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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| USA v Jamaica: Gold Cup final – live! | USA v Jamaica: Gold Cup final – live! |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 3.37am BST | |
| 03:37 | |
| GOAL! USA 1-0 JAMAICA (ALTIDORE!) | |
| Beautiful, beautiful free kick up and over the wall by Jozy Altidore. Power placement, and swerve into the top right corner. Miller, waiting to guess the movement of the ball, made his step to save too late. USA lead just before half-time! | |
| 3.35am BST | |
| 03:35 | |
| 44 mins: Another challenge for the US late in the half after Besler fouls Mattocks some 40 yards from goal. Lawrence clips the ball towards the back post but it was always too close to Howard. | |
| The goalkeeper instantly boots the ball long for Arriola, who controls brilliantly then tries to run through three Jamaican defenders only to lose it on the corner of the box. He wants a free kick but the referee is not interested. | |
| THIS will be a free kick though. Bradley comes inside and is bundled over around 30 yards out... | |
| 3.33am BST | |
| 03:33 | |
| 42 mins: Acosta gets his feet caught under him while trying to angle for a shot on the edge of the Jamaican box. The central midfielder is playing in a very advanced position, given that Bradley is sitting back and Jamaica are in such a defensive posture. | |
| Lovely touch from Altidore sends Nagbe haring in from the left, and he drops his shoulder to head into space before driving the ball back to where Arriola has just gone too soon with his run into the box. The chance is gone. | |
| 3.31am BST | |
| 03:31 | |
| 40 mins: Awkward couple of moments for the US as the corner goes deep and looks like it’s about to sit up for Watson to have a clear volley from ten yards, only for Morris to recover. With half-time approaching the US can’t let their concentration slip, while Jamaica would love to nick one now, after being on the defensive for the entire half. | |
| 3.29am BST | |
| 03:29 | |
| 38 mins: Acosta is in late on Richie and picks up a yellow card. Jamaica pack the box on the free kick, just over the halfway line. and as it comes in Howard goes for it, spills and then is relieved to hear the whistle for a foul. | |
| Lovely run from Darren Mattocks now as he arrows in from the left, twisting and turning into the left of the box at speed, before Gonzalez recovers enough to concede a corner at the edge of the six yard box. | |
| 3.27am BST | |
| 03:27 | |
| 36 mins: That’s a decent deep cross from Villafana wide left, looking for Arriola, shaping up for a spectacular shot. It never reaches him, but the US will have a corner...which they waste. Watson, the first man, boots said corner out for a throw in, in distinctly unimpressed fashion. | |
| Now a little pinball in the box, after Morris gets behind the right of the Jamaican defense, and cuts a ball back to Arriola on the edge of the box. When his deflected shot breaks for Morris again the flag goes up for offside. | |
| 3.24am BST | |
| 03:24 | |
| 34 mins: Mattocks picks up a yellow card, for what I’m not quite sure. The game, which briefly picked up tempo after the break for Blake’s injury, has slowed down again. | |
| 3.23am BST | |
| 03:23 | |
| 32 mins: Gordon gets the better of Villafana in an aerial duel then powers towards goal with Villafana in pursuit. The US defender recovers, just about, and Bradley steps in to help him out. Bradley’s not had a lot to do on the defensive side given Jamaica’s lack of attacking ambition, but he’s been neat when he’s had to be. | |
| 3.21am BST | |
| 03:21 | |
| 30 mins: Villafana has to get a foot in to take the ball off Powell’s toes as the Jamaican player threaten to break free in the corner of the box. Game is a little more open now, which in theory should favor the US. | |
| 3.19am BST | |
| 03:19 | |
| 28 mins: If anything Jamaica look momentarily more ambitious than they did before Blake’s injury, though as yet they’ve done nothing to threaten the US goal. | |
| But now the US advance and a clever little flick from Acosta continues the move into the box, only for Altidore’s pass slid in behind to overstretch Villafana. And as it’s cut back Jamaica break. Arriola makes a tactical foul to end that particular threat, but both US hopes and vulnerabilities were on display in that particular sequence. | |
| 3.17am BST | |
| 03:17 | |
| 26 mins: Free kick wide left for the US and Bradley curls it in to the crowded area to test Miller early. But the Jamaican substitute keeper comes out and claims confidently. That’ll help him settle. | |
| 3.15am BST | |
| 03:15 | |
| 24 mins: From the restart Jamaica have a set piece in the US half which is floated to the back post. Not dealt with particularly elegantly by the US defense, but then Morris, back to defend is fouled, and the US can come clear. | |
| 3.15am BST | |
| 03:15 | |
| 22 mins: Blake is limping off wincing and covering his face, with his hand heavily wrapped. Dwayne Miller is coming in for him. | |
| Blake walking to the bench now, looking devastated. | |
| 3.12am BST | |
| 03:12 | |
| 20 mins: Best chance of the game now. Morris gets flattened in a collision outside the box, and in the slight pause as players wait for the whistle, Altidore steps into space and batters a shot from distance that’s swerving wickedly. Blake makes a leaping acrobatic save to parry, changing direction in midair. | |
| Unfortunately for Blake, Acosta is following in on the rebound and he catches Blake, who bravely tries to gather the rebound. And the young goalkeeper looks like he might not be able to continue. That’s really sad for perhaps the player of the tournament. | |
| 3.08am BST | |
| 03:08 | |
| 18 mins: Nagbe finds himself with enough room to get off a shot from the left corner of the shot, and, as is his idiom, he goes for the spectacular. Unfortunately for him, it’s a spectacular slice that skews out closer to a throw-in than a goal kick. He’s scored them from there though. | |
| USA 69% possession so far, by the way. | |
| 3.06am BST | |
| 03:06 | |
| 16 mins: Poor touch from Acosta is intercepted by Fisher as the US try to build. And as Jamaica come forward, Arriola is caught again, and this time he’s down for longer. He’sback on his feet now, but keep an eye on him. | |
| Meanwhile there’s a break in play and the players take advantage of it to stamp down a couple of alarming-looking divots that have popped up on the field. | |
| 3.04am BST | |
| 03:04 | |
| 14 mins: Bradley tries an ambitious diagonal ball to pick out Arriola but it’s intercepted and Jamaica go up to the other end. And now Arriola becomes the latest US player to hit the deck under a Jamaican tackle as he rushes back to help the recovery effort. | |
| Now Nagbe cuts in from the left and for a second there’s a postage stamp of space between the Jamaican lines which he looks to find Morris in. It doesn’t come off, but that’s positive from Nagbe. | |
| 3.02am BST | 3.02am BST |
| 03:02 | 03:02 |
| 12 mins: More good work from Arriola as he combines with Zusi on the right before whipping a cross into the six yard box, which Taylor gets to first, under pressure from Altidore. | 12 mins: More good work from Arriola as he combines with Zusi on the right before whipping a cross into the six yard box, which Taylor gets to first, under pressure from Altidore. |
| 3.01am BST | 3.01am BST |
| 03:01 | 03:01 |
| 10 mins: Arriola has been the most involved US player in this opening ten minutes. He’s harrying the opposing defenders and looking to play quick balls forward when he can. | 10 mins: Arriola has been the most involved US player in this opening ten minutes. He’s harrying the opposing defenders and looking to play quick balls forward when he can. |
| Now JeVaughan Watson is being talked to by the referee after following through on a tackle on Jordan Morris and catching the US forward’s ankle. | Now JeVaughan Watson is being talked to by the referee after following through on a tackle on Jordan Morris and catching the US forward’s ankle. |
| 2.58am BST | 2.58am BST |
| 02:58 | 02:58 |
| 8 mins: Jamaica edge up the field a little now, but an offside sends them back into their shell in their own half. So far the game going as predicted, with Jamaica daring the US to break them down. | 8 mins: Jamaica edge up the field a little now, but an offside sends them back into their shell in their own half. So far the game going as predicted, with Jamaica daring the US to break them down. |
| 2.57am BST | 2.57am BST |
| 02:57 | 02:57 |
| 6 mins: Williams goes in hard on Villafana and gets a stern look from the referee. Do not expect that to be the last kick of the night. | 6 mins: Williams goes in hard on Villafana and gets a stern look from the referee. Do not expect that to be the last kick of the night. |
| Nagbe goes on a little dart and looks for a return in space from Morris down the left, but the organized Jamaican defensive lines are anticipating passes well and the chance is quickly gone. | Nagbe goes on a little dart and looks for a return in space from Morris down the left, but the organized Jamaican defensive lines are anticipating passes well and the chance is quickly gone. |
| 2.55am BST | 2.55am BST |
| 02:55 | 02:55 |
| 4 mins: Arriola again — this time trying to find Altidore in the box, but he can’t quite find him in space. Positive start from him. | 4 mins: Arriola again — this time trying to find Altidore in the box, but he can’t quite find him in space. Positive start from him. |
| Meanwhile Twitter drops by with some trivia provocations | Meanwhile Twitter drops by with some trivia provocations |
| How many players are former NY RB/metrostars? | How many players are former NY RB/metrostars? |
| Lawrence, Howard, Bradley, Altidore at least... | Lawrence, Howard, Bradley, Altidore at least... |
| 2.53am BST | 2.53am BST |
| 02:53 | 02:53 |
| 2 mins: US quickly regain possession and start their pretty passing patterns. They’ll probably see a lot of the ball tonight. | 2 mins: US quickly regain possession and start their pretty passing patterns. They’ll probably see a lot of the ball tonight. |
| A long passing sequence ends with Ariiola flicking the ball forward to the edgeof the box where for a second Nagbe looks to have dug out space for a shot. But he’s closed down before he can get a clean strike. | A long passing sequence ends with Ariiola flicking the ball forward to the edgeof the box where for a second Nagbe looks to have dug out space for a shot. But he’s closed down before he can get a clean strike. |
| 2.51am BST | 2.51am BST |
| 02:51 | 02:51 |
| Kickoff: | Kickoff: |
| PEEP! We’re off...Jamaica kick off. | PEEP! We’re off...Jamaica kick off. |
| Let’s hope this is better than the last game at this stadium by the way... | Let’s hope this is better than the last game at this stadium by the way... |
| 2.45am BST | 2.45am BST |
| 02:45 | 02:45 |
| Teams coming out of tunnel: | Teams coming out of tunnel: |
| I’m going to sing the livebloggers anthem, pray to the gods of spellcheck, and huddle in a circle with myself. Kickoff next... | I’m going to sing the livebloggers anthem, pray to the gods of spellcheck, and huddle in a circle with myself. Kickoff next... |
| Though before that, it’s worth mentioning that Gianni Infantino, winner of FIFA’s Game of Buffets, is in the house tonight. | Though before that, it’s worth mentioning that Gianni Infantino, winner of FIFA’s Game of Buffets, is in the house tonight. |
| 2.43am BST | 2.43am BST |
| 02:43 | 02:43 |
| Darlington Nagbe: | Darlington Nagbe: |
| Darlington Nagbe has emerged as a starter in this tournament. Neat on the ball, capable of retaining possession and drawing fouls in and around the box, Nagbe, nonetheless has always represented something of a headache for both his club and now national team coach. His reluctance to take on players he’s manifestly capable of beating can be infuriating, and it can make him look like a diffident presence in the center of the field, which is why his Portland Timbers coach Caleb Porter historically used to hedge his bets by playing Nagbe out wide, in hope, more than expectation that he would choose to influence games. | Darlington Nagbe has emerged as a starter in this tournament. Neat on the ball, capable of retaining possession and drawing fouls in and around the box, Nagbe, nonetheless has always represented something of a headache for both his club and now national team coach. His reluctance to take on players he’s manifestly capable of beating can be infuriating, and it can make him look like a diffident presence in the center of the field, which is why his Portland Timbers coach Caleb Porter historically used to hedge his bets by playing Nagbe out wide, in hope, more than expectation that he would choose to influence games. |
| No coincidence that when Porter finally bit the bullet and moved Nagbe inside, the Timbers won their first MLS Cup. Now Bruce Arena has to encourage him to play to the peak of his abilities for the USA on a regular basis. This is a big game for him | No coincidence that when Porter finally bit the bullet and moved Nagbe inside, the Timbers won their first MLS Cup. Now Bruce Arena has to encourage him to play to the peak of his abilities for the USA on a regular basis. This is a big game for him |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.48am BST | at 2.48am BST |
| 2.34am BST | 2.34am BST |
| 02:34 | 02:34 |
| A short essay on aesthetics | A short essay on aesthetics |
| The USA’s kit — discuss. Personally, I kind of miss the Where’s Waldo outfit. | The USA’s kit — discuss. Personally, I kind of miss the Where’s Waldo outfit. |
| The teams have been warming up for the last few minutes. Now they are heading back to the locker rooms and we should be kicking off in 15 minutes or so. | The teams have been warming up for the last few minutes. Now they are heading back to the locker rooms and we should be kicking off in 15 minutes or so. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.34am BST | at 2.34am BST |
| 2.27am BST | 2.27am BST |
| 02:27 | 02:27 |
| Deuce: | Deuce: |
| So obviously no Dempsey starting tonight, but don’t forget that if we see him at some stage tonight (and we surely will) there’s the small matter of him having the chance to break the all-time US goalscoring record he now shares with Landon Donovan. | So obviously no Dempsey starting tonight, but don’t forget that if we see him at some stage tonight (and we surely will) there’s the small matter of him having the chance to break the all-time US goalscoring record he now shares with Landon Donovan. |
| He’s an enigmatic figure, is Deuce — both in terms of his persona and his most effective position, but the semi-final cameo against Costa Rica was a sharp reminder of his worth. | He’s an enigmatic figure, is Deuce — both in terms of his persona and his most effective position, but the semi-final cameo against Costa Rica was a sharp reminder of his worth. |
| 2.24am BST | 2.24am BST |
| 02:24 | 02:24 |
| More on Blake: | More on Blake: |
| Blake was a number one draft pick for Philadelphia and has since become the undisputed number one for the Union. He’s hardly gone under the radar, but even by those standards this has been a breakout tournament for the Jamaican goalkeeper, with three shutouts and 19 saves to his name. He’ll be busy again tonight, but the confidence he’s given his team has been immeasurable. | Blake was a number one draft pick for Philadelphia and has since become the undisputed number one for the Union. He’s hardly gone under the radar, but even by those standards this has been a breakout tournament for the Jamaican goalkeeper, with three shutouts and 19 saves to his name. He’ll be busy again tonight, but the confidence he’s given his team has been immeasurable. |
| 2.17am BST | 2.17am BST |
| 02:17 | 02:17 |
| How to enter a stadium: | How to enter a stadium: |
| Jamaica looks pretty, pretty loose heading into the #GoldCup2017 final. (🎥: @GoldCup) pic.twitter.com/7OHo35wkgn | Jamaica looks pretty, pretty loose heading into the #GoldCup2017 final. (🎥: @GoldCup) pic.twitter.com/7OHo35wkgn |
| This is so much better than listening to literally nothing on your headphones in order to avoid signing an 8 year old’s backpack. | This is so much better than listening to literally nothing on your headphones in order to avoid signing an 8 year old’s backpack. |
| 2.12am BST | 2.12am BST |
| 02:12 | 02:12 |
| Team news: | Team news: |
| This is it! We want the cup! Meet your starting XI for the #GoldCup2017 Final.Lineup notes: https://t.co/Uj2KthadbZ pic.twitter.com/iN9rlrpXqN | This is it! We want the cup! Meet your starting XI for the #GoldCup2017 Final.Lineup notes: https://t.co/Uj2KthadbZ pic.twitter.com/iN9rlrpXqN |
| So, for the US the exact same line up as the semi-final win over Costa Rica. And five of the same players who started the 1-0 victory over Jamaica in March — including the goalscorer in that game, Jordan Morris. | So, for the US the exact same line up as the semi-final win over Costa Rica. And five of the same players who started the 1-0 victory over Jamaica in March — including the goalscorer in that game, Jordan Morris. |
| Jamaica's starting 11 vs USA: Andre BlakeJermaine TaylorDamion LoweLadale RichieAlvas PowellKemar... https://t.co/4YjgQSCy66 | Jamaica's starting 11 vs USA: Andre BlakeJermaine TaylorDamion LoweLadale RichieAlvas PowellKemar... https://t.co/4YjgQSCy66 |
| Lawrence is not the only MLS player on show for Jamaica. Goalkeeper andre Blake has been one of the best players of the tournament, while on secondment from his club team Philadelphia Union. He’s another key to tonight, as is the speed of Darren Mattocks of the Portland Timbers, up front. | Lawrence is not the only MLS player on show for Jamaica. Goalkeeper andre Blake has been one of the best players of the tournament, while on secondment from his club team Philadelphia Union. He’s another key to tonight, as is the speed of Darren Mattocks of the Portland Timbers, up front. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.13am BST | at 2.13am BST |
| 2.06am BST | 2.06am BST |
| 02:06 | 02:06 |
| Jamaica | Jamaica |
| When New York Red Bulls defender Kemar Lawrence sent that free kick into the Mexican net late in the other night’s game, it was a shock to Mexico for sure, though perhaps not the shock it might have been in other tournaments. Mexico have been playing without suspended coach Juan Carlos Osorio throughout the tournament, and essentially their priority this summer has been the planning for the Confederations Cup. The tournament has been a chance to run out some younger players and prospects, but frankly they’ve not needed this tournament as much as the US and Jamaica do this time round. | When New York Red Bulls defender Kemar Lawrence sent that free kick into the Mexican net late in the other night’s game, it was a shock to Mexico for sure, though perhaps not the shock it might have been in other tournaments. Mexico have been playing without suspended coach Juan Carlos Osorio throughout the tournament, and essentially their priority this summer has been the planning for the Confederations Cup. The tournament has been a chance to run out some younger players and prospects, but frankly they’ve not needed this tournament as much as the US and Jamaica do this time round. |
| Jamaica really needed a good tournament to get themselves back on track, and had played with the kind of tough, defensive discipline always likely to keep them in a tight game — and that was the story of their performance against Mexico and is likely to be the plan for tonight. Expect a lot of physicality, a lot of bunkering defense, and a challenge to the US to break them down — the subplot of whether Jamaica can handle Clint Dempsey’s late introduction to the US attack may be the key to this game if it’s still scoreless at half-time. | Jamaica really needed a good tournament to get themselves back on track, and had played with the kind of tough, defensive discipline always likely to keep them in a tight game — and that was the story of their performance against Mexico and is likely to be the plan for tonight. Expect a lot of physicality, a lot of bunkering defense, and a challenge to the US to break them down — the subplot of whether Jamaica can handle Clint Dempsey’s late introduction to the US attack may be the key to this game if it’s still scoreless at half-time. |
| Of course this is Jamaica’s second successive Gold Cup final, but were they to win tonight this would be their first Gold Cup. And they certainly seem happy to be here... | Of course this is Jamaica’s second successive Gold Cup final, but were they to win tonight this would be their first Gold Cup. And they certainly seem happy to be here... |
| This is how it feels going back to the final! Congrats #ReggaeBoyz! @ItsTheJFF #GoldCup2017 pic.twitter.com/VRFzF1RQiu | This is how it feels going back to the final! Congrats #ReggaeBoyz! @ItsTheJFF #GoldCup2017 pic.twitter.com/VRFzF1RQiu |
| 1.57am BST | 1.57am BST |
| 01:57 | 01:57 |
| USA | USA |
| OK, so it’s been a fairly typical Gold Cup tournament for the USA, in that they’ve made the final by overcoming robust rather than truly testing opposition in the knockout rounds, and given competitive minutes to fringe players in the group stage. | OK, so it’s been a fairly typical Gold Cup tournament for the USA, in that they’ve made the final by overcoming robust rather than truly testing opposition in the knockout rounds, and given competitive minutes to fringe players in the group stage. |
| (and they didn’t get knocked out in the semi-finals) | (and they didn’t get knocked out in the semi-finals) |
| And in the process they’ve made one or two discoveries about themselves that might prove useful over the coming year. Dom Dwyer managed to do his case as a possible fourth striker no harm by scoring in both his first two international games during the group stages, while Clint Dempsey (remember him?) also offered a glimpse of what his role in Russia might be, assuming the US get there, by coming on as a substitute against Costa Rica, and animating the team around him. | And in the process they’ve made one or two discoveries about themselves that might prove useful over the coming year. Dom Dwyer managed to do his case as a possible fourth striker no harm by scoring in both his first two international games during the group stages, while Clint Dempsey (remember him?) also offered a glimpse of what his role in Russia might be, assuming the US get there, by coming on as a substitute against Costa Rica, and animating the team around him. |
| Elsewhere there were cameo appearances by Dax McCarty, Kelyn Rowe, and Eric Lichaj that might move them a little higher up the “possibles” list, but as is usual in these affairs, by the time we got to the knockout round, the coach was drafting in a heap of “probables” to try and make sure the trophy gets won. Michael Bradley, in particular, has been a difference maker to the shape and drive of the team, and in Arena, at least he has a coach who will play him in a position where he has a chance to succeed. | Elsewhere there were cameo appearances by Dax McCarty, Kelyn Rowe, and Eric Lichaj that might move them a little higher up the “possibles” list, but as is usual in these affairs, by the time we got to the knockout round, the coach was drafting in a heap of “probables” to try and make sure the trophy gets won. Michael Bradley, in particular, has been a difference maker to the shape and drive of the team, and in Arena, at least he has a coach who will play him in a position where he has a chance to succeed. |
| 1.45am BST | 1.45am BST |
| 01:45 | 01:45 |
| Preamble | Preamble |
| Evening all. Welcome to the Gold Cup final. USA vs Jamaica at Levi’s Stadium, California. | Evening all. Welcome to the Gold Cup final. USA vs Jamaica at Levi’s Stadium, California. |
| Fans of this tournament with long memories (or in fact not that long memories given this tournament is played every two years, but feels like every two weeks) will know that this match up is a repeat of the semi-final last time round, when Jamaica knocked out both the US and a big chunk of Jürgen Klinsmann’s credibility as coach. | Fans of this tournament with long memories (or in fact not that long memories given this tournament is played every two years, but feels like every two weeks) will know that this match up is a repeat of the semi-final last time round, when Jamaica knocked out both the US and a big chunk of Jürgen Klinsmann’s credibility as coach. |
| More on the knock-on effects of that particular local disaster in a bit, but since then, well, a lot has happened. Jamaica went on to lose in the final against Mexico, then continued on to make rather a mess of their World Cup qualifying campaign. So, like the US, they came into this tournament with a point to prove. And as beaten semi-finalists, Mexico, might ruefully testify, they’ve been proving it. | More on the knock-on effects of that particular local disaster in a bit, but since then, well, a lot has happened. Jamaica went on to lose in the final against Mexico, then continued on to make rather a mess of their World Cup qualifying campaign. So, like the US, they came into this tournament with a point to prove. And as beaten semi-finalists, Mexico, might ruefully testify, they’ve been proving it. |
| The US meanwhile, went on from that Gold Cup loss to completely wreck Klinsmann’s anticipated tournament schedule for this World Cup cycle, with early eliminations from the Olympics and then losing out on a Confederations Cup spot, and then eliminating Klinsmann himself from his post as head coach and technical director. | The US meanwhile, went on from that Gold Cup loss to completely wreck Klinsmann’s anticipated tournament schedule for this World Cup cycle, with early eliminations from the Olympics and then losing out on a Confederations Cup spot, and then eliminating Klinsmann himself from his post as head coach and technical director. |
| In came Bruce Arena, an unbeaten record, a World Cup qualifying campaign that’s back on course, and tonight, the chance for a first trophy in Arena’s second coming. | In came Bruce Arena, an unbeaten record, a World Cup qualifying campaign that’s back on course, and tonight, the chance for a first trophy in Arena’s second coming. |
| We’ll see how it works out shortly, but for now get your emails coming in to graham.parker@theguardian.com, or tweet @grahamparkerfc with your thoughts, predictions, alternative historical accounts of Landon Donovan’s 2014 World Cup performances, and I’ll be back in a bit with team news and more build up. | We’ll see how it works out shortly, but for now get your emails coming in to graham.parker@theguardian.com, or tweet @grahamparkerfc with your thoughts, predictions, alternative historical accounts of Landon Donovan’s 2014 World Cup performances, and I’ll be back in a bit with team news and more build up. |
| 5.30pm BST | 5.30pm BST |
| 17:30 | 17:30 |
| Graham will be here shortly. While you wait, here’s Graham on Clint Dempsey’s continuing importance to the USMNT: | Graham will be here shortly. While you wait, here’s Graham on Clint Dempsey’s continuing importance to the USMNT: |
| Clint Dempsey’s star turn against Costa Rica in the Gold Cup semi-final did more than win his team the game and help the striker match the US goalscoring record — it may have extended his meaningful international career by another season. | Clint Dempsey’s star turn against Costa Rica in the Gold Cup semi-final did more than win his team the game and help the striker match the US goalscoring record — it may have extended his meaningful international career by another season. |
| There was a danger that by the time the Russia World Cup came around, Dempsey would represent the kind of selection headache for Bruce Arena that Landon Donovan became for Jürgen Klinsmann in 2014 — no longer a player a coach could build a team around, and potentially as much of a distraction as an asset on the sidelines. | There was a danger that by the time the Russia World Cup came around, Dempsey would represent the kind of selection headache for Bruce Arena that Landon Donovan became for Jürgen Klinsmann in 2014 — no longer a player a coach could build a team around, and potentially as much of a distraction as an asset on the sidelines. |
| Klinsmann needlessly expended a lot of personal capital in leaving Donovan at home, and the pragmatic Arena is likely to take the trusted quantity of Dempsey to the World Cup. But perhaps until this Saturday’s game there was still a hint that sentiment would be playing a part as much as technical value. It didn’t help that the rapid emergence of Christian Pulisic as the star playmaker for the team, had crowded the area of the field where Dempsey thrives. | Klinsmann needlessly expended a lot of personal capital in leaving Donovan at home, and the pragmatic Arena is likely to take the trusted quantity of Dempsey to the World Cup. But perhaps until this Saturday’s game there was still a hint that sentiment would be playing a part as much as technical value. It didn’t help that the rapid emergence of Christian Pulisic as the star playmaker for the team, had crowded the area of the field where Dempsey thrives. |
| Click here for the rest of the article: | Click here for the rest of the article: |