Sunday brings the 2019 Gold Cup Final, and now the United States Men’s National Team is just one win away from reaching it. The Stars and Stripes, currently ranked 30th in the world by FIFA, must first get past Jamaica, ranked #54, in the semifinal tomorrow night.
Head Coach Gregg Berhalter assumed the Yankee reigns at the end of the last calendar year, ending a long period of tumult and uncertainty within the USMNT program. For Berhalter, winning a title during his first year in charge would be the best way to show that he’s truly leading the national program forward.
Yesterday brought the beginning of Gold Cup Station, a media and fan event, held at Chicago’s Union Station, where we had an exclusive chat with USMNT legend Brian McBride.
The USA’s all-time 5th leading scorer discussed just how big winning the Gold Cup would be.
“You’ve come through the preliminary stage, the knockout stage, to now a level where the pressure is to win a championship,” the former Columbus Crew star said.
“Those are invaluable things not only as a player, but as a group and a team.”
Should they win and advance tomorrow night, the U.S. will meet tournament favorite and arch-rival Mexico, who are currently ranked #18 in the finale.
Berhalter spoke of the tournament’s magnitude earlier in the day.
“We’ve said all along the success of this team will be measured by if we’re going to win this tournament or not,” the 45-year-old said at his prematch news conference.
“We want to get to the final. We want to win the final. If you asked me a month ago, the answer would be the same. We think Mexico is the favorite for this tournament. We think it’s a very strong team.
“We have a lot of respect for Jamaica, that’s something we highlighted before this tournament as well. Now we’re in the semifinals with four good teams. Jamaica has been strong.”
“Mexico has been outstanding and Haiti has been another wonderful surprise in this tournament.”
To get another meeting with Mexcio, the USA is going to have to play a helluva better than they did against Curacao (ranked #79) in the quarter-finals. Berhalter’s side managed just 40% possession in the second half against a team that has only existed in its current, modern form since 2011, and hails from a country with only 161,000 people.
Beyond just claiming the Gold Cup trophy, this tournament presents a major opportunity for the U.S. to grow and develop as a specific unit and as a greater program.
“The identity has to continue to grow,” said McBride.
“The blending in of the younger players with the veterans- that takes time but the reason I have a positive outlook is Gregg’s done that in Columbus.”
McBride preaches patience to American soccer fans, believing that Berhalter should be granted time to put his plan into place.
“He’s built a club, and instilled a culture as you say it, but more of an identity of how to play,” the Arlington Heights native continued, “and at the international level, it takes longer because you’re not together day in and day out.”
“I’m optimistic in Gregg, I’m positive about what he’s trying to do.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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