CONCACAF Gold Cup Preview: Group A

By Shane Evans

Arguably the toughest of the three groups, Group A boasts four very competitive teams from the CONCACAF region. Highlighted by a surging Costa Rica side who sit atop the group in hexagonal round qualifying for next summer’s World Cup, the Ticos appear to be the favorites to escape the group.

Between the four teams, there are 33 appearances in the tournament, with Canada the only team to have ever won the modern incarnation of it, back in 2000. Costa Rica had one the previously named CONCACAF Championship on three occasions (1963, 1969, 1989).

Play kicks off on July third as all four teams are in action as Canada will play Jamaica and Costa Rica are set to square off with El Salvador.

Canada
Gold Cup Appearances: 9 (1991, 1993, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009)
Gold Cup Titles: 1 (2000)
Top Finish: Champions (2000)

Key Players
D Paul Staleri (Borussia Monchengladbach)
F Ali Gerba (Toronto FC)
M Atiba Hutchinson (Copenhagen)

Update: In their last two fixtures Canada has done well, beating Cyprus and Guatemala by a combined score of 4-0. Two goals from Ali Gerba against Guatemala only last week have showed that the forward is back in form and will be a goal-scoring threat in the tournament. Before those two matches though, Canada has been a bit of a mess. Their inability to reach the hexagonal round was a huge disappointment for the team and caused them to change their coach.

Outlook: If the Canadians get off to a good start and put some goals in the net, things could work out well and qualification for the next stage could be possible. Group A does include three other tricky teams and Canada will be hard-pressed to advance if they don’t put in a set of top notch performances.

Costa Rica
Gold Cup Appearances: 9 (1991, 1993, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009)
Gold Cup Titles: 0
Best Finish: Finalist (2002)

Key Players
M Walter Centeno (Saprissa)
F Alvaro Saborio (Sion)
F Andy Furtado (Marathon)

Update: Currently holding down first place in the hexagonal round of World Cup qualifying, Costa Rica are still buoyed by their impressive victory over the United States back in early June. Following that victory, they were able to knock off Trinidad & Tobago and a path to next summer’s World Cup seems quite clear. They’ll be fielding one of their stronger sides in the tournament and should do quite well against the inferior teams in their group.

Outlook: Things are looking good for Costa Rica at the moment and their confidence is riding high. Not only are they the favorites to win their group, they have to be up there with the favorites of the entire tournament and if they start stringing wins together, the rest of the competition’s entrants best be wary.

El Salvador
Gold Cup Appearances: 6 (1996, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2009)
Gold Cup Titles: 0
Best Finish: Quarterfinals (2002, 2003)

Key Players
D Alfredo Pacheco (New York Red Bulls)
F Rudis Corrales (C.D. Aguila)
M Eliseo Quintanilla (Ermis Aradippou)

Update: It’s been an up and down last few months for the El Salvadorians. A loss to Costa Rica in WCQ back in April was followed by an impressive 3-1 friendly victory over Ecuador and then a 0-0 tie with fellow Group A members Jamaica. From there they welcomed CONCACAF giants Mexico to Estadio Cuscatlan and beat them 2-1. Shortly after they fell victim to a dominating Honduras side that controlled the entire match in a 1-0 win.

Outlook: El Salvador have every chance of advancing from this group into the next round. Quality players up and down the pitch help, but an opening match against Costa Rica won’t be easy. If they can scrape a point from that match, they could take that confidence and do very well in the remaining two against Canada and Jamaica.

Jamaica
Gold Cup Appearances: 7 (1991, 1993, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2009)
Gold Cup Titles: 0
Best Finish: Third (1993)

Key Players
D Ian Goodison (Tranmere Rovers)
D Ricardo Gardner (Bolton Wanderers)
F Ricardo Fuller (Stoke City)

Update: Surprisingly, Jamaica is on an extremely impressive unbeaten run at the moment and could be considered sleepers to make noise in the group. Having not lost since September of last year, 13 matches ago, The Reggae Boyz are experiencing a fine vein of form. Included in that run was their fourth Caribbean Championship when they beat Grenada 2-0 late last year. With plenty of players putting the ball in the net, the Jamaicans will be dangerous.

Outlook: The confidence is there and so are the goals. Add in that they’ve only allowed five goals in their last eight matches proves that the defense is holding it’s weight as well. Having said that, this is a very difficult group and they may run into problems, especially if they have to play from behind. The potential is there though, and advancement to the next round isn’t totally out of the question.

Predicted Finish
1. Costa Rica
2. El Salvador
3. Jamaica
4. Canada

Shane Evans is an Associate Editor of Goal.com

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