Group B promises to be one of the most intriguing groups to watch in the 2015 Gold Cup, with each of the four teams out to make a statement. As the tournament gets set to kick off on Tuesday night, here are the teams that make up Group B:
- Costa Rica (14th in FIFA rankings, 1st in CONCACAF) 16-12-18 all-time in Gold Cup
- Jamaica (65th, 5th) 7-2-14 all-time
- El Salvador (89th, 9th) 7-5-12 all-time
- Canada (109th, 13th) 15-9-14 all time, Gold Cup Champion in 2000
Costa Rica is the obvious favorite, and a favorite of many to challenge the United States and Mexico for this year’s Gold Cup. Jamaica and Canada have shown quality at times this year, making them intriguing, but giving nobody confidence, and El Salvador is the unknown, with not many expecting much from them. So, to get you ready for the tournament, here’s your Gold Cup Group B Preview.
NARRATIVES
Group B is all about narratives. Each team has a good one that makes them worth watching. For Costa Rica, it’s all about whether they can build upon a sensational run to the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup and overcome the United States and Mexico to win the Gold Cup. They’re the highest ranked team in the region, but many still view them as “the best of the rest,”; the team that is really good, but not quite as good as the US and Mexico, who are viewed the region’s elite teams.
For Canada and Jamaica, it’s about proving that they’re more than a middle-of-the-road team with some potential. Canada has looked better and better recently, coming into the Gold Cup on a five-match unbeaten streak, which has included four wins. Jamaica was competitive in the Copa America even though they did lose all three matches 1-0. Both teams will hope to have a strong Gold Cup and turn that potential into a competitive team in CONCACAF.
El Salvador is the overlooked side; the one everyone assumes is going home early. They qualified by finishing fourth in the Copa Centroamericana, and will be looking to prove they belong.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
While there’s plenty of talent in Group B, here’s a few individuals to keep your eye on throughout the tournament:
Alvas Powell (RB – Jamaica) – The Portland Timbers defender is one of the best right backs in MLS right now, even at only 20-years-old. He’s been a mainstay on the Timbers’ backline this year, which has been one of the best in MLS, and is solid defensively, as well as an exciting attacking talent down the wings.
Darren Mattocks (FWD – Jamaica) – The Vancouver Whitecaps speedster clearly has the talent to be a consistent threat for Jamaica, but both for the national team and in MLS, a lack of finishing has prevented him from being a real star. Mattocks missed some quality chances in Copa America, but will likely have plenty to make up for that in the Gold Cup. His ability to finish will be key to Jamaica scoring enough to progress.
Joel Campbell (FWD – Costa Rica) – Campbell has been impressive for Costa Rica in recent years, and even in a few loan spells away from his club, Arsenal, but has failed to impress in London. He’s an incredibly talented attacking player who had a fantastic 2014 World Cup, and could use a good tournament as a springboard to a move away from Arsenal and towards playing time in Europe.
Giancarlo Gonzalez (DEF – Costa Rica) – MLS fans will likely recognize Gonzalez’s name from his time with the Columbus Crew. Gonzalez was fantastic in his short time in Columbus prior to making a big move to Serie A following a great World Cup performance; he’ll be key to Costa Rica’s defense.
Tesho Akindele (FWD/MID – Canada) – The FC Dallas attacker and 2014 MLS rookie of the year recently made the choice to play for Canada, over holding out hope of a USMNT call-up – and it was the right choice. Rather than being on the fringes of the US national team, Akindele is already an important piece of the Canadian team, starting both of Canada’s recent wins in preliminary 2018 World Cup Qualifying and scoring a goal.
Cyle Larin (FWD – Canada) – Larin, the first overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, is off to a great start to his MLS career in Orlando, with six goals already this season. He’s become a key for Canada already, and seems destined for big things. Larin scored in both of Canada’s recent qualifiers and will likely be the player that decides how Canada’s tournament goes. As Larin goes, so goes Canada.
Andrés Flores (MID – El Salvador) – The 24-year-old New York Cosmos playmaker has 40 caps, having made his first appearance at 17. He’s a creative player and will be vital to generating chances for El Salvador.
Darwin Ceren (MID – El Salvador) – Ceren has been putting together a solid, if unspectacular, season with Orlando City, statistically ranking as one of the better central midfielders in MLS this season. El Salvador will need Ceren to continue his run of good form if they’re going to do enough to advance from the group stage.
MANAGERS
Benito Floro has been Canada’s head coach since 2013 and he’s been building a talented young roster. Floro has given his young players plenty of chances in the last two years and this is their opportunity to reward that faith. A successful tournament will help Floro continue to build this project; an early exit, however, could see his seat start to get warm.
Winfried Schäfer took over the Jamaican team in the midst of a disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign for Jamaica, and was unable to get them to Brazil in 2014. He has enjoyed decent results since then, but can’t have been happy to lose all three Copa America games. A strong Gold Cup will help him maintain momentum towards 2018 qualification.
Paulo Wanchope was named Costa Rica’s manager after Jorge Luis Pinto surprisingly departed following the 2014 World Cup. Wanchope was an assistant under Pinto and a legendary player for the Ticos himself, scoring 45 goals in 73 caps. Wanchope is a young manager, at 38, and has yet to win a game (three defeats in five matches) as Costa Rica’s manager. With high expectations, the pressure is on.
Like his team, El Salvador manager, Albert Roca, is the most unknown of Group B’s managers. Roca was hired in 2014 after spending the majority of his coaching career as an assistant, including stints at Barcelona and Galatasaray.
EXPECTATIONS
For Costa Rica, first place in Group B and a semi-final appearance should be the minimum, with reasonable hope of an appearance in the final. Recent results cast some doubt as to whether these expectations will be met, but the team that made the World Cup quarter-finals just a year ago needs to make a statement in this tournament in order to build on that performance.
Jamaica and Canada will likely battle it out for second place in the group and the benefit of avoiding Mexico and the United States in the first knock-out game. Whichever team finishes second will likely play Trinidad and Tobago or Guatemala, giving them a good shot at a quarter-final appearance. Third in the group likely means a match-up against Mexico or the US, otherwise known as, elimination.
El Salvador is widely predicted to finish fourth in the group, but they could surprise. A third place group stage finish and a competitive loss in the knock-out round would probably have to go down as a successful tournament, but they’ll battle hard and likely give at least one team a scare in group play.
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