While the vast majority of La Liga players have been spending pre-season rediscovering match fitness and sharpness with their clubs, a handful are only just returning from international duty after featuring at one of the most keenly contested and controversial Gold Cups in memory.
A total of 12 teams kicked off North America’s equivalent to the European Championships, held in the United States, just short of three weeks ago. As expected, perennial tournament favourites Mexico boasted the largest representation from Spain’s top flight, with Malaga goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, Villarreal’s Jonathan dos Santos and Real Sociedad forward Carlos Vela all making Coach Miguel Herrera’s 23-man squad. Also included was dos Santos’ older brother Giovani, who has recently left the Yellow Submarine for American outfit LA Galaxy.
Elsewhere, Deportivo La Coruna duo Samuel Piette and Celso Borges represented Canada and Costa Rica respectively, while the competition also included two Spanish Coaches. Benito Floro, who guided Real Madrid to the Copa Del Rey in 1993, is now Canada boss, with former Barcelona assistant Albert Roca taking charge of El Salvador.
A kind group phase, from which eight of the 12 participating nations qualify for the quarter-finals, ensured that CONCACAF’s heavyweights were never seriously threatened despite some below par performances. Vela, Giovani dos Santos and former Deportivo and Valencia man Andres Guardado were all on target for El Tri in their 6-0 demolition of an under-strength Cuba, but they then drew a blank in a goalless stalemate with Guatemala before conceding four in another draw with Trinidad and Tobago.
Borges’ Costa Rica, following their heroics at last summer’s World Cup, failed to win a single one of their three Group B encounters against Jamaica, Canada and El Salvador. Nevertheless, three draws were still enough to see Los Ticos, who were missing Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas through injury, progress to the last eight in second place behind the Reggae Boyz.
In the same group, the battle of the Spanish tacticians also ended in a tie as neither Flores nor Roca managed to preside over a win in the competition. Just two points apiece from three matches meant early exits for both Canada and El Salvador, with Roca having since left his post with the Central Americans.
The major talking points of the tournament occurred during the knockout stages, with eventual champions Mexico repeatedly at the centre of them. Highly controversial penalty awards late on in their quarter and semi-final wins over Costa Rica and Panama respectively led to furious reactions around the region, along with accusations of corruption against CONCACAF.
This was particularly the case against the Panamanians, who refused to continue playing for ten minutes after referee Mark Geiger ruled that centre-back Ramos Torres had handled the ball in his own box with his team 1-0 up two minutes from time. Captain Guardado dispatched the spot-kick and added another in extra-time to secure his heavily-criticised team’s progression.
An improved and penalty-free Mexican performance in Sunday’s final saw them run out 3-1 winners over surprise runners-up Jamaica, securing Herrera’s side a record seventh Gold Cup in the process. Though El Tri’s detractors will view the victory as tainted, it ensured that three La Liga players will be beginning the new season with a winner’s medal already secured.
