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Gold Cup 2017: 3 outsiders who can contend for the title

By Clemente Lisi

SALVADOR, BRAZIL - JULY 05: (L-R) Bryan Ruiz, Marco Urena, Johnny Acosta, Michael Umana, Jose Miguel Cubero, Dave Myrie, Junior Diaz, Celso Borges and Giancarlo Gonzalez of Costa Rica look on in a penalty shootout during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Quarter Final match between the Netherlands and Costa Rica at Arena Fonte Nova on July 5, 2014 in Salvador, Brazil. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
SALVADOR, BRAZIL - JULY 05: (L-R) Bryan Ruiz, Marco Urena, Johnny Acosta, Michael Umana, Jose Miguel Cubero, Dave Myrie, Junior Diaz, Celso Borges and Giancarlo Gonzalez of Costa Rica look on in a penalty shootout during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Quarter Final match between the Netherlands and Costa Rica at Arena Fonte Nova on July 5, 2014 in Salvador, Brazil. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) /
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The United States and Mexico have had a virtual lock on the Gold Cup. Can another team break the pattern and become CONCACAF champion this summer?

In 1991, the Americans won the first edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the rebranded continental competition that had been known as the CONCACAF Championship first contested in 1963. In the 13 editions of the Gold Cup, Mexico have won seven, followed by the United States with five. Canada won it once in 2000.

Here are three dark horses who could spoil the tournament this month for either the United States or Mexico:

Costa Rica

Following their quarterfinal run at the last World Cup, many placed Costa Rica in the same upper echelons of CONCACAF alongside the USA and Mexico. While the Ticos have shown inconsistency over the past two years, they remain one of the strongest teams in the region. For a country of just 4.5 million inhabitants, Costa Rica have produced some amazing talent in recent years. Above all is Bryan Ruiz, the 31-year-old attacking midfielder currently at Sporting in Portugal. His offensive wizardry and ability to move the ball along the wings has served the Costa Rican attack well.

Alvaro Saborio, currently at Costa Rican powerhouse Saprissa and a veteran of six MLS seasons with Real Salt Lake and DC United, adds experience to the roster. Missing will be Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas, fresh off winning the Champions League. Like many European-based players, Navas was left off the roster for some much needed rest after a long club season.

Nonetheless, the team is well-stacked defensively. Giancarlo Gonzalez plays in Italy with Bologna (following a recent move from Palermo), along with 34-year-old center-back Michael Umana, a veteran of the team’s last World Cup campaign. Another MLS vet, Roy Miller, formerly of the New York Red Bulls and now with the Portland Timbers, adds depth to the roster.

The team, currently coached by Oscar Ramirez, are currently second in the Hexagonal and one of the favorites to qualify for next summer’s World Cup. They hold an all-time Gold Cup record of 16-15-19, with their best finish coming in 2002, when they were runners-up to the United States.

Honduras

While Honduras have struggled in the Hex while trying to qualify for their third-straight World Cup, the Catrachos, are currently fifth in the standings. Despite that, Honduras are always a tough opponent. All hope is also not lost. The team are hoping to make a good showing of it at the Gold Cup ahead of September, when qualifying resumes.

Honduras are also loaded with MLS talent. Players such as the Texas duo of FC Dallas defender Maynor Figueroa and Houston Dynamo midfielder Oscar Boniek Garcia are likely to start this month. In addition, the team have some foreign-based players worth keeping an eye on. They include Emilio Izaguirre, who plays for Scottish giants Celtic, and striker Rigoberto Rivas of Inter Milan in Italy. Striker Rony Martinez will be expected to create and score goals.

Honduras have an overall Gold Cup record of 18-6-17, with thier best showing coming in 1991, when it finished runners-up to the United States.

Canada

This is a team that are constantly rebuilding. They’ve hit the reset button every World Cup cycle since 1986, the first and only time the country qualified for the quadrennial tournament. Since then, reaching the World Cup finals has been an elusive goal, but the Gold Cup has not. The team did the impossible 17 years ago, winning the trophy after defeating Colombia, one of three invited guests with Peru and South Korea that year, 2-0. The Canadians stunned Mexico 2-1 in the quarterfinals and Trinidad & Tobago 1-0 as part of their impressive run.

Canada will feature a mix of MLS veterans and youth players. In a recent friendly against Curacao in Montreal, Canada featured four uncapped players (including the national team debut of 16-year-old midfielder Alphonso Davies) in a 2-1 win. Missing from the roster will be 22-year-old Orlando City FC striker Cyle Larin, arguably the best player the country have produced in a decade. A recent DWI arrest sidelined him, but he could be called into the squad after the first round should coach Octavio Zambrano decide to do so.

Zambrano, who once coached the NY/NJ MetroStars and Los Angeles Galaxy, was named to the job in May. The native of Ecuador has experience developing youth players and will be tasked with getting Canada prepared for a run to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. But Canada, who hold a 15-11-15 all-time record at the Gold Cup, will need to conjure up something special if they hope to win it all.

Interestingly enough, all three of the teams mentioned above share a first-round group. With all three placed in Group A alongside French Guiana, it is expected to be the closest thing to a “Group of Death” the Gold Cup has ever seen. If a team other than the United States or Mexico wins this tournament, they’ll almost certainly come out of Group A.

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