As the 2017 Gold Cup is set to put the young stars of CONCACAF nations against one another, a look at 10 potential stars from the tournament.
With club seasons outside of MLS not yet getting underway, fans will get another taste of an international competition this summer. The 2017 Gold Cup will pit the 12 qualified nations against one another in group stage format, then going into the knockout rounds. Though the US Men’s National Team and Mexico are favored for the competition, we and every team knows that means next to nothing.
However, what that does tell you is that there is a talent discrepancy between the majority of these sides. Even if the US isn’t a full-on international powerhouse, they still have a vastly deeper talent pool to draw from. As such, the countries on the wrong end of that deal will need players to step up in big ways to pull off upsets.
At the same time, this is also an incredibly young competition set to happen at the 2017 Gold Cup. As evidenced by the 23-man roster for the Americans, this cup is all about preparation for the World Cup (and obviously the qualifying before that. Thus, that means even more so that some players will have to step up and be leaders.
So who are these players that will face such a task heading into this competition? Here’s a look at 10 potential stars for the 2017 Gold Cup.
10. Jordan Morris, Forward, USA
Jordan Morris is far from a new face for most international soccer fans, particularly US Men’s National Team fans. The former Stanford Cardinal striker, now with the Seattle Sounders in MLS, has been playing sporadically with the senior team since 2014. Over that time, he’s made 16 appearances with the squad. And in his work, he’s done what he has for all of his career at every stop.
Between 23 goals in 54 matches in college to 14 goals in 41 appearances since joining the Sounders in 2016 to two goals in 16 caps with the USMNT, Morris is a fantastic scorer that may be the most sure-footed player on the roster of the Americans when he’s in front of net.
Without the likes of Clint Dempsey or even Jozy Altidore on this Gold Cup roster, the biggest key for Bruce Arena’s team is going to be finding a consistent goal scorer They have some experience in the midfield, in the back and in goal. However, the youth of the forwards is undeniable. That could spell doom, or it could just mean that someone needs to step up and take charge.
Given how prolific he’s proven he’s capable of being, Morris is my pick to be that guy. Dom Dwyer has been getting much of the talk from fans leading up to this competition. Yet, I don’t think he has the experience or true ability to successfully outdo Morris.
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