MLS Multiplex
Fansided

CONCACAF Gold Cup- Marcello Balboa on USMNT

By Kristian Dyer

United States defender James Sands (16) controls the ball as Canada forward Ayo Akinola (20) defends during the CONCACAF Gold Cup Soccer group stage play at Children's Mercy Park. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
United States defender James Sands (16) controls the ball as Canada forward Ayo Akinola (20) defends during the CONCACAF Gold Cup Soccer group stage play at Children's Mercy Park. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

CONCACAF Gold Cup: Questions about the Yanks

Despite being one of the youngest rosters ever to take the field for the United States national team, it must be said that mission accomplished so far in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. This, despite a weak showing on Sunday for the United States in a 1-0 win over Canada to end group play.

On Friday, Sirius XM FC’s ‘Counter Attack’ discussed the expectations for this group, given the youth brought in by head coach Gregg Berhalter. Hosts Tony Meola and Brian Dunseth asked guest Marcelo Balboa, a former United States international, what he thought the expectations were for a young, raw team in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

First, he talked about the team’s somewhat ho-hum performance so far in the tournament.

“I think you got to how quickly they adapted to the way Gregg wants to play. They didn’t haven’t really played a great game against Haiti,” Balboa said on the Sirius XM show.

“Against Martinique and yea they scored goals but at times, again, you got to take into account that and with no disrespect to Martinique, they just weren’t a good team. When they didn’t play good teams they played a good 25 minutes against Canada, and then they fell apart.”

Balboa played 127 times for the United States national team, playing in three World Cups.

In many ways, the United States national team for this tournament is more about building depth and finding answers for this fall’s World Cup qualifiers. While it hasn’t been the usual dominant performance from the United States, in large part due to the young roster brought in by Berhalter, it is still a chance to evaluate young players for qualifiers this fall.

On Thursday, Berhalter joined Meola and Dunseth to discuss the CONCACAF Gold Cup in depth.

CONCACAF Gold Cup dominance by the US of A

The United States last won the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2017 and made the final in 2019, losing to Mexico. The United States has won the tournament six times, all since 1991, second only to Mexico.

The Americans have also been runners-up in the tournament six times. This team is always expected to make a deep run in the Gold Cup.

“So, you know, we’ve been trying to figure out what’s been good and I think Shaq Moore – is what we’re talking about players we’re going to pull out the positives, and what he was doing,” Balboa said.

“[Gianluca] Busio getting the opportunity, but I don’t think we’ve seen anywhere near the best of this group yet. And it’s not like it gets any easier when you got Jamaica on Sunday.

“In my mind, I always think the US should be in the final of the Gold Cup but that is just in my mind, but the rest of me I was thinking somewhere semifinal or final. Depending on how Qatar, what Qatar brought to the Gold Cup. What Jamaica brought,  and what Honduras did in the Nations League. So, you know, to be honest, in my head it was semifinal or final – that would be a good showing for this group.”

Home/U.S. Soccer