3 Months, 2 Trophies and 1 Goal: USMNT Win Gold Cup On Quest to Qualify for World Cup
As most people know by now, the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team won the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup final last night, making it their second regional trophy of the year after their win in the 2021 CONCACAF Nations League final earlier this summer. What made last night’s win even sweeter is the fact that, just like the Nation’s League final, it came against their biggest rival and toughest regional opponent: Mexico. Though many people, myself included, dubbed the 2021 Gold Cup roster as the U.S.’s “B” or even “C” team, I no longer believe it to be true. Though they were without some of their elite players, such as Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams, this group showed their talent and were able to win a major tournament against increasingly tough CONCACAF competition.
Though there were several nervy moments in last night’s 120-minute match, the USMNT were able to maintain possession in spurts, attack Mexico’s backline and push El Tri to the brink. Throughout this match, there were moments where both teams could have taken an early lead. However, as was the case throughout the Gold Cup tournament, US goalkeeper Matt Turner made some unbelievable saves - 5 of them, to be exact. Outside of Turner’s excellence, the U.S. defense stood strong against Mexico, especially centerback Miles Robinson: his defensive play made him a standout in this match and the tournament overall. Robinson made his presence felt, got involved in duels, didn’t allow Mexican attackers to have easy runs and covered up the mistakes of others as well. However, Robinson will likely be remembered for his incredible game-winning set piece header in the 117th minute, which all but clinched the U.S.’s Gold Cup win. Both Turner and Robinson were two of the biggest contributors to the USMNT all tournament long and should see their stock among the US coaching staff rise as World Cup Qualifying (WCQ) nears.
“However, Robinson will likely be remembered for his incredible game-winning set piece header in the 117th minute, which all but clinched the U.S.’s Gold Cup win.”
The only other player who I believe has solidified his roster spot in the WCQ Octagonal competition this fall is the player who assisted Miles Robinson in the game-winner: Midfielder Kellyn Acosta. After his master class in mind games against Qatar (and, for that matter, against Mexico in the Nations League final) and his play as a defensive midfielder last night, Acosta has proven he can be a backup to Tyler Adams or even get a start in central midfield. As Acosta developed throughout the tournament, he became a leader within this young USMNT group by the time the final arrived. With that said, some other players who have inserted themselves into the WCQ roster conversation are midfielder Eryk Williamson, defender James Sands, defender Shaq Moore, defender Sam Vines, and midfielder Cristian Roldan. Gyasi Zardes, Reggie Cannon, and Sebastian Lletget should already be in the WCQ group, given their constant inclusion in Gregg Berhalter’s rosters.
“After his master class in mind games against Qatar … and his play as a defensive midfielder last night, Acosta has proven he can be a backup to Tyler Adams or even get a start in central midfield.”
Outside of specific player performances, what does the Gold Cup mean for the USMNT? With both major CONCACAF titles under their belts at this point, the US are the champions of North America and the kings of CONCACAF. With a roster mostly comprised of MLS players, the US proved their worth on a global scale, beating nations like Canada, Jamaica, reigning Asian Cup champions Qatar, and regional juggernaut Mexico in a knockout tournament. On top of that, fans and coaches alike got plenty of answers as far as who is likely to feature in the upcoming World Cup Qualifying cycle.
Put simply, this win was sweet.
This entire Gold Cup tournament created so many fantastic memories for U.S. soccer fans. However, now is the time for the USMNT - whether European-based or domestically-based - to shift their focus to World Cup Qualifiers, which are only a month away now. Also, Gregg Berhalter has some tough decisions to make as he begins to select his roster. Questions such as: who is the starting goalkeeper? Who will start at striker? Where do Gold Cup “borderline” players fit in? I’m thankful, though – not just because the talent pool is full enough that selections will be tough, but also because I don’t have to make these decisions ahead of what will be one of the most important World Cup Qualifying cycles to date.
