Gold Cup 2015: TV Schedule, Live Stream and Predictions for Thursday Fixtures
Group C will kick off their opening matches in the 2015 Gold Cup on Thursday, with Trinidad and Tobago facing Guatemala and Mexico taking on Cuba.
Pre-tournament favourites Mexico will be looking to get off to a winning start in a group they should have little problem in dominating.
For the rest, there lies a strong possibility of qualifying for the knockout stage, as those who finish second and the best two third-place finishers will progress to the quarter-finals.
Here's all the TV and live streaming information you need to catch all the action, as well as some predictions for how each game might play out.
| Thursday July 9 | Trinidad vs. Guatemala | C | 7 p.m./12 a.m. | FOX Sports 2, BT Sport 2 | BT Player, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Thursday July 9 | Mexico vs. Cuba | C | 9:30 p.m./2:30 a.m. | FOX Sports 1, BT Sport 2 | BT Player, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
Trinidad and Tobago vs. Guatemala
Trinidad and Tobago will need to end their dry spell in front of goal if they are to progress from Group C.
As Luke Sheehan of Goal notes, the Soca Warriors have not scored in 450 minutes of play in a goalless run stretching back to November.
However, coach Stephen Hart is confident in the attacking qualities of his side, in particular forwards Jonathan Glenn and Rundell Winchester, and midfielder Kadeem Corbin.
Per Sheehan's report, he told the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian:
"They are three sort of dynamic players that have good pace and energy.
I think both Corbin and Winchester need to learn how to use their qualities better.
Glenn is almost a pure finisher. He runs behind and he is very composed in the finishing. Overall I am quite pleased [with our preparation] so far.
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Kenwyne Jones will also be a familiar face, having previously plied his trade with Sunderland and Stoke City in the Premier League.
Guatemala will look to make up what they lack in quality with the ability to work as a cohesive unit.
Los Chapines' squad includes 10 players from domestic side Comunicaciones, so the players should have little problem in working together.
The Seattle Sounders' Marco Pappa will look to create opportunities from midfield, and Guatemala all-time leading scorer Carlos Ruiz will bring vital experience to their attack.
Ultimately, though, their lack of overall quality will likely be their undoing.
Expect Trinidad and Tobago to break their goal drought and kick off the tournament with a win.
Prediction: Trinidad and Tobago 1-0 Guatemala
Mexico vs. Cuba
Mexico will be the clear favourites in almost all of their matches at the Gold Cup, but El Tri have a number of concerns going into the game against Cuba.
First is the loss of Javier Hernandez, who will miss the tournament due to injury. Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl indicates the striker will be a big loss to the proceedings:
Further, the pressure is really ramping up on Mexico after their understandably understrength side failed to make an impact in the Copa America.
As ESPN Tri notes, the performances have had a negative impact on the side's rankings, and El Tri are well aware that nothing short of winning the Gold Cup will be good enough.
However, Cuba are enduring significant problems of their own, which could threaten to derail their entire campaign.
According to Rex Gowar and Carlos Calvo of Reuters (via the Daily Mail), Cuba are currently without seven players and their manager, Raul Gonzalez.
Assistant coach Walter Benitez said: "We're missing six members of the squad and the coach who, because of visa issues, have not been able to arrive [yet] and now we have only 16 players because one has gone absent [and] we don't know where he is."
Though Benitez insists Cuba will soldier on regardless, the level of disruption is sure to have a major effect on the remaining players.
Despite missing Hernandez and Hector Moreno, Mexico still boast plenty of experience and quality through the likes of Carlos Vela, Giovani dos Santos and Andres Guardado. As Cuba struggle to deal with their difficult circumstances, El Tri will surely punish their opponents.
Expect a dominant start to the Gold Cup for Mexico.
Prediction: Mexico 3-0 Cuba
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