Gold Cup 2013 Schedule: Marquee Group Matches That Will Impact Knockout Stage

The CONCACAF Gold Cup has gotten off to an exciting start as there have already been several spectacular performances and even a couple upsets. Things haven't exactly gone the way that most observers expected them to, so group play will definitely be worth keeping an eye on.

While teams like the United States and Honduras got off to hot starts as expected, other potential contenders stumbled. There is still time for those teams to correct themselves and get back on track before the knockout round approaches, but they'll have to do so quickly.

Here are three group matches to watch in the coming days as they figure to have a huge impact on the knockout stage with regards to seeding as well as which teams move on and which don't.

USA vs. Costa Rica

The United States may very well be favored to win this year's Gold Cup, and it didn't do anything to change that notion in its first match of group play. Team USA had absolutely no issue with Belize as it routed the over-matched Jaguars by a 6-1 score. That puts the Americans atop Group C, but Costa Rica turned in an impressive effort of its own against Cuba as it triumphed 3-0 and is currently tied with the United States on three points.

Both Team USA and Costa Rica will advance to the knockout stage in all likelihood, but their clash on July 16 figures to determine which team will be seeded higher in the knockout stage. That is of great importance, as the team that wins the group will have a much easier opponent to kick off the knockout round. The Americans will be heavily favored in the match, especially with the way the likes of Landon Donovan and Chris Wondolowski are playing up top, but Costa Rica is a dark horse in this tournament.

Costa Rica has played the United States tough in the past, and it seemed very confident against Cuba. Midfielder Michael Barrantes Rojas scored twice in that match, and he is a player that the United States absolutely must account for.

Provided Team USA and Costa Rica take care of business against Cuba and Belize respectively in their upcoming matches, the United States vs. Costa Rica will be a high-stakes encounter to end group play.

Mexico vs. Martinique

There is no question that the biggest shocker of the 2013 Gold Cup thus far is Mexico's 2-1 loss to Panama. While Panama has certainly grown by leaps and bounds over the past several years, Mexico is the two-time defending Gold Cup champion and entered this tournament as the co-favorite along with Team USA. There is now some question as to whether or not El Tri will even advance to the knockout stage.

Another big surprise occurred in the same group as Martinique shocked Canada by a 1-0 score. Most expected Martinique to lose all three of its group matches and bow out quietly, but the underdogs find themselves in a first-place tie with Panama in Group A.  

With that in mind, their July 14 match promises to be much bigger than anyone could have possibly imagined. Mexico must first play Canada, and Martinique has a date with Panama; both teams will be in the mix when they play each other regardless of what happens in those matches.

Even though Mexico didn't put together its best roster, it will still be expected to take care of Martinique. Based on the way Martinique upset Canada, though, it could very well be a team of destiny. Mexico was already upset once in this tournament, so it's possible that El Tri is ripe for the picking. Manager Jose Manuel de la Torre is very much on the hot seat already, but a loss to Martinique and a failure to advance to the knockout stage would essentially seal his fate.

Panama vs. Canada

After beating Mexico to open Gold Cup group play, Panama's confidence has to be at an all-time high. If Panama is able to defeat an upstart Martinique squad in its next match, it will have an opportunity to go undefeated in group play when it takes on Canada on July 14.

Panama was considered a definite threat to advance to the knockout stage, but few thought that it could possibly win the group. Panama is in position to do precisely that, though, as long as it takes care of business in its next two matches.

Canada has fallen off a bit over the past few years, but it remains the only team other than the United States or Mexico to win a Gold Cup. Because of that winning tradition, the Canadian squad was supposed to contend. That is still a possibility, but losing its opener to Martinique was a major blow. Depending upon how Canada fares against Mexico, though, it may still have a chance to make it to the knockout round.

All Canada can ask for at this point is a win or possibly even a draw against Panama to be enough for it to advance. Since the top two third-place finishers in group play move on, Canada still has a prayer. It will be tough to avoid a loss against Panama as it has all the momentum in the world right now, but Canada certainly has some talent and is far from done in this tournament.

Gold Cup Group Schedule

Matchup	Date	Time (ET)
Panama vs. Martinique	Thursday, July 11	8:30 p.m.
Mexico vs. Canada	Thursday, July 11	11 p.m.
Trinidad and Tobago vs. Haiti	Friday, July 12	7 p.m.
Honduras vs. El Salvador	Friday, July 12	9:30 p.m.
USA vs. Cuba	Saturday, July 13	3:30 p.m.
Costa Rica vs. Belize	Saturday, July 13	6 p.m.
Panama vs. Canada	Sunday, July 14	3:30 p.m.
Martinique vs. Mexico	Sunday, July 14	6 p.m.
El Salvador vs. Haiti	Monday, July 15	7 p.m.
Honduras vs. Trinidad and Tobago	Monday, July 15	9:30 p.m.
Cuba vs. Belize	Tuesday, July 16	5:30 p.m.
USA vs. Costa Rica	Tuesday, July 16	8 p.m.

 

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