Photo by Kirby Lee/ USA Today Sports
By RYAN TOLMICH
The U.S. Men’s National Team is set to kick off the Gold Cup on July 7, but it appears that Jurgen Klinsmann’s side will have one final tune-up just days before this summer’s tournament.
FIFA’s website states that the USMNT is set to host Guatemala in Nashville for a pre-Gold Cup friendly on July 3. An announcement is expected in the coming weeks for the game at LP Field.
The timing of the friendly would be similar to that used in the build-up to the 2013 Gold Cup, when the U.S. defeated the very same Guatemala team, 6-0, in San Diego four days before kicking off the CONCACAF tournament.
With the proposed friendly, the U.S. will have three more contests ahead of the Gold Cup. The team is scheduled to travel to Europe in June for matchups against the Netherlands and Germany that will take place on June 5 and 10, respectively.
The U.S. will then kick off the Gold Cup on July 7 against Honduras before concluding the Group Stage with meetings against Haiti on July 10 and Panama on July 13.
What do you think of the proposed friendly? How do you expect Klinsmann to utilize a matchup with Guatemala just before the Gold Cup?
Share your thoughts below.
One more match for Jurgen to work out the kinks.
Well I’m not saying we’d get a result perse but I do t think we’ll be run off the field either!! As long as the mentality is strong within the group who knows! Fans tend to have a negative mentality when pitting the US vs top European competition but if the results against the likes of Italy in Italy says anything it’d that on any given day these teams can be best at their house!
Guys, I know Germany and the Dutch will be a tough out but why so pessimistic?? We’ve done pretty well against European opposition in the backyard lately and I’m expecting more of the same here! I think we’ll start to see more continuity and better play overall because it seems we’ve settled on a formation and core group of guys sans the introduction of Alvarado and Yarborough! The diamond looks to be a good solution for our roster and the latest friendly results should inspire some confidence to boot
We mostly held our own in the most recent friendlies in Europe, but that was against 2nd tier teams like ourselves. Good teams, and a great test on the road, but mostly even match in terms of talent.
Germany and Netherlands are on another level. True top tier squads whose second string players trump our best in terms of talent. I think it’s great opportunity to expose our guys to what it’s like to play that level. And to learn what it takes to be the best. But I wouldn’t hold your breath for a result against either.
Awesome!!!! finally tough opposition to make us feel good about ourselves before facing reality in the Gold Cup.
After going to Germany and the Netherlands we might need it
Was thinking much the same thing. A reality check to show us we’ve still got a long ways to go (Germany & Netherlands). And then a Moral Boost before making a run at another Gold Cup Championship.
Off subject but Herc, Bedoya and Holden all going back and forth about MLS has been pretty entertaining today.
Woohoo! I’m from Memphis so Nashville was always a great location for USMNT games for me; but I just moved to Murfeesboro and so now it’s perfect! Best news I’ve heard in a while!
nice. should be a good victory to keep the out of season players in form before facing Honduras. Guatemala has slightly improved recently too so it should be a decent tune up game. and some fireworks, pre 4th of July party!
Nice. That’s a hop skip and a jump for us here in Indy. We’d love to come on down to Music City for a match!
So happy to see the USMNT coming back to Nashville! We always have a good turn out here and I have been waiting them to come back here and give me new memories since I was here to witness the Nashville Nightmare of Olympic qualifying. Middle TN is developing into a soccer hotbed of the south and if we could get some financial backing Nashville is completely capable of housing an MLS team, our population continues to grow with a large portion of it being immigrants from Central America so there are plenty of fans. Nashville would be a true southern rival to Atlanta FC.
finally the mid-south gets some soccer love….
At first, I was surprised how close it is to the start of the Gold Cup. But this will be good to get the juices flowing early since it is a tougher group than in the past. We usually have the luxury of having group play being essentially the friendlies leading up to the knock out stage.
This is no group of death but it will be more important than ever to get a good start.