INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
WHEN IT COMES TO CONCACAF AND WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION, EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED. AFTER A WILD SUMMER AT THE CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE AND THE GOLD CUP THE REGION WILL BEGIN QUALIFICATION AHEAD OF QATAR 2022 WITH PERHAPS MORE DRAMA AND MORE QUESTIONS THAN EVER BEFORE.
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED BY: SEAN MASLIN
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f course, the biggest storyline is the United States. After a dismal run in the lead up to the 2018 World Cup which saw the side miss the World Cup for the first time since 1986, the USMNT appear to back and reloaded. Head Coach Gregg Berhalter and General Manager Brian McBride strategy of playing their top players at the Nations League and using the Gold Cup to assess their depth paid off with the USMNT winning both competitions and giving players such as Miles Robinson, George Bello, Matt Turner and Kellyn Acosta a chance to shine. Perhaps what is more important than the wins is who they were against: Mexico. While the Nations League final can be understood within El Tri circles as an ‘A’ level side defeating an ‘A’ level side the Gold Cup match against a third string U.S. team is an entirely different situation. While El Tri was without Chucky Lozano and Raul Jimenez, losing to the U.S. ‘C’ team sent shockwaves across the region. Yes, the U.S. being back was part of the story, but perhaps the bigger story is that Mexico is vulnerable. Mexico and their head coach Tata Martino are in a tough spot because while there is a need to go through a youth movement, the youth aren’t quite ready. That means relying once again on veterans like Guillermo Ochoa and
'USING THE GOLD CUP TO ASSESS THEIR DEPTH PAID OFF' 54
SOCCER360 SEPTEMBER • OCTOBER 2021
DID YOU KNOW? The top 5 seeded CONCACAF teams, based on the FIFA World Rankings, get a bye straight to the third round of World Cup Qualifications. 1. Mexico 2. United States 3. Costa Rica 4. Jamaica 5. Honduras
Gregg Berhalter, USA Coach
Carlos Vela, while hoping that Lozano and Jimenez can stay healthy. The dynamic of a young and inexperienced USMNT and an aging El Tri has opened the door for a flurry of different contenders in the region. Of the rest of the field, Canada look primed to make the biggest jump. Superstars Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David have completely changed the fortunes of the CANMNT program, getting the side back into the final round of qualification for the first time in a decade. While neither played in the Gold Cup, head coach John Herdman found success with Tajon Buchanan, Stephan Estuaquio and Cyle Larin. While the North American sides have made waves, the sides from Central America and the Carribean (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Jamaica, and Panama) are all certainly capable
ABOVE: The USA Men's National Team with the 2021 Gold Cup Trophy BOTTOM LEFT: Matt Turner had a great Nations League and Gold Cup BOTTOM RIGHT: Relying on veterans like Guillermo Ochoa wasn't enough for Mexico to defeat the USA
