly have to give a lot of the credit to the Coach, this guy has the players believing, sure they beat teams like Cuba and El Salvador, which they SHOULD beat buy that margin, and Costa Rica is a mediocre team always fighting for a spot in the WC. two years ago the base of these players were in qualifying and barely beating el Salvador and stressin on C.R.. This coach will take is far… we hope.
Yes, at least yesterday they definitely didn’t need Chicharito to win big.
they need to test them all for “clambuteron” or however you spell that.
Mexico are prohibitive favorites and always have been. We are inexperienced in central defense, which has historically been our strength. We have personnel issues.
But don’t go crowning mexico champions of anything yet. They are not unbeatable, and games are played on the field for a reason.
Also, for as many people who say we are in complete dissarray and are envious of Mexico — take a look back to what was happening two years ago during the peak of qualifying when Mexico was in shambles and looked headed for a potential early exit.
Nothing is permanant, not even a loss to Panama
Is there a mercy rule for the Gold Cup? How about if Mexico drops 5 in the first half in any of the knockout stages they don’t have to play the second half?
Don’t discount Wondo – golden boot winner last year and he has SIX goals in MLS this year! What a finisher! He would have deposited at least one of those chances Chicharito missed.
Sorry, I’ll stop laughing now.
Yes, Guardado’s golazo was fantastic. Diagonal volley from the left side to catch the top right corner. His other goal was very good too – running in from a tight angle and catching the goalie cheating at the near post (though Costa Rican’s goalie actualyl had a very good game).
Seriously, wathcing the whole game costa Rica was damn lucky it didn’t end 8-0. And this is Costa Rica we’re talking about, not Cuba. The US, if it gets to Mexico, is realistically a serious underdog – anyone who saw yesterday’s game and denies this is living in la-la land.
The Lance Armstrong training regiment seems to be paying off for Mexico.
Doesn’t matter, Mexico is the best team in this competition and disposing of teams in a fashion the US can only dreams off, and at the same time playing good defense and conceding only a goal.
Mexico are the Gold cup champions, hands down.
Chich is pretty scary, and what’s worse is how young he is.
If he can do this much damage as a 12 year old imagine once he hits puberty. He’ll be a thorn in our side for the next 20 years.
I hope so. I would rather play them early and away from LA.
Mexico’s absolutely fearsome, based on yesterday’s game. but I wouldn’t say Chicharito had a good game – he “Wondoloskied” at least 4 gimme goals. the fact that they were that dominant despite his bad games really says it all.
I have not seen the matches but heard Guardado had a Golazo.
very impressive, all of there european based players showing there worth.they should put a stop to this tournament and award them the cup they are making a mockery of the concacaf.not sure what costa rica’s fifa ranking is but they put on a clinic. soccer gurus from previous post knowing el salvadors and cuba ranking please assist.
If the US tie Guadaloupe isn’t there a possibility of us playing Mexico in the quarters?