Concacaf Gold Cup

Gold Cup semifinal predictions: We've been drinking the Kool-Aid

The Concacaf Gold Cup semifinals are upon us Wednesday night, and although it's easy to pencil the United States and Mexico into the final for a third straight time, we shouldn't be so quick to write off Panama or Jamaica.

This feels like a particularly open final four. You could probably make just as convincing of an argument about why the U.S. is the best team remaining as you could one about why they're the worst, and the same goes for El Tri. 

Gold Cup quarterfinal: USMNT player ratings vs. Canada

The USMNT is through to the Gold Cup semifinals after a dramatic, back-and-forth penalty shootout victory over rivals Canada. 

The U.S. thought they'd won it in the 88th minute, only for Canada to equalize at 90+3'. Then the dramatics were reversed in extra time as the Canucks went up 2-1 in the 109th-minute before the Americans found a leveler in the 114th. 

In the shootout Matt Turner prevailed as Canada could only convert two of five attempts, and up next for the States is a semifinal against Panama on Wednesday night in San Diego. 

Mexican fan almost kisses the wrong woman as El Tri defeats Costa Rica

The relationship between Mexico and their fans has been a little rough lately. However, a truce was established during the game against Costa Rica at the AT&T Stadium for the Gold Cup quarterfinals. The supporters cheered constantly and so enthusiastically that one particular fan almost kissed the wrong woman while celebrating El Tri's first goal of the night.

Ooops!

La sangre fría de Orbelín Pineda lleva a México a las semifinales de la Copa Oro

México necesitó, tuvo que moler el grano, pero al final se impuso a Costa Rica por 2-0 y consiguió un ticket en las semifinales de la Copa Oro.

Y mucho de ese logro se lo debe a la sangre fría de Orbelín Pineda.

Los ticos no la vendieron barata. Pese a las críticas que han rodeado a la selección, el núcleo de veteranos conformado por tipos como Joel Campbell, Celso Borges y Kendall Watson logró maniatar al Tri durante todo el primer tiempo.

Incluso hubo momentos en que Costa Rica era el boss del mediocampo.

Por un boleto en semifinales: La posible alineación de México vs. Costa Rica

Después de las críticas recibidas por la derrota ante Catar y el lujo de darse un día libre, la Selección Mexicana retomó los entrenamientos para enfrentar a Costa Rica, en uno de los duelos que animarán los cuartos de final de la Copa Oro.

USMNT predicted starting XI vs. Canada: Here's how we take down the hosers

The USMNT is soaring into the Concacaf Gold Cup knockout rounds after twice matching their largest margin of victory in tournament history (back-to-back 6-0 results against Saint Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago). 

But all that will quickly be forgotten Sunday night when the U.S. welcomes Canada to TQL Stadium in Cincinnati with the knowledge that anything less than safe passage to the semifinals will be considered an unmitigated disaster, especially against a Canadian team that finished behind Guatemala in group play.

Gold Cup quarterfinal predictions: Let's get Concacaf'd

After a strangely long break in the action (the United States has a whole week to figure out how to win 6-0 again), the Concacaf Gold Cup returns this weekend with the quarterfinals. 

It's no surprise to see the USMNT and Mexico at the business stage of the tournament, but Jamaica, Panama, Guatemala and Canada all navigated the group phase without tasting defeat. 

Will we see any surprises in the last eight?  

2023 Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinal predictions 

Panama vs. Qatar

LamborJimmy abollado: Catar le hace la maldad a México en Copa Oro

El plan de México era acabar la fase de grupos de la Copa Oro con marca perfecta. Sin embargo, Catar dio la sorpresa y le propinó al Tri su primera derrota en la era de Jaime Lozano.

¿Qué pasó? En términos estadísticos, México fue inmensamente superior a la selección asiática con un 77% de posesión de balón e intentó hasta 25 disparos al arco, pero ninguno de esos remates encontró la red.

Catar, en cambio, registró una oportunidad y le bastó para lograr la victoria.

USMNT player ratings vs. Trinidad & Tobago: 3 who excelled, 2 who failed

Job done. The USMNT clinched top spot in Gold Cup Group A on Sunday night after beating Trinidad and Tobago 6-0 in sweltering conditions at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.

The win ensured that the U.S. and Mexico can't possibly meet until the final, but it was also an important 90 minutes for players to show that they should be considered for the full-strength USMNT squad when it eventually reconvenes. 

Why not Guadeloupe? The case for the French overseas department to win the Gold Cup

One of the best subplots to follow throughout the course of a Concacaf Gold Cup is the evolving power rankings of the nations looking to end the United States and Mexico's hegemony of the region. 

And with the USMNT sending a B Team under the direction of an interim manager and El Tri in disarray with their own interim boss, this summer looked as good a time as any for the likes of Canada and Jamaica to strive for glory.

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