2019 Gold Cup Knockout Rounds Primer, Previews, TV Schedule

TV/MATCH SCHEDULE

Saturday, June 29

QF #1 — 7 p.m.: HAITI vs. CANADA at NRG Stadium, Houston

Fox Sports 1, Univision and Univision Deportes

QF#2 — 10 p.m.: MEXICO vs. COSTA RICA at NRG Stadium, Houston

Fox Sports 1, Univision and Univision Deportes

Sunday, June 30

QF #3 — 5:30 p.m.: JAMAICA vs. PANAMA at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

Fox Sports 1, Univision and Univision Deportes

QF #4 — 8:30 p.m.: UNITED STATES vs. CURACAO at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

Fox Sports 1, Univision and Univision Deportes

Semifinals

Tuesday, July 2

SF #1 — 10:30 p.m.: Winner QF #1 vs. Winner QF #2 at State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.

Fox Sports 1, Univision and Univision Deportes

Wednesday July 3

SF #2 — 9:30 p.m.: Winner QF #3 vs. Winner QF #4 at Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tenn.

Fox Sports 1, Univision and Univision Deportes

Sunday, July 7

FINAL — 9 p.m.: Winner SF #1 vs. Winner SF #2 at Soldier Field, Chicago, Ill.

Fox Sports 1, Univision and Univision Deportes

QUARTERFINAL PREVIEWS

#HAIvCAN

Our first game could be the most fun, as these two young teams on the rise surprisingly meet in the quarterfinals. Obviously we’re biased towards New England Revolution’s own homegrown midfielder Zachary Herivaux and Haiti, but it’s nice to have Canada playing good soccer again too. I posed the following question on twitter when this matchup was announced and I still think it’s true:

Yes, I think the winner of this match has a very good chance at staking a claim as one of the best in the region. I remain unimpressed by Costa Rica and how they routinely fare in this tournament and other teams like T&T, Jamaica and Honduras might be taking steps backwards while these two teams are marching towards the front. I’d like to see Canada get another shot against El Tri too, I don’t think they gave Mexico their best game in the group stage.

#MEXvCRC

On paper this game is deserving of a semifinals matchup, except Costa Rica allowed a late go-ahead goal to Haiti and would up second in the group. Mexico was tested twice in the group stage, including in their last game against Martinique while rotating the squad a bit. El Tri should be up for this game and breakout starlet Uriel Antuna of the LA Galaxy has been a big reason why Mexico is looking at another trip to the finals even if El Tri might have the hardest, or most interesting, path to the finals.

Meanwhile, here’s the Ticos results in the Gold Cup recently: 2017 Semi loss to USA; 2015 QF Loss to Mexico (MEX finished 2nd in their Group and this was on a questionable late PK); 2013 QF Loss to Honduras; 2011 QF Loss to Honduras on PKs; 2009 Semifinal Loss to Mexico on PKs. They’ve only topped their group once (in 2017) in this stretch between semifinals and for a team that is talented enough to make the World Cup quarterfinals this decade, to continually fail to not get out of the quarters in your own region is as baffling as it is annoying. And Keylor Navas isn’t walking through that door.

#JAMvPAN

This game has full CONCACAF written all over it. Panama was efficient in the group stages and rested mostly everyone against the USA with a quarterfinal spot already clinched. Jamaica meanwhile was really good at home against Honduras and then mediocre in their remaining neutral site games in the US.

If Jamaica comes out with an aggressive and attack minded game plan I think they can take this one, but if their last two games are any indication then I question whether or not they can actually do that. Panama is who they are, and if Jamaica simply waits around for extra time or PKs, I think Los Canaleros will take the game over long before that. There might not be a ton of highlights from this one, but if you like strategic soccer and lots of CONCACAFing, this will be a very entertaining match.

#USAvCUW

The Don’t Call it a Revenge/Redemption Tour continues for the USA, and I’m disappointed they have to go through Curacao here. The downside of rooting for chaos, is eventually having to root for your team against the Cinderella teams. The USA should win this game going away, but keeper Eloy Room has proven why he’s a capable backup for Dutch giants PSV and will make the Americans earn their goals.

On the other side, I hope players like Leandro Bacuna go out and enjoy this moment and don’t look back at a possible lopsided scoreline. There’s a lot of talent Curacao can lean on and develop from the Netherlands pipeline and this is I think the beginning of what should be more quarterfinals appearances for this up and coming squad.

If a second USA-Panama game does happen, I’m looking forward to seeing both of those first teams go at it. Panama is a wonderful benchmark test for the rest of the region because they’re so consistent, solid, and organized when the play. Breaking down an upstart team like Curacao followed by a stout Panamanian defense would do wonders for the confidence of the US team ahead of a likely final with Mexico.