Copa America

any interest here for this tournament?

I think USA got a tough draw, we'll be lucky to win 1, but I think we'll advance out of the group stages, then get knocked out quickly.

Again, all depends on the squad we sent, A or B team. It'd be good for the boys to send the A squad to play in what's going to be an extremely hostile environment. There's no love loss for Americans in Venezula right now (thanks W...)

[ARISTI]

The squad itself will be a mixture of the A squad and the B squad because the US opening match is 4 days after the final of the 2007 Gold Cup

I'm a bit confused on this issue. I've read a few places that it is more important for the USMNT to win the Gold Cup and to put their energies toward that rather than Copa America. On the other hand I've read that the USMNT should put more energy into the Copa America in order to get the team experience against the more powerful south american teams. Can anyone explain why these are valid or invalid points? What are the incentives for doing well in either of the tourneys?

Thanks.

[rollosan]

no disrespect to the gold cup itself or the teams participating in it, but the Copa America is way more prestigious. Also, in terms of experience for bigger stages such as the world cup, that's a more appropriate tournament. Not to mention the fact that the Copa America is followed all over the world, while the gold cup is mainly a local affair. For the players they should love the exposure that the Copa America gives

[Ziegler1988]

Bradley says he will be putting the Gold Cup as the #1 priority so we can qualify for the Confederations Cup, which he apparently sees as very important.
I'd rather see what our best squad could do against the likes of Argentina, Brazil, etc. in the Copa America, but oh well.

[west501]

I am very interested in this tournament and think we have a good chance to win
in an unprecedented move in the modern era Basile, who won both previous tournaments he participated in as coach, is practising weekly with a group of promising nationally based players and is likely to add superstars from abroad to the heavily practised team for this tournament for some prime tiki-taka
so while it is a b- or even c-team it is different to many other tournaments in which we fielded a completely un-practised team of second stringers (and lost 0-3 to the US)

[Somaztlan]

Anyone know what the payouts are for both tournaments?

[sirmax858]

i THINK FROM THE uNITED sTATES STANDPOINT THE gOLD cUP IS more important. Only because when they win this tournament they will receive a birth to the confederation cup, and its own our own territory.

Also US, even if they won the Copa America(which they wont) and didn't win the Gold Cup they wouldn't gain entrance to the confederation cup.

[morky]

If this is true, it just proves that the footballing authorities are as clueless in the USa as they are in Europe.

I think any footballer or supporter who knows the game would admit that the Copa America is far more prestigeous and worthwhile than the Gold Cup.

If they want to make football in North America work, they should be doing all they can to expose the US public to the historic clubs, stadia, magnificent atmospheres and technical ability of South America. And I think losing every game in the Copa America against real competition, but showing guts and heart like the US team usually do would do a lot more for them than winning a Gold Cup.

[NEColourULike]

I think the idea is that Bradley isn't going to wear out the team going for an impossible goal.