Summer of Football thread: Euro 2020(1), Copa America, CONCACAF Gold Cup

[Suburbia]

I think Spain wins the whole thing

[NewYorkExpress]

U.S Gold Cup squad list out

It's a very MLS-heavy squad (no Pulisic, McKennie, Musah, Reyna). The only players based outside of the United States on the team for the Gold Cup will be Shaq Moore (Tenerife), Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen) and Matthew Hoppe (Schalke).

The United States does come into the Gold Cup riding high, having defeated rivals Mexico to win the CONCACAF Nations League last month, but that was with a very different squad.

[Lechasseur]

U.S Gold Cup squad list out

It's a very MLS-heavy squad (no Pulisic, McKennie, Musah, Reyna). The only players based outside of the United States on the team for the Gold Cup will be Shaq Moore (Tenerife), Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen) and Matthew Hoppe (Schalke).

The United States does come into the Gold Cup riding high, having defeated rivals Mexico to win the CONCACAF Nations League last month, but that was with a very different squad.

Why did the likes of Pulisic not make the squad?

[NewYorkExpress]

U.S Gold Cup squad list out

It's a very MLS-heavy squad (no Pulisic, McKennie, Musah, Reyna). The only players based outside of the United States on the team for the Gold Cup will be Shaq Moore (Tenerife), Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen) and Matthew Hoppe (Schalke).

The United States does come into the Gold Cup riding high, having defeated rivals Mexico to win the CONCACAF Nations League last month, but that was with a very different squad.

Why did the likes of Pulisic not make the squad?

I imagine Gregg Berhalter wanted to give Pulisic, McKennie, Musah, Reyna etc. a rest. It's been a long club season in Europe.

For the United States, the priority is very different here than say...Mexico. They don't need to win, necessarily, their focus is on qualifying for the World Cup.

For Mexico, the situation is very different. El Tri isn't in good form lately (their only wins in their last four matches are against Panama, and the Nations League Semifinals against Costa Rica, and they didn't look good at all in the latter game). They probably need to win the Gold Cup if they want to save Gerardo Martinez's job. Doing that and qualifying for the World Cup would be even better.

[Santander]

U.S Gold Cup squad list out

It's a very MLS-heavy squad (no Pulisic, McKennie, Musah, Reyna). The only players based outside of the United States on the team for the Gold Cup will be Shaq Moore (Tenerife), Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen) and Matthew Hoppe (Schalke).

The United States does come into the Gold Cup riding high, having defeated rivals Mexico to win the CONCACAF Nations League last month, but that was with a very different squad.

Why did the likes of Pulisic not make the squad?

Because not even US Soccer cares about the Gold Cup.

[NewYorkExpress]

U.S Gold Cup squad list out

It's a very MLS-heavy squad (no Pulisic, McKennie, Musah, Reyna). The only players based outside of the United States on the team for the Gold Cup will be Shaq Moore (Tenerife), Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen) and Matthew Hoppe (Schalke).

The United States does come into the Gold Cup riding high, having defeated rivals Mexico to win the CONCACAF Nations League last month, but that was with a very different squad.

Why did the likes of Pulisic not make the squad?

Because not even US Soccer cares about the Gold Cup.

Under normal circumstances, we might care a bit more. However, you are right that having failed to qualify for the World Cup in 2018, the USSF is putting all of their chips on qualifying for the World Cup in 2022.

The Gold Cup is going to be a lot more important to Mexico than anyone else playing, and that could lead to an interesting dynamic.

[NewYorkExpress]

My picks for the Copa America Quarterfinals (which begin tonight)

Peru defeats Paraguay

Brazil defeats Chile

Uruguay defeats Colombia (in extra time)

Argentina defeats Ecuador

[Zinneke]

heartbreak for switzerland. I could barely get through that and now I have to face Belgium-Italy.

[parochial boy]

Somewhat bitter. Although in all honesty I don't think I could have coped with another one of those.

Sommer was absolutely out of the world though.

[GenerationTerrorist]

Italy - Belgium is possibly the finest first half of football I have witnessed (as a neutral) in over a decade. Just wow.

[Santander]

🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹

[Zinneke]

Fuçking italian wankstains simulating and diving all over the place. Hope England smash them.

[Alcibiades]

Italy played very cleverly, but truly disgustingly, in the final few minutes of that game, and the ref fell for it totally.

[Zinneke]

Ive recovered from the anger. For me Martinez was hamstrung by his lack of bench but he still could have used it better. Carasco was unlucky to start. I would have put him with Doku and then put THorgan on the other wing instead of the imposter Meunier or have thorgan and meunier with de bruyne in midfield with witsel.

Italy very strong in the press, so you need for me someone in the back three who can pierce it. all 3 of them are passed it. Need to get Zinho Vanheusden and maybe Bornauw into the side and playing regularly with each other.

Happy with Doku, Lukaku looked tired but that's understandable. He still looked dangerous.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Fuçking italian wankstains simulating and diving all over the place.

Still, doesn't it cheer you to see the old ways maintained?

[Zinneke]

Fuçking italian wankstains simulating and diving all over the place.

Still, doesn't it cheer you to see the old ways maintained?

Well, between this and the Dutch back in international tournaments? Not really no.

[NewYorkExpress]

Peru survives against Paraguay on penalties in Copa America play, as all eyes tonight turn to the Brazil/Chile game.

Meanwhile, final qualifying for the Gold Cup concludes tonight. Haiti flattened St. Vincent and the Grenadines earlier today, 6-1, with Bermuda still to face Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago still to face Montserrat tonight.

Three teams will advance out of the Gold Cup Qualifying.

One team will be in Group A, and will face Mexico El Salvador and Curaco. One team will be in Group B, and will face the United States, Canada and Martinique, and one team will be in Group C and will face Costa Rica, Jamaica and Suriname.

[Santander]

Looking forward to Denmark/Ukraine.

[Alcibiades]

At this point, there really is little to separate Denmark from Italy as tournament favourites.

[Santander]

Southgate seems to choose his starting XI and formation on a whim. Sancho starting is good, but no Grealish after he was the key man vs Germany?

[parochial boy]

Shoot me, but I think England are going to do it.

At least, I hope they do, they are by far the most sympathetic of the teams still in.

[Alcibiades]

Shoot me, but I think England are going to do it.

At least, I hope they do, they are by far the most sympathetic of the teams still in.

Denmark, surely?

[Suburbia]

I like both England and Denmark, but I see England moving on.....

[parochial boy]

Shoot me, but I think England are going to do it.

At least, I hope they do, they are by far the most sympathetic of the teams still in.

Denmark, surely?

In "support the underdogs" yeah, I'd love to see them do it obviously. But I feel pretty positively inclined towards this England team in particular (far more so than Spain or Italy, especially after their outing against Belgium), and there's a romantic side of me that would love to see England finally do it.

[Alcibiades]

Shoot me, but I think England are going to do it.

At least, I hope they do, they are by far the most sympathetic of the teams still in.

Denmark, surely?

In "support the underdogs" yeah, I'd love to see them do it obviously. But I feel pretty positively inclined towards this England team in particular (far more so than Spain or Italy, especially after their outing against Belgium), and there's a romantic side of me that would love to see England finally do it.

I was referring in particular to the trauma that befell Denmark in their opening match, and the team’s magnificent response to it. They seem to be everyone’s second team this tournament.

I agree that this England side is fairly likeable; the core fans are as awful as ever, though.