Gold Cup Preview

Look, the Gold Cup is just another crap tournament (see SuperLiga) clogging up the soccer calendar designed to extract cash from fans’ pockets.

It’s played too often (let’s see it only every four years, please). Some teams, like the U.S., are fielding their B teams. And some players, such as Canadian international Dwayne DeRosario of Toronto FC, have opted to stay with their club teams instead.

If the participants aren’t taking it seriously, why should I? It will be marginally interesting to see if any players emerge as potential World Cup squad members when it comes to the U.S., but that’s about it.

The U.S. is allowed to add seven players to its roster because of the rigors of the Confederations Cup (not sure I get this since there are only four U.S. players named to the squads for both tournaments) and potentially those could be announced today ahead of a scheduled Bob Bradley teleconference with the media.

(Updated 9:15 a.m. And the players are (from the U.S. Soccer press release): Forwards Jozy Altidore and Conor Casey, midfielders Ricardo Clark, Benny Feilhaber and Sacha Kljestan, defender Jonathan Bornstein and goalkeeper Brad Guzan will be eligible for selection during the tournament; however, the U.S. will not have all seven players present for each Gold Cup match. The exact schedule for these players will be announced as it becomes available. Only 18 players will be eligible to dress for any given game.).

Locally, we get all of two Gold Cup games on Friday when Canada plays Jamaica at 5 p.m. followed by El Salvador-Costa Rica at Home Depot Center. Tickets range from $20-$75 in advance and go up another $5 the day of the game.

Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, who has 72 caps, was belatedly called in Wednesday by Jamaica. It’s possible he could play Friday for his country and Saturday for the Galaxy in their Independence Day game against the New England Revolution.

For more, read about:
* The doping scandal to hit Costa Rica.

The Canadian hopes.

El Salvador’s chances.

And Grenada, the U.S. opponents Saturday in Seattle.

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About Nick Green

South Bay-based Los Angeles News Group soccer columnist and blogger Nick Green writes at the 100 Percent Soccer blog at www.insidesocal.com/soccer and craft beer at the Beer Goggles blog at www.insidesocal.com/beer. Cheers!