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The Octavio Zambrano era has gotten off to a near-perfect start for Canada.

Since the Ecuadorian took over the program in March, the team has yet to experience a loss. In fact, the Canucks have not tasted defeat in 2017, with the unbeaten streak extended to six games thanks to a scoreless draw with Honduras last week in Canada's final group stage match at the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

MORE: Whitecaps' Davies bursts onto international scene

The positivity, while modest, will continue for a few more days at least, with Zambrano's squad preparing to face Jamaica in the tournament quarterfinals on Thursday in Glendale, Ariz. It'll be the first of two meetings between the sides over the summer, as the teams will also square off in a friendly at Toronto's BMO Field in early September.

If it wasn't obvious, Thursday's match is the far more important of the two against the Jamaicans.

The Caribbean nation claimed the most recent meeting between these two sides, securing a 1-0 victory in the 2015 Gold Cup thanks to a stoppage time goal. Canada looks to exact some revenge on Thursday, riding a newfound confidence under the new coach that saw the beleaguered team finally break a number of embarrassing tournament droughts (goals, wins, advancement to the knockout stage) en route to this week's clash.

MORE: U.S. is Gold Cup favorite, but Canada could keep surprising

For their part, the Canadians aren't idly accepting advancement to the quarters as the end goal. Cyle Larin, the 22-year-old former MLS rookie of the year who plies his trade for Orlando City, has beensummoned by Zambrano to replace midfielder/defender Raheem Edwards in the squad. The move signifies a commitment to the type of attacking soccer that Zambrano promised when he took the reins earlier this year, glimpses of which we've seen on display in the group stage.

Larin will be in tough to crack the starting lineup as Lucas Cavallini has performed admirably as a tireless force up front, harassing defenders and providinglink-up play that has resulted in teenage sensation Alphonso Davies' first of three goals so far in the tournament.

Regardless, Larin will be another weapon at Zambrano's disposal, as Canada looks to claim a very realistic opportunity to move on to the semifinals of the regional competition for the first time since 2007.

Even if Thursday is the end of the road for the Canadians, this year's Gold Cup will have to be looked upon as a success. Zambrano has managed to introduce several new players to the fold, with young players like Davies, Michael Petrasso, Samuel Adekugbe and Mark-Anthony Kaye having notable Gold Cup debuts. Along with the likes of Scott Arfield, Junior Hoilett and Steven Vitoria all veterans who are still relatively inexperienced in international play Canada has managed to give its player pool a much-needed infusion of new talent at a time when several of the more familiar faces from the past decade are transitioning away from the national team.

MORE:Mourinho wants 15 more years at United

On a more intangible note, Zambrano's quest to get Canadian players to stop seeing themselves as also-rans seems to be alreay taking hold.

In a weird way, Im kind of disappointed we didnt win the group, Arfield told Sportsnet after the draw with Honduras cemented Canada asthe second place team in Group A. I think we were good enough to do so. I think that has to be the mentality going forward, that we cant be second best. Its a huge stride for soccer in this country. It gets people taking notice.

Zambrano's task is to essentially prepare the Canadians for World Cup qualification for Qatar 2022, which won't begin for another 2-3 years. In thetime leading up to those matches, it's all about exposing young talent to the rigours of international action while forging an identity upon which the program can be based.

Gold Cup 2017 is just the first step, and there is plenty of work to be done, but it's already been a giant leap forward.

The rest is here:
Canada prepares for first Gold Cup knockout game since 2009 - Sporting News

The Canadians are preparing for their most important match in eight years, with a meeting against Jamaica in the quarterfinals set for Thursday

The Octavio Zambrano era has gotten off to a near-perfect start for Canada.

Since the Ecuadorian took over the program in March, the team has yet to experience a loss. In fact, the Canucks have not tasted defeat in 2017, with the unbeaten streak extended to six games thanks to a scoreless draw with Honduras last week in Canada's final group stage match at the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Bet on Juventus v Barcelona in ICC

The positivity, while modest, will continue for a few more days at least, with Zambrano's squad preparing to face Jamaica in the tournament quarterfinals on Thursday in Glendale, Ariz. It'll be the first of two meetings between the sides over the summer, as the teams will also square off in a friendly at Toronto's BMO Field in early September.

If it wasn't obvious, Thursday's match is the far more important of the two against the Jamaicans.

The Caribbean nation claimed the most recent meeting between these two sides, securing a 1-0 victory in the 2015 Gold Cup thanks to a stoppage time goal. Canada looks to exact some revenge on Thursday, riding a newfound confidence under the new coach that saw the beleaguered team finally break a number of embarrassing tournament droughts (goals, wins, advancement to the knockout stage) en route to this week's clash.

For their part, the Canadians aren't idly accepting advancement to the quarters as the end goal. Cyle Larin, the 22-year-old former MLS rookie of the year who plies his trade for Orlando City, has been summoned by Zambrano to replace midfielder/defender Raheem Edwards in the squad. The move signifies a commitment to the type of attacking soccer that Zambrano promised when he took the reins earlier this year, glimpses of which we've seen on display in the group stage.

Larin will be in tough to crack the starting lineup as Lucas Cavallini has performed admirably as a tireless force up front, harassing defenders and providing link-up play that has resulted in teenage sensation Alphonso Davies' first of three goals so far in the tournament.

Regardless, Larin will be another weapon at Zambrano's disposal, as Canada looks to claim a very realistic opportunity to move on to the semifinals of the regional competition for the first time since 2007.

USA's Miazga eyeing Chelsea and World Cup

Even if Thursday is the end of the road for the Canadians, this year's Gold Cup will have to be looked upon as a success. Zambrano has managed to introduce several new players to the fold, with young players like Davies, Michael Petrasso, Samuel Adekugbe and Mark-Anthony Kaye having notable Gold Cup debuts. Along with the likes of Scott Arfield, Junior Hoilett and Steven Vitoria all veterans who are still relatively inexperienced in international play Canada has managed to give its player pool a much-needed infusion of new talent at a time when several of the more familiar faces from the past decade are transitioning away from the national team.

Zambrano's task is to essentially prepare the Canadians for World Cup qualification for Qatar 2022, which won't begin for another 2-3 years. In the time leading up to those matches, it's all about exposing young talent to the rigours of international action while forging an identity upon which the program can be based.

Gold Cup 2017 is just the first step, and there is plenty of work to be done, but it's already been a giant leap forward.

View original post here:
Canada is back! Canucks ready for first Gold Cup knockout game since 2009 - Goal.com

Updated / Thursday, 20 Jul 2017 10:56

Wexford joint manager John Kelly says that the players are treating their final Group 2 tie in the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship as a knockout game.

Following their five-point defeat of Tipperary at Innovate Wexford Park last Saturday, the Yellowbellies are in second position but could still lose out on qualification to the quarter-finals which is available to second and third in each group if they were beaten by Limerick by six points this weekend and Offaly overcame Tipperary.

Neither is an impossibility but a win in Bruff on Saturday (5.30pm) would remove all doubt for Wexford.

"Limerick beat Tipp and won a Munster Final" says Kelly, who is co-manager withMatty Flynn OConnor.

"Theyre not going to be any pushovers. Well have to be on top of our game going down to Limerick. Were treating it as knockout Championship.

"Every game since the Cork game has been like that. Its in your own hands."

The Cork game he refers to was a disconcerting experience, as the Rebels had 18 points to spare in Pirc U Rinn at the beginning of the month.

That placed real significance on the Tipp clash and the players answered the call, especially in the second half, when Orla ODwyer and Ereena Fryday plundered two second-half goals.

"It was a big win after going down to Cork and getting a good beating.

Tipp last year for us was a sticky one down in Waterford and we were dodgy going into it but the girls hurled very well and did what we wanted them to do.

"When they got back level with us you would be a bit shy but we came down the field and got the next score. Chloe (Foxe) came on and got a great point and we seemed to lift it.

"There is a great spirit in the team. Theyre young. Theres still a few of the older crew there not much of them now but it is a help.

"There are some good, young girls coming through the county and the further we can go in this Championship, it will stand to them."

Foxe wasnt risked from the start having injured her hamstring against Cork but scored 1-02 off the bench and, like Joanne Dillon, has had a big impact in a panel that lost even more experience this year, though Kellys legendary sister Kate is remains a welcome figure in the background, passing on some of her wisdom to the new crop that represent the future.

"You know what youre going to get out of the Leacys and the Kehoes," he said.

"You can rely on them all the time. Its what you get out of the younger players will determine how you go in the Championship.

"We have lost Katrina Parrock, Mags DArcy and Kate this year, another three massive players. Those players are not replaced overnight but you have to battle on.

"All good things come to an end and we have to find the next ones."

More:
Limerick clash a knockout game for Wexford, says John Kelly - RTE.ie

PHILADELPHIA In any tournament knockout game, the most important thing is to survive and advance.

But members of the US national team know they wont survive much longer in the Gold Cup if they play anything like they did in Wednesdays 2-0 quarterfinal win over El Salvador at Lincoln Financial Field.

I thought we had a difficult time tonight, head coach Bruce Arena admitted after the match. Our timing wasnt good. We didnt deal with the physicality. The game had no rhythm, with all the fouls and players falling on the ground, but we werent good on top of it. It took us 30 minutes to play a little bit and then we got a little better service and capitalized on them. It was just a sloppy game overall.

To call Wednesdays game physical is probably an understatement. After the USMNT took a 2-0 lead into halftime on goals from Omar Gonzalez and Eric Lichaj, El Salvador resorted to some dirty antics in the second half, biting not one but two US players.

Afterwards, Arena told reporters he thought someone should have been sent off. And asked if he thought his team could maybe learn from a game like this, the US coach was blunt.

I dont think so, Arena said. Games shouldnt look like that. Too many fouls. Time wasting. Players falling on the ground. It doesnt prepare us for big games.

The US certainly have a big game looming Saturday as they're set to face a Costa Rica team that routed them 4-0 in a World Cup qualifier this past November.

And they know their Gold Cup run may end vs. Los Ticos in the semifinals if they once again come out slow and dont, as striker Jozy Altidore put it, put a stamp on the game.

Look, I think this was one of the better Salvador teams Ive seen since Ive been part of the national team, said Altidore, who was on the wrong end of one of the bites and nipple twists. They gave us their best in the first 35-40 minutes but we rebounded well. We cant be coming out flat like that. As games get tougher good, a good Costa Rica team will punish you early on for coming out like that.

Along with Tim Howard, Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley, Altidore was one of the big guns Arena brought in for the knockout round, hoping the longtime USMNT stars could elevate the team after a somewhat unconvincing showing in group play.

But even though Bradley and Dempsey came through with pretty assists and Howard had a nice early save, Arena thought the team looked tired and out of sorts for much of the hot night in Philly.

I think our backline for the most part played OK, Arena said. I think Michael Bradley and Darlington Nagbe played very well. It was a very good goal by Omar and Lichaj and at times, we passed the ball pretty well. But we werent clean in the last part of the field. We have to do better.

Originally posted here:
US survive, but Bruce Arena not pleased with effort vs. El Salvador - MLSsoccer.com

The group stage is over, the knockout rounds begin and good riddance.

I dont care if this was an off-year Gold Cup with a lot of B teams, most of the group stage games were uninteresting and/or bad to watch. This perhaps goes especially for the United States and Mexico, the two best nations in the region. There were hardly any upsets to speak of and the only storylines worth mentioning from the group stage were French Guianas forfeit and Alphonso Davies of Canada lighting it up before getting hurt.

Hopefully the Gold Cup knockout rounds can add something resembling excitement and drama, which we saw very little of in the group matches. The favorites for the most part got results even if they made it hard on themselves in the process for long stretches. The quarterfinal matchups are fairly interesting with the parity established during group games leading to interesting sides of the bracket leading to the final

The USMNT has called up six players to reinforce their squad while Mexico stood pat with their young roster of domestic LigaMX players. Canada added Cyle Larin to their roster, adding one of their best talents to a squad that made the quarterfinals for the first time since 2009. Costa Rica made a few changes as well and aside from keeper Keylor Navas they have been playing with a full senior roster from the beginning. Regional stalwarts Jamaica, Panama and Honduras are all knockout round threats while El Salvador is perhaps the only upstart left at this stage.

TV SCHEDULE (all games on FS1, all times Eastern)

Quarterfinals

Wednesday, July 19, 2017 (Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA)

QF1: Costa Rica vs. Panama, 6 p.m.

QF2: USA vs. El Salvador, 9 p.m.

Thursday, July 20, 2017 (Univ. of Pheonix Stadium, Glendale, AZ)

QF3: Mexico vs. Honduras, 7:30 p.m.

QF4: Jamaica vs. Canada, 10 p.m.

Semifinals

Saturday, July 22, 2017 (AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX)

QF1 Winner vs. QF2 Winner, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 23, 2017 (Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA)

QF3 Winner vs. QF4 Winner, 8:30 p.m.

Final

Wednesday, July 26, 2017 (Levis Stadium, Santa Clara, CA)

SF1 Winner vs. SF2 Winner, 9:30 p.m.

QUARTERFINAL PRIMERS

QF1: Costa Rica vs. Panama

This could very well be the best pure matchup in the quarterfinals. Panama have been on the cusp of a World Cup for what seems like the last decade and Costa Rica is coming off a quarterfinal appearance in Brazil 2014. On paper, Costa Rica has the edge but its actually been Panama thats been the better team in the Gold Cup in recent tournaments. Costa Rica sits in second place of The Hex at 11 points with Panama in fourth place at 7 points.

Both teams won two games in the group stage, with Costa Ricas 1-0 win over Honduras probably the best win out of those. Panama was solid in their 1-1 draw against the USA and then took care of business versus Nicaragua and Martinique but werent overpowering. Not only is this matchup between two high level teams, but its also fairly even and could produce a lot of quality and late drama as I expect this one to remain close. If Panama doesnt have to sit back on the counter, a wide open game could be very exciting between these two sides though that might favor the Ticos style of play more. Costa Ricas offense wasnt all that great in the group stage, just beating Honduras 1-0 and getting shutout in a 0-0 draw to Canada. Despite that, you have to assume the Ticos will score in this one and try and force Panama into an more open game to take advantage of the usually solid Panama defense.

QF2: United States vs. El Salvador

The USMNT are perhaps fortunate to be the winners of Group B as they were level with Panama on points and clinched the top seed on a goals scored tiebreaker. This meant the US avoided not only Mexicos side of the bracket but also Costa Rica in this round. With six new players on the roster likely to be thrust into the starting lineup, drawing El Salvador here gives the USAs reinforcements a good game to acclimate to the national team after missing the group matches.

El Salvador to their credit are no strangers to the quarterfinals but were thrashed by the US 5-1 in this round back in 2013. Usually a third place finisher in the group stages, El Salvador can make things difficult for anyone they play against but at the same time dont pull off a lot of upsets. Remember those two PKs the USA missed against Nicaragua? The quarter and semifinal rounds wont go to extra time, but rather straight to the shootout. Food for thought if El Salvador can get a draw in regulation.

QF3: Jamaica vs. Canada

This might be the most fun match of round if both teams are willing to attack. We know these two sides are usually organized defensively but Canada in particular has struggled to score goals in recent years and Gold Cups. If Alphonso Davies is healthy and with Cyle Larin now on the roster, Canadas should have all the offensive firepower they need to get into the semifinals.

The real equalizer for this matchup is Jamaica keeper and former Connecticut Huskies player, Andre Blake. With Tim Howard in the twilight of his career and Navas not playing, Blake is probably the best keeper in the tournament. Jamaica can ride his heroics in net especially if they find themselves in a shootout during the knockout games. What makes this game so intriguing to me is that both teams can go Jekyll/Hyde on us at any point. Weve seen mostly good Canada so far but this is a team that hasnt played a Gold Cup knockout game in a while and that does bother me. Jamaica, though theyve been solid so far in this tournament, did crash out of World Cup qualifying in spectacularly bad fashion last year. Even if both teams show up with their bad forms, this game could still be fun to watch in my opinion, just maybe for different reasons that involve comedy and/or groaning. If both good teams show up, it should just be fun period.

QF4: Mexico vs. Honduas

Under a different circumstance, I would be really excited about this game because like Costa Rica-Panama, its between two teams in The Hex. However, Mexico is using their B team and Honduras was incredibly disappointing in the group stage and really only qualified as a third place team because of French Guianas forfeit.

All that being said, if Honduras shows up they can turn this into a very CONCACAF affair. What bothers me about Honduras is they didnt score at all in the group stage, their only goals were awarded via the 3-0 forfeit. While Antony Lozanos addition to the squad could help the attack, the good news is the Honduras defense only allowed a single goal in the group stage, to Costa Rica in a 1-0 loss. However, playing for a 0-0 draw and penalties for 90 minutes against El Tri doesnt seem like a viable strategy in this one. Honduras is going to have to score and likely more than once, if they want a shot to advance.

KNOCKOUT STAGE OVERVIEW

I really like the balance of the bracket in this one. Mexico might have the harder quarterfinal against Honduras, but it will be the Americans with the harder semifinal if both teams advance. If we assume the US and Mexico do advance, I think regardless of who wins the Jamaica-Canada and the Costa Rica-Panama match it will produce two excellent semifinal matches this weekend. All signs will always point to a USA-Mexico final until proven otherwise, but the group stage I think has proven this tournament could be very wide open. Im not entirely sure parity reigned in the group stage, but certainly no team ran away with their group or looked overly impressive in advancing to the quarterfinals except for perhaps Canada. Im banking on this theory to finally produce some good soccer in this tournament because if were being honest, we havent see much of it yet.

GOLD CUP KNOCKOUT PREDICTIONS

QF: Panama, United States, Canada, Mexico

SF: United States, Mexico

Champ: United States

I want to see a rematch of the US-Panama game in the semifinals and I also want to see just how good Canada is right now. In the end, the USAs roster reinforcements are the difference as they claim the title in extra time over Mexico.

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Gold Cup 2017 Knockout Stage Primer - The Bent Musket (blog)