2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup

The 2009 edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup kicks off today in Carson, California when Costa Rica plays El Salvador followed by Jamaica and Canada at the same venue.

It's not really a big deal, the Gold Cup, and that can be seen by looking at the weakened squads the top sides have sent to the tournement. Of course in Mexico's case they may simply be looking at new players to attempt to stop the slide of the disasterous World Cup qualifiying campaign.  This year the Gold Cup means even less since it's a "mid-term" edition where a spot in the Confederations Cup, which is very meaningful to CONCACAF teams, isn't on the line. The winner only gets the trophy.

As usual the United States and Mexico qualified automatically, for some reason Canada qualifies automatically as well. I'm not bashing Canada but on merit that should be Costa Rica's spot. I guess it has to do with the "mini-zones", Canada is in the NAFU which includes the two other automatic qualifiers since Bermuda plays in the CFU and Greenland isn't a CONCACAF member. Probably not though. It's all money based anyway.

In 2007 Guadeloupe, a CONCACAF member but not a FIFA member (ask Jack Warner, not me), surprised everyone and finished fourth in the tourement. They were lead by ex-French international (yes, Guadeloupe can use previously capped players) Jocelyn Angloma. He scored an amazing goal against Canada in the group stages and provided great senior leadership for his team. Currently he plays club football on the island for fun in his retirement. They haven't brought him along this time. This is important to note because they could well use Thierry Henry this way one day. This time they qualified by finishing as runners-up to Jamaica in the CFU zone.

Cuba withdrew from the tournement amid fears that players would leave again (that wasn't the official reason, but yea...) so Haiti and Trinidad & Tobago were placed into a draw (this is how CONCACAF works, people) and Haiti won, so Haiti gets to play in Cuba's place. Grenada also qualified for the cup, they join Nicaragua as debutants in this edition.

Panama, shock runners-up in 2005, will make their fourth apperence after they won the Central American zone qualifiers. They will be joined by Costa Rica, current leaders of the World Cup qualifying group, who will be making their ninth apperence, Honduras in their ninth, and El Salvador in their sixth.

Canada, Mexico and the United States were kept seperate for the "draw" which saw Canada get both Costa Rica and Jamaica in their group. The matches for this group will be played in Carson (LA), Miami, and Columbus. Nifty travel arrangment, Jack.

Group B features the United States against Grenada, Honduras and Haiti. Honduras aren't exactly creampuffs but I doubt the USA will be sweating bullets over the other two, but they can't afford to be cocky after bringing what is essentially a "B-minus team".

Mexico got Guadeloupe, Panama, and Nicaragua so that they can win the group and sell out the new Cowboys Stadium in the quarterfinals. On recent form Panama could take Mexico if they don't play scared.

I disagree with the choice of the Meadowlands for the final, particularly as they've picked Qwest Field and that thing Jerry Jones built to host earlier matches, why not put the final in one of those venues? Why put it in that piece of crap in a swamp? Sigh. I'll never understand how CONCACAF works. Not that I really want to.