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USA for 3rd; Mexico barely in final
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And Americans thought the World Cup was the only major tournament.

 

Think again?

 

This summer, the 2015 Gold Cup has been a sensational tournament with the USA and Mexico's national soccer team reaching the semi rounds yet again.

 

So many incidents and unforgettable moments occurred in Wednesday's semifinal contests that it would be almost impossible to forget this day. Expectations were high, but I just can't comprehend what took place at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Wednesday. The USA failed to make the final after making it five consecutive times.

 

First off, the upset of the USA by Jamaica should never have happened. Nine out of 10 times, that USA national team, which is presumably the “A squad,” beats Jamaica. Since 1988 and prior to Wednesday’s match, the USA team was 13-8-1 against Jamaica before the game started.

 

So what happens now is the USA team will play for third place against a Panamanian team that is not only coming off back-to-back 120-plus minute games but coming off a loss with multiple yellow cards. So how will they fare against the red, white and blue who just got embarrassed?

 

I’m sorry if that sounds bad but it was an embarrassment. Sure, Ryan Thompson, the Jamaican goalkeeper and that back-line were outstanding, but the USA team could not find the back of the net except off a rebound. And you can't help ask the question of why John Brooks was in the game instead of Omar Gonzalez.

 

Mexico did not play as well as they could have, period.

 

Let's hope that Coach Jurgen Klinsman's USA team and 'El Tri' can play better than they did in their respective semifinal contests but either way it should be a pair of interesting games that you won't want to miss because it is going to be a physical battle for all of the four remaining squads.

 

The offenses of both teams just need to find the back of the net and create more opportunities on set pieces. USA needs to start Gonzalez to have the upper-hand with headers as he stands over 6-foot-4.

 

Mexico must start Giovani Dos Santos now that Carlos Vela is out of the final after accumulating multiple yellow cards and without Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez it’s obvious how depleted the forwards are for Mexico

 

Jamaica and Mexico will be playing on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. on Fox Sports 1.

 

 The United States will square off against Panama at 1 p.m. Saturday.