Saint Kitts vs USA
USA continue their defence of the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Wednesday when they meet St Kitts and Nevis at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
This is a Group A giant-killing opportunity of huge proportions for St Kitts, and anything other than a win for the Stars and Stripes would be a major shock. But USA will be without some of their biggest names and they stuttered to a draw in their opener against Jamaica. The minnows of St Kitts sit 142nd in the FIFA Word Rankings, a full 127 places below the Stars and Stripes and they lost their opener to Trinidad and Tobago.
Holders USA face competition from Mexico who are keen to regain their place as Gold Cup top dogs and the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2023 betting odds reckon it could be another shootout between the competitions’ heavyweights. But if the new look USA stumble again, when they face St Kitts, the odds will swing sharply in the direction of Mexico.
Talking Points
Sugar Boyz are just happy to be here
They will give their illustrious opponents a run for their money, but fans of St Kitts will have a party either way as they take their place in the sun among the continent’s biggest football nations. And St Kitts have been on a roll, unbeaten in 2023 until they met a strong Trinidad side in their Gold Cup opener. The Sugar Boyz qualified for the competition thanks to a penalty shootout victory over French Guyana and that result was a big enough upset. Head coach Austin Huggins is a Sugar Boy through and through, making 36 appearances as a striker, scoring 11 times for St Kitts.
The star of the current team is 31-year old midfielder Romaine Sawyers who currently plays for Cardiff City in the Championship, making 37 appearances last year, and he has been a big player for both Brentford and West Bromwich Armstrong over the past six seasons, featuring for the Baggies in the Premier League. Sawyers has a languid style of play but also has a terrific work-rate and was made captain of Brentford by manager Thomas Frank because of his leadership skills. A win for St Kitts would be huge CONCACAF Gold Cup 2023 news but with the quality of Sawyers in the side they always have a hope.
English football fans may know two of the St Kitts forwards. Amari Sterling-James plays for Ebbsfleet United while Jacob Hazel plays for Darlington
MLS has its time to shine
The Stars and Stripes have just won their second consecutive CONCACAF Nations League title to go with their Gold Cup crown, but there have been wholesale changes in the side as European League stars such as Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna and Weston McKennie step aside to make room for Major League Soccer players. Brandon Vazquez scored an 88th minute leveller while Matt Turner saved a penalty as the USA drew their opener against Jamaica 1-1, but the USA looked rusty and disjointed and interim coach BJ Callaghan will try to gel the team quickly. He is keeping the hot seat warm for Gregg Berhalter who returns as head coach after the Gold Cup and Callaghan will be determined to continue USA’s run of tournament success while he is in charge.
The biggest star in the squad, Inter Miami’s defender DeAndre Yedlin will soon link up with Lionel Messi when the Argentine magician joins David Beckham’s team; and he brings plenty of international experience to the group. After Yedlin, who has 79 caps, Seattle Sounders striker Jordan Morris is the second most experienced player in the squad with 53 games and 11 goals, while 20-year old wing back John Tolkin, who is already established as a key player for New York Red Bulls, is an exiting prospect.
History
USA are eight times winners of the CONCACAF Gold Cup and have made 11 appearances at the World Cup finals while St Kitts have a much more modest history, first qualifying for a tournament in 1993, the Caribbean Cup. The Sugar Boyz reached the semi-finals of that competition, eventually losing on penalties to Martinique.
With two wins, two draws and a single defeat in 2023, St Kitts have been on a good run up to the start of the Gold Cup, and so have the Stars and Stripes, with four wins, three draws and a single defeat.
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