U.S. Soccer's Hot Streak Turns to Gold

I am very happy Charlie brought me on board to be SnoTap’s soccer writer.  I will be writing once or twice a week mostly about the Premier League and USA Soccer but you will also see Champions League and other National team soccer from me. If you have not given soccer a chance yet, you really should but that is a different post for a different time.

Last night capped of an incredible run for the United States Men’s National team beating Panama 1-0 to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament. Although this team considered generally a “B squad” made up largely of young up and coming players, they carried the U.S team to victory and kept the now 11 game winning streak intact.

The streak started with a surprising win over Germany at the beginning of June in a friendly match and has continued all the way to now. Three straight wins in World Cup Qualifying by the “A squad” has the U.S all but guaranteed a spot in Rio for the 2014 World Cup. Following that, the team took to the Gold Cup tournament which is held every two years and helps determine CONCACAF’s representative in the Confederations Cup.

In the Gold Cup, the team continued its hot streak winning every game and having an insane +16 goal differential in the tournament. The run was capped off with a thrilling win over Panama last night at Soldier Field in Chicago. The U.S beat a very good Panama team in the final on Brek Shea’s tap-in goal from Landon Donovan. Donovan took home the tournament Most Valuable Player award and showed enough to U.S manager Jurgen Klinsmann for there to be a “high probability” Donovan is included in the U.S World Cup Qualifying team in September. (The idea that he would not be is ludicrous so don’t worry Landon’s on the team)

The hot streak has confidence at an all time high and the U.S playing some of its best soccer in years. With a spot in the 2014 World Cup essentially secured and a spot in the playoff to represent CONCACAF in the Confederations Cup, USA fans have a lot to be excited about going forward in 2013.

The U.S has a few weeks off until they head over to Europe to play Bosnia-Herzegovina in a friendly match. They return for two crucial World Cup Qualifying matches against Costa Rica and Mexico.  A win over Costa Rica would put the U.S five points clear of second place and basically secure their spot in Rio. This will not be an easy task as the U.S. will be playing in Costa Rica, a country where they have struggled to win games. The game against a struggling Mexico team would also help solidify the U.S’s spot in Rio and they will be playing in front of their home fans in Columbus, Ohio in what will be an electrifying crowd given the U.S.-Mexico soccer rivalry.  

The way this team is playing right now and with Landon Donovan coming back up to the “A squad” it is hard to see this team not winning one of those two games. The key is for the U.S players to stay healthy during their club seasons and this team should continue their streak come September.

Jackson.