USA vs Belize Gold Cup 2013 Preview, Prediction and TV Schedule

July 8, 2013 10:30 pm Modified date: July 9, 2013 10:25 pm

The USA vs Belize Gold Cup 2013 match will be held this Tuesday, July 9, 2013 (8:00 PM Pacific) at the Jeld-Wen Field in Portland. The USA and Belize share Group C with Costa Rica and Cuba; the top two teams will move on to the knockout round, and the third place team might also advance, pending results in other groups. USA is a huge favorite to win this match against the tiny Central American nation, which is making its first ever appearance in the Gold Cup.

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Update: The USA vs Belize match ended in a 6-1 victory for the USMNT. The USA dominated and Wondolowski scored three goals.

Click here for the full highlights of the 6-1 USA victory over Belize.

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Just like every other Gold Cup, the USA is one of the favorites to win it all, (this edition specially, given Mexico’s woeful state). Klinsmann decided to bring in a slightly different squad than what he had been using in the Hexagonal matches, both to rest his key players, and give others a chance to impress him. Nonetheless, this US roster is still imposing: DaMarcus Beasley, Edgar Castillo, Onyewu, Joe Corona, Landon Donovan and Herculez Gomez are just some of the players likely to make a start.

Plainly looking at the rosters, only Mexico has a squad that can match the talent of the USMNT in this Gold Cup. Talent isn’t everything though, as we saw on Sunday, team unity, strategy and leadership are also necessary, Mexico had none of these, and lost to an “inferior” opponent. The USMNT is in a much better situation, we can expect an uneventful victory for the USA.

The USA is a huge favorite over Belize, the tiny Central American nation has a squad composed of players that play in the semi-professional Belize league, only 2 play in a foreign league (Honduras). Furthermore, this will be the first time Belize plays in the Gold Cup, qualifying due to their 4th place finish in the 2013 Copa Centroamericana (had never won a game in that tournament prior to the 2013 edition).

Belize has few arguments in their favor, and they will likely be overwhelmed by the American talent. Nonetheless, they do possess 1 player who might (big might) make a difference: Deon McCauley. McCauley has scored 16 goals for his national team, and he will use the Gold Cup as an opportunity to get his name in front of MLS scouts (he had a trial with Portland Timbers in February).

USA vs Belize Prediction

Let’s not kid ourselves, the USA vs Belize match will be a one-sided encounter, this will be a David vs Goliath match where Goliath wins. The USA crushed Guatemala 6-0 in a friendly encounter in San Diego this past Friday, where Donovan demonstrated he is ready to lead the USMNT. Belize will simply attempt to play a defensive game, trying to avoid a blowout.

The USA vs Belize match will end in a 5-0 victory for the USA, there is simply too much talent on the USMNT. Belize will try, play with heart and grit, but a group of semi-professional players will simply not be able to overcome the huge difference in talent.