{"id":4736,"date":"2017-03-08T13:06:35","date_gmt":"2017-03-08T18:06:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsoccer.com\/?p=4736"},"modified":"2017-03-08T13:06:35","modified_gmt":"2017-03-08T18:06:35","slug":"curacao-destined-shock-2017-gold-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2017\/03\/08\/curacao-destined-shock-2017-gold-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"Cura\u00e7ao Destined to Shock in 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"

SANTA CLARA, Calif.- The tiny Caribbean island of\u00a0Cura\u00e7ao has not featured in CONCACAF’s Gold Cup\u00a0tournament for\u00a044 years. Luckily, that undreamt of streak will come to an end when the once ranked 183rd team ( according to FIFA.com<\/em>) will take on Jamaica (2015 edition runner’s up) on July 9 in San Diego.<\/p>\n

The draw saw the island being placed in this tournament’s ‘group of death’ having to share Group C with CONCACAF giants Mexico, Caribbean champions Jamaica, and El Salvador. Cura\u00e7ao will not go in empty-handed\u00a0into this summer’s tournament,\u00a0as they will feature \u00a0the\u00a0best squad the country has ever been able to offer. The Caribbean Football Union representative is currently ranked 73rd<\/a> (according to FIFA.com<\/em>) making them the second highest ranked team in the group, only behind seven-time winners, Mexico.<\/p>\n

Playing in the Gold Cup itself can already be considered a victory for the Caribbean side; as they are unfamiliar to sharing the stage with the best teams that CONCACAF has to offer.<\/p>\n

“Historic and very big for us; almost\u00a0unbelievable that we will be here it is like a world championship,”\u00a0<\/em>said coach Remko Bicentini.<\/p>\n

Cura\u00e7ao recognizes the quality within their group, but coach Bicentini made it evident that his Caribbean team has been collectively improving in recent years.<\/p>\n

“It is difficult to say now\u00a0<\/em>(how they will\u00a0approach the opponents<\/em>),”\u00a0added coach Bicentini.\u00a0“We have a good team also, and we have played very good in the last two year; our level in FIFA is 73.”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Cura\u00e7ao is not used to featuring in top tournaments, but its squad is compromised of players who appear in some of Europe’s professional soccer leagues. The team can be easily ‘overlooked’; making them a serious ‘dark horse’ come July.<\/p>\n

“Yes I think, because the last year we grow up in level, but I think that in a lot of countries know where Cura\u00e7ao is,”\u00a0<\/em>said coach Bicentini.<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n