First, I have the answer to the question you’ve probably been wondering about since you saw this highlight of Mexico coach Javier Aguirre kicking out at Panamanian player Ricardo Phillips.
Yes, Aguirre did get a three-match suspension, the first match served today in Mexico’s 2-0 win over Guadeloupe. The Mexican football federation was also fined $25,000. The suspension means that if Mexico were to advance as far as the final, Aguirre would be back on the sidelines for that game but not before. Otherwise the suspension will be served in World Cup qualifying.
What do you think about the three game ban? Too harsh, just right, or not enough?
Group stages ended Sunday, and we now know which teams have made the quarterfinals. The Gold Cup is one of those rare tournaments where it’s twice as hard to not go through to the knockouts as it is to advance. Twelve teams played, and eight are moving on: the top two teams in each of the three groups, plus the two top third-place teams, as determined by the tie-breaks Daryl told us about in his preview post.
Interestingly, the top teams in all three groups received seven points, and no team went through with less than four. This could be a fluke, or it could mean that the later stages of the knockout rounds are going to be remarkably even. Stay tuned.
GROUP A
Top of the group: Canada, with wins over El Salvador and Jamaica, and a 2-2 draw with Costa Rica
Also going through: Costa Rica, with a win over Jamaica, that draw with Canada, and the somewhat fluky loss to El Salvador.
Better luck next time: Jamaica is the lone third-place team to not go through. El Salvador is also going home.
GROUP B
Top of the Group: USA. USA won easily (4-0) over Grenada, less easily (2-0) over Honduras. Haiti gave the guys a scare on Saturday, but in the end Stuart Holden came through with a 92nd minute laser strike for the draw. (If you missed the video of the goal, it’s here, and it’s a beauty.)
Also Going Through: Honduras (2nd place), with wins over Grenada (4-0) and Haiti (1-0), and that loss to the US. Haiti also advances after beating Grenada and drawing with the US.
Going Home: Grenada were the smallest team ever to qualify for the Gold Cup. They did well to get here, so with luck they won’t go home too disappointed despite the lack of points and no goals scored (vs. 10 against.)
Group C
Top of the Group: Mexico, with wins over Nicaragua and Guadeloupe, and a draw with Panama. (Guadeloupe must have had flashbacks Sunday in their 2-0 defeat; Mexico was also the team that knocked them out if the semifinals of 2007.)
Also Going Through: Guadeloupe, with wins over Panama and Nicaragua. Panama, with a draw against Mexico and a 4-0 thrashing of a 10-man Nicaragua.
Going Home: Nicaragua, who finished with 0 points and a -8 goal differential and would probably like to forget this tournament ever happened.
Quarterfinal matchups:
July 18 in Philadelphia:
Canada vs. Honduras
USA vs. Panama
July 19 in Arlington
Guadeloupe vs. Costa Rica
Mexico vs. Haiti
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