Gold Cup Final 2013: USA vs. Panama Live Stream, TV Info and Prediction

The United States will be squaring off against Panama on Sunday afternoon in what’s sure to be an exciting conclusion to the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The Americans enter the title match on quite the hot streak. The team has won 10 consecutive games, which crushed the country’s previous mark of seven straight victories. It won’t be easy to win No. 11 in a row, as Panama has been sharp on the pitch since the international tournament commenced.

Panama has yet to lose at the Gold Cup, but the team did fail to score against Canada in a 0-0 draw. All but one of the team’s wins have been close—a 6-1 victory over Cuba being the lone exception.

The Panamanians are no joke, though, as they defeated Mexico—the team with the best FIFA ranking to start the tournament—twice.

While Panama has looked good to this point in the tournament, there’s no question the Americans have looked better. The United States has yet to be scared by any of its opponents. The team has only trailed once in its five matches, and that one match resulted in a 4-1 victory.

So, which team is going to be hoisting the Gold Cup at the end of Sunday’s final match?

Here’s everything you need to know as well as a prediction of who will win the title at Soldier Field.

When: Sunday, July 28 at 4 p.m. ET

Where: Soldier Field, Chicago, Ill.

Watch: Fox

Live Stream: Fox Soccer 2Go

Gold Cup Final Preview

The United States has a stacked squad that’s been led by Landon Donovan and Chris Wondolowski through the team’s five matches. Each star has scored five goals at the Gold Cup, which are tied for the most of any player with Panama standout Manuel Gabriel Torres.

However, the Americans will be without one important person Sunday.

U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann will not be on the sidelines for his team in the final, as Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times is reporting that the CONCACAF disciplinary committee suspended the manager for the match for his actions in the United States’ victory over Honduras.

Klinsmann wasn’t pleased with the referees and was ejected from the match.

The impact of not having Klinsmann on the sidelines for the U.S. remains to be seen, and he’ll have to rely on his assistants to make the right calls.

Even though he won’t be able to manage the team like he’s used to, there’s no question that the Americans are capable of playing a strong match without him.

Team USA has outscored its opponents 19-4 at the Gold Cup and its goal differential of plus-15 is better than that of any other team (Panama is in second at plus-eight). The Panamanians will have their hands full against the United States’ high-scoring attack but definitely won’t lie down and accept defeat.

Panama will likely rely on the play of Torres and Blas Antonio Perez to lead the country to its first Gold Cup title ever. The team’s previous best finish came in 2005, when Panama fell in the final to the United States.

Do you think the Panamanians would like to get their revenge for losing eight years ago? I do.

The goal for Panama will be creating quality scoring opportunities for Torres and Perez. If the United States plays strong defense and doesn’t allow those two stars to get many shots off, there’s no way Panama comes out victorious.

The team’s defense could make it close, but it will lose without a goal from Torres or Perez.

The United States has been sturdy on defense to this point, but Panama’s defense has been better. It has only allowed three goals at the Gold Cup and should have a strategy in place to keep the Americans from putting a shot or two in the back of the net. Whether that strategy will be effective is up for debate.

While we don’t know how the championship match is going to play out, it will definitely be a match you can’t afford to miss.

Make sure you have your TV set to Fox or are following along on your computer. The United States and Panama are going to put on a show, and at the end of the day, one will be a champion.

Prediction

United States 3, Panama 1