United States chaos hands advantage to World Cup co-hosts

Canada and Mexico can take advantage of USA's off-field issues at the 17th CONCACAF Gold Cup

- STEVE MENARY

For holders and co-hosts the United States, the last few months have been nothing short of chaotic off the field. It began in the aftermath of the World Cup with a row over Giovanni Reyna. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder played less than an hour in Qatar, despite calls for his inclusion from both fans and media, and after the USA’s elimination at the hands of the Netherlands his attitude was questioned by head coach Gregg Berhalter. In response, Reyna’s parents – including former USA midfielder Claudio – brought to the US Soccer Federation’s attention a decades-old allegation of a domestic abuse incident involving Berhalter. While the federation investigated, the coach’s contract was allowed to lapse and, for now, interim boss Anthony Hudson will lead the team.

Hudson is well regarded and has managed at senior international level previously, with Bahrain and New Zealand, but left the latter six years ago. He will take charge of a strong squad, but will be concerned by the lack of opportunities at Chelsea for key forward Christian Pulisic and the broken arm suffered by Fulham defender Tim Ream.

The USA’s closest Group A challengers will be Jamaica, who were runners-up in 2015 and 2017. Icelandic coach Heimir Hallgrimsson has a decent squad, which has been boosted in recent years by the addition of English-born players such as Michail Antonio (West Ham United), Ethan Pinnock (Brentford) and Bobby Decordova-Reid (Fulham), although Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey and Spartak Moscow’s Shamar Nicholson, both from Kingston, should pose the main threat up front. Goalkeeper and captain Andre Blake leads a significant MLS-based contingent of the squad too.