The biggest national team tournament in the CONCACAF region is here. The 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup will spread across the US with 13 cities hosting matches. It will all culminate with the final on July 26 in Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Let’s now focus our attention to Group B.
GROUP B TEAMS & HOW THEY QUALIFIED:
Grenada – Runner-up in 2008 Caribbean Championship
Haiti – Won a draw to participate after Cuba withdrew
Honduras – 3rd place in 2009 UNCAF Nations Cup
United States – Host Nation & Defending Champion
NICKNAMES:
Grenada = Spice Boyz
Haiti = Les Grenadiers
Honduras = Los Catrachos
United States = Stars & Stripes
MATCH LOCATIONS:
Qwest Field – Seattle, Washington
RFK Memorial Stadium – Washington D.C.
Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, Massachusetts
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Kenny Cooper (USA)
The big FC Dallas forward finally gets an opportunity to play for the United States in a big international tournament. His goal scoring exploits in the MLS are well-known but for whatever reason Cooper could not get a sniff of national team play. A product of the Manchester United youth system, Cooper has only 4 caps for the Stars & Stripes. A strong performance in the Gold Cup could see the 6’3″ forward finally make the move to
Europe.
OVERVIEW:
The United States will carry the momentum of a surprising Confederations Cup run into a tournament they have won 3 of the last 4 times. The US will make the next round easily. Same could be said for Honduras, Los Catrachos will be missing some of their top players but they have enough talent to get to the quarters. Grenada stunned the Caribbean when they reached the final of the Caribbean Championship and could do this tournament what
Guadeloupe did in 2007. Haiti is lucky to be in the Gold Cup after Cuba withdrew.
PREDICTION:
The U.S. and Honduras will advance as the top two teams in the group. Look out for Grenada as a team to fight for a quarterfinal spot as a 3rd place qualifier.
We will finish our 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup preview with Group C.
We’re rooting for Grenada down here but they have a daunting task taking on the USA tomorrow. What a game the final of the Confederations Cup was last week, it would’ve been great to see the USA cause an upset but Brazil came back too strong. Go Spice Boyz!
good result for the USA with their young team. hoping they can keep up the pace.