Gold Cup

There was no controversy in the final of the 2015 Gold Cup. And for Mexico, a team that couldn’t seem to escape it, that is a cherry on top of a game in which it established dominance, and impressed throughout as it won 3-1.

Mexico did not start the game the way it ended it. Jamaica looked good in the first half hour, and had good, clear chances to score while Mexico was still finding its feet. This game could have started 2-0 in favor of Jamaica, but they just were not clinical in the slightest. They scored in the 80th minute, but it was a consolation, too little, too late. 

There's not much we can write about the Gold Cup third-place match between the USA and Panama that's positive. The game itself was boring, and Panama took it so seriously they played kickball the day before instead of practicing.

The game ended 1-1 in regulation and 1-1 after extra time, sending a game nobody wanted to go to penalties to penalties. Panama won after Fabian Johnson missed and Michael Bradley and DaMarcus Beasley were denied. 

Tim Howard has confirmed his one-year hiatus from international soccer will end after, well, a year. 

Howard's return comes at a time where the USMNT is in need of some stability and confidence, having been bounced from the Gold Cup by Jamaica in the semifinals. The U.S. now have to play the winner of the final, between Mexico and Jamaica on Sunday, in October for the right to play in the Confederations Cup.

Seriously, is the Gold Cup fixed? Miguel Herrera earlier claimed various forces were against Mexico in the tournament, but now it looks like various forces (and by "forces, we mean "referees") want Mexico to win win the Gold Cup more than they want anything in the world.

First, there was this penalty, which we'll call "dubious." 

I can see it both ways. But the Costa Rican team, and various Costa Rican politicians, were pissed.

After last night's loss in the Gold Cup semifinals to Jamaica, we don't know how to feel about Jurgen Klinsmann. So we made a list.

Pro:

Bobby Wood, America's most recent soccer sweetheart, wasn't available for the Gold Cup because his club team wanted him to stay in Germany.

Con:

Klinsmann doesn't have enough pull in Germany to be able to borrow Bobby Wood for a few weeks?

Con: 

Could Klinsmann not find anybody better than Aaron Johanssen to play striker?

Pro:

USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann commented on the stakes of tonight’s Gold Cup semifinal against Jamaica, saying that everyone knows what’s on the line, that he expects his team to be prepared, and that Jamaica will give it their all.  

According to ESPNFC, Mexico head coach Miguel Herrera believes that his team is getting treated unfairly at the Gold Cup, citing that, because of the ticket sales that his team drives, it should get better travel accommodations. 

"What surprises me is that Mexico fills the box offices and causes stadiums to sell out, [but] in all this process they have treated us differently, they have cut certain things," Herrera said.

Mexico have reached the semifinals of the Gold Cup, dispatching Costa Rica via a 122nd-minute penalty caused by Oribe Peralta going full-on Arjen Robben.

See for yourself.

Andres Guardado stepped up and drilled the penalty and Mexico were through.

FIFA recently released it’s updated Men’s World Rankings and they did not go easy on Mexico, United States, and Costa Rica.

The rankings showcase who are the best teams in the world, and take into account friendly fixtures and competitive fixtures. Teams accumulate points throughout.

The Gold Cup's group stage was pretty noneventful until last night's game between Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago.

Wait, let me rephrase. The Gold Cup's group stage was pretty noneventful until the second half of last night's game between Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago, because this goal from Paul Aguilar was all that happened in the first.