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| Gold Cup semi-final: USA v Jamaica – live! | Gold Cup semi-final: USA v Jamaica – live! |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 5.45pm ET22:45 | |
| Last week, Michael Bradley let slip his true feelings on the Gold Cup: | |
| “I say this with total endearment: It’s a ridiculous tournament.” | |
| Ha! I mean, he’s right: there’s lots to enjoy in this competition, but the scheduling, the facilities, the pitches, the travel … all ludicrous. Grass laid atop artificial turf, matches played in baking, 100F-plus temperatures, all in the middle of the MLS season. Still, if USA win tonight they’ll be in another final, and they’ll qualify automatically for the 2017 Confederations Cup. | |
| Incidentally, Mexico take on Panama at 9pm ET in the very same stadium in Atlanta. USA the warm-up act, Mexico the main event. Joke! | |
| 5.38pm ET22:38 | |
| Things We Like, No 755 in a never-ending series: Aron Johannsson and Clint Dempsey in attack. The pair have forged an effective partnership in Jozy Altidore’s absence, and Deuce has six Gold Cup goals already: he leads the top scorers in this tournament. But Johannsson’s been great, too. Here’s Jack Kerr on the Icelander born in Alabama: | |
| Related: Aron Jóhannsson on the Gold Cup: 'It's up to us to prove we can win it' | |
| 5.34pm ET22:34 | |
| Some British interest in that Jamaica lineup: McAnuff, Morgan, Mariappa, McCleary, Barnes – all familiar to fans of the Premier League and Championship, past and present. And in Darren Mattocks of the Vancouver Whitecaps, Jamaica have got a real speedster. America’s back line better beware. | |
| Updated at 5.35pm ET | |
| 5.32pm ET22:32 | |
| US Soccer never publish the lineups of the opponent: it’s such bad form, and it annoys me. I’m like a hot kettle! Anyway, here’s Jeff Carlisle with the Jamaica lineup: | |
| Jamaica lineup vs. #usmnt: Thompson; Lawrence, Hector, Morgan, Mariappa; McAnuff, Watson, Austin, McCleary; Mattocks, Barnes | |
| 5.31pm ET22:31 | |
| So two changes from the side that beat Cuba: Omar Gonzalez makes way for John Brooks, who comes back after suspension, and Brad Evans replaces Timmy Chandler at right-back. | |
| 5.30pm ET22:30 | |
| Here’s the US lineup: | |
| #USMNT Starting XI vs. Jamaica (4-2-3-1): Guzan; Evans, Alvarado, Brooks, Johnson; Bradley, Beckerman; Zardes, Dempsey, Bedoya; Johannsson | |
| 5.29pm ET22:29 | |
| Hello and welcome | |
| Like Michael Johnson, Donovan Bailey and Naim Suleymanoglu in 1996, USA and Jamaica are going for gold in Atlanta. The USMNT play the Reggae Boyz in the first Gold Cup semi-final: for USA, it’s the chance to make yet another final, and for Jamaica, it’s the chance to make history. The Jamaicans have never been to a Gold Cup final; the USA have been in the past five (and have won three of them). Jürgen Klinsmann’s men are hot favourites, Jamaica are the underdogs, but this is football – bloody hell! – and nothing’s guaranteed. Should be a cracker: kick off is 6pm ET, and you should come and join the fun. | |
| 5.00pm ET22:00 | 5.00pm ET22:00 |
| Tim will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s why Concacaf is expecting a USA v Mexico final: | Tim will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s why Concacaf is expecting a USA v Mexico final: |
| Though both teams have failed to impress, it seems that the inevitability of a USA-Mexico final is all but upon us, with both teams just one victory away from the final in Philadelphia. | Though both teams have failed to impress, it seems that the inevitability of a USA-Mexico final is all but upon us, with both teams just one victory away from the final in Philadelphia. |
| But as the semi-finals get under way on Wednesday, both USA and Mexico should be wary of their opponents, two sides that have earned their way to this stage thanks to some dogged performances. | But as the semi-finals get under way on Wednesday, both USA and Mexico should be wary of their opponents, two sides that have earned their way to this stage thanks to some dogged performances. |
| Related: USA and Mexico a game away from Gold Cup final – but beware the underdogs | Related: USA and Mexico a game away from Gold Cup final – but beware the underdogs |