'No point in silver medal' - Chris Richards' rapid rise, Mauricio Pochettino's objections, Mexico's unsung stars: Winners and losers from El Tri's latest Gold Cup win over USMNT

The narrative all summer long was that the USMNT's best players were not on the roster. Mexico's, meanwhile, were here, and they stood up to be counted on when it mattered most.

Raul Jimenez and Edson Alvarez, the two best players in this Mexico team, scored the two goals in the final, leading El Tri to their sixth victory over the USMNT in their nation's eight Gold Cup finals . In the end, Mexico simply had too much quality, particularly at the top ends of their roster.

Jimenez's goal in particular was a moment of pure quality. Played in by Marcel Ruiz, Jimenez made no mistake, rifling a shot that left Matt Freese with zero hope of getting a hand to it. It's the type of finish you expect from a top-end striker, one that the U.S. generally lacked all tournament long.

Alvarez's goal, meanwhile, was an opportunistic one, a case of right place at the right time. Those places, though are usually occupied by those savvy enough to find them. Alvarez is that type of player.

Jimenez, criminally underrated, is probably the best striker in CONCAC. Alvarez, meanwhile, is likely the region's best midfielder. Add that together and what do you get? A Gold Cup trophy.

All tournament long, Patrick Agyemang was asked to do one thing: hold the ball. There were no natural wingers to stretch the field and, often, very few players anywhere near him in the attack. At times, he did more than many would give him credit for in tough circumstances.

Sunday, though, was different. Facing off with a veteran Mexico defense, Agyemang could never get any rhythm, leaving the USMNT without their only real presence on top. Not all of that is his fault, of course. Agyemang had a thankless job, one that didn’t give him many chances to get onto the end of chances.

Against less talented CONCACAF opponents, he did fine. Mexico aren’t that. The striker was totally controlled by El Tri's defense and, coincidentally, in the few moments he wasn’t, the USMNT created chances.

Those moments didn’t come nearly often enough, as the USMNT’s only outlet spent most of the match swarmed from all sides.

Chris Richards spoke to GOALthis week about being a leader and, perhaps more importantly, being a “monster." He was both on Sunday and, despite the defeat, Richards was clearly among the best players on the field no matter the shirt.

His early goal was massive. It was exactly the type of start the USMNT would have dreamed of, and it came from a player who has grown enormously as a leader within this group, on and off the field. Defensively, Richards was a rock as always, constantly swatting away everything that was thrown his way.

"Chris Richards has stepped up in more of a vocal role in terms of leading," Tim Ream said. "He's making sure guys are doing the right things and making sure guys are in the right positions...It's something that gives all of us a good foundation. Moving forward, that can help anyone who comes into camp from here on out."

It was the performance of a CB1, which Richards quite clearly is, particularly after this tournament.

"Every camp I come into from now on is a stepping stone to keep working, keep playing like I have," Richards said. "It's a proud moment to make it to the final when a lot of people wrote us off and, sadly, we come up a little bit short. I hope this tournament has made everybody proud and, next year, I know everyone will be proud of us."

By and large, Alex Freeman played mistake-free soccer through this tournament. An attacking fullback by trade, Freeman had shown defensive chops, focusing on the basics to solidify his place as the right-back this summer. 

In the Gold Cup final, his inexperience revealed itself. Two moments led to two goals, showing Freeman and everyone else just how fine the margins are in decisive games.

Leading up to Mexico’s first, Freeman was caught in no-man's land as the ball was thrown in. Adams ran to defend one man and Freeman scrambled to get the other. But he was too late. Jimenez brushed right on by him before firing a shot right into the roof.

For the second, Freeman was culpable, although it is admittedly harsh. He was the one who held Alvarez onside leading up to the goal. Again, fine margins, but crucial ones nonetheless.

Freeman, by all accounts, is one of the USMNT players who should leave this tournament with his head held highest. He exceeded every expectation, getting his first caps just months after establishing himself as an MLS player. The 21-year-old defender will be better having had this experience, even if the final outcome wasn't what he hoped for.

Set pieces, set pieces, set pieces - if you've followed the international game, you've heard this narrative before. Sunday was a reminder, then, for anyone who has forgotten how important they can be.

For various reasons, set pieces have an outsized impact on the international game compared to the club level. They very often define games, particularly finals, and they did so on Sunday. The first goal? From a free kick. The second? From a throw-in. And then the third and decisive finish? Again, another free-kick. That's the game for you.

Mexico have been dominant on set pieces throughout the Gold Cup. The U.S., too, got better. Richards' presence and Sebastian Berhalter's service made the U.S. dangerous from dead balls, which is a vital takeaway in the grand scheme of things.

"We have a good staff that has been really looking into set pieces and how to improve," Richards said postgame. "I'm glad that I could reward them with a few goals this tournament and maybe help their confidence as well. I think you have to score in any way possible and, if set pieces are the way, then perfect."

A good reminder for next summer, when the U.S. looks at how it can win the margins and World Cup games.

Pochettino made it clear postgame: he didn't want to complain or make excuses but, boy, was he upset with the manner in which USMNT lost. The USMNT boss called out the officiating, taking issue with three of the game's defining calls. There was a potential handball on Jorge Sanchez, a questionable onside on Mexico's winning goal and possible foul on Richards leading up to that goal.

None of those calls went the USMNT's way. Suffice it to say Pochettino noticed.

"I am the first to say we need to improve," Pochettino said. "I am not crying. I am not saying anything against Mexico. I respect Mexico, full respect, and I have congratulated them from the beginning. I only say that, if that happened against Mexico, the coach, the people and the players would be talking the same way. For me, there would be a fire in the stadium.

"For us, it's OK because we are nice guys. We need to tell the truth and the truth is that we lost, yes, we lost. We need to be critical of us, of course, but the reality is that everyone can see through the TV and then we can analyze all that comes after."

Pochettino also took issue with the pro-Mexico crowd in this Texas venue,

"I think we need the people, the fans. The fans have one year to realize how important fans are in soccer," he said. "Football without fans? We need them to say, maybe we need to support the team and go see the team. I think and I hope that next time we play with a full stadium, with our fans cheering on the team and helping us to achieve good performances."

Pochettino, of course, isn't blameless here. While limited in choices because of myriad absences, his roster construction still left the USMNT without natural wide attackers, a problem that plagued this team on Sunday - as it had all tournament long. His substitutions, it could be argued, came too late, allowing Mexico to keep hold of the game and grind the USMNT down.

The U.S. didn't adapt or problem-solve nearly enough and, while that's not all on the coach, there needs to be accountability.

"I think it's a massive lesson for us and I think this is priceless," Pochettino said. "I think it was an amazing tournament to realize the way we want to grow, and the way we are going to compete better and better and better and be in the place that we want to be.

"This is a very, very painful night because, when you lose a trophy or lose a game, it's really, really painful. But the most important thing is to have our head up because I think the tournament was fantastic and I think we'll keep going."