USMNT Make It to the Gold Cup Semis 🏆🇺🇸

USMNT Make It to the Gold Cup Semis 🏆🇺🇸

Rog writes: Our U.S. men's national team G-Leaguers keep on keeping on. The Gold Cup is all about survive and advance. It's also about prison rules, dark arts, and occasional fleeting moments of football. And the United States lived it all in a quarter-final 4-3 penalty shootout win over a weakened but still feisty Costa Rica after a 2-2 draw in which Max Arfsten had a hand in pretty much all the goals. I am not going to lie, it felt so good. 

We now plummet towards a semi-final in St. Louis tomorrow night against Guatemala (Wednesday, 7 p.m. ET, FOX Sports/FS1). What a moment for their fans. FIFA’s 106th-ranked nation shocked 10-man Canada on penalties (much more on that below) and turned Minneapolis into Guatemala City North on Sunday. La Furia Azul (“The Blue Fury”) held their nerve in the shootout and reached their first Gold Cup semi-final since 1996.

It’s been nine years since the USMNT faced Guatemala. Clint Dempsey was amongst the goals as we rolled 4-0. A 17-year-old Christian Pulisic made his debut in that game. With Honduras also clipping Panama, this Gold Cup has been filled with shocks. I long for a Gold Cup that loves itself, and has self-respect. With CONCACAF teams improving all the time, our region is becoming more and more competitive. This tournament could be, should be, so much more than it is. A true jewel lies within.

Could there be an eighth USA vs. Mexico Gold Cup final on the horizon? Or will we have Guatemala vs. Honduras? The truth is no one knows, but we'll find out tomorrow night at Energizer Park. Regardless of the outcome, Clint Dempsey will join me on Do It Live! after the final whistle to break down all the action. Come and be with us. 🇺🇸🍻 

The Deuce with Clint Dempsey ♠️🇺🇸 - “This Must Be What It’s Like to Be an Everton Fan”

Clint Dempsey on the reports that Poch recently interviewed for the Brentford manager opening 🗣️

"I hope it's not a situation of where there's smoke, there's fire. You don't want that a year out from a World Cup. But credit to the boys, they blocked all that out and they got the job done tonight.”

Clint Dempsey likes what he saw from Malik Tillman 🗣️

"What I'm more impressed about is how he recovered in the game… Being able to get the assist. And then to step up and take the (shootout) penalty, going to the same side. For me that shows he's built for these moments, and he's growing in front of our eyes. He is someone that when I've watched him play, I like the style in which he plays, the skill that he shows, but also the character that he has to take on a situation of missing a penalty but bouncing back.”

Clint Dempsey gives Matt Freese his flowers 🗣️

"The first one, I feel like he (Freese) went too early. I like that he took his time a little on the other ones. Make 'em beat you. He's got a big frame... I just think he did a great job of being a dominant presence in there. He guessed right on a lot of occasions, got his hand to a few, but you know, some of those big saves he made, he was the man of the match for sure.”

Clint Dempsey breaks down the current USMNT depth chart, based on what he's seen so far in the Gold Cup 🗣️

“In terms of when we have our full team completely fit, I think Tillman gets into the lineup. I think if Freese keeps performing like he's doing, I think he goes in there. Freeman has done a good job, but I still think it's gonna be tough to knock out Dest, and Antonee Robinson… I don't think anybody's taking his spot. Chris Richards, he's for sure the first center-back they put there. If Tim Ream can keep going, then that's what's up.

But, I think up top. I don't know, that depends on people's fitness, and how healthy they are. Like I said, I'm a big Balogun fan from what I saw in Copa America, but Aygemang's been the guy who's been scoring goals. He's just really raw still. I think he needs to do a little bit better job of his holdup play, bringing people in and being a little bit more clinical with his chances, but he's definitely a handful there.”

Clint Dempsey on the USA’s newfound optimism after Sunday night’s performance 🗣️

“We learned who’s got that mettle, to emerge when your back is against the wall… and when you come out of these moments it builds the chemistry as a team. Everyone is going to be fighting more and understanding they are just two games away from Mission Accomplished. You need these types of moments.”

Clint Dempsey also added something beautiful and true for all long-suffering U.S. supporters 🗣️

“For us as fans, we needed this after Copa America and Nations League. I was in my living room with my kids cheering and giving each other high fives. I want my kids to feel passionate about the U.S. and aspire to play for them one day. You need these types of moments to pass down from generation to generation. Tonight was a moment.”

Watch the full episode to get all of Clint's thoughts on the USMNT's win against Costa Rica, and make sure to follow The Deuce on TikTok and YouTube for even more Texas-infused insight.

📬 Enjoying USMNT Only? Check out our other newsletters covering the USWNT and Premier League here.

So, How Did Guatemala Get Here Exactly? 🇬🇹

When La Furia Azul last reached a CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-final, “Independence Day” was dominating the box office and Manchester United were one of the best teams in world football. If you’re of a certain vintage, 1996 doesn’t feel like it was 29 years ago, but for Guatemalan football fans, who cling to cult heroes like Juan Carlos Plata and Carlos Ruiz, it’s been an age. Their quarter-final win on penalties against Canada in Minneapolis on Sunday will be forever distilled as one of the greatest moments in their footballing history, not just because of the result, but the manner in which they reached it.

Yes, Canada’s Jacob Shaffelburg was red-carded just before half time, but at that point, Guatemala were losing 1-0, and the cliché that it’s tough to break down a 10-man side defending a lead exists for a reason. Guatemala are FIFA’s 106th-ranked team, while Canada are 30th, so to have 58% possession and more than double the shots of Jesse Marsch’s squad, no matter the match situation, is a win in itself. To not only run the game in normal and extra time, but to then have the tenacity to prevail in a penalty shootout pressure cooker, even after captain José Pinto missed his attempt, shows that this nation is more than plucky, or even lucky; they are a unit. 

Penalties aside, Guatemala’s only goalscorer against Canada, with a bruising and battling header any center forward would dream of, was Rubio Rubín, who much to our chagrin doesn’t spend his evenings as a crime-fighting vigilante, despite his excellent name.

USMNT OGs may remember him, as he played seven matches for the U.S., debuting as an 18-year-old in 2014 under the stewardship of Jurgen Kilsman; he only switched to Guatemala in 2022, which has been a smart decision, scoring 13 goals in 34 games as the leader of the frontline. Another key player for them is a man that MLS heads will know as D.C. United right back and arguably the nation’s current MVP, Aaron Herrera. The 28-year-old was pivotal in both defense and attack for his country, and at one point kept his team in the game with a goal line-headed clearance in an otherwise open net for Canada. Encouragingly for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, Guatemala have lost against both Jamaica and Panama in their last five games, and in their 21-match history with the U.S., La Furia Azul have only won once. But with a trip to the Gold Cup final on the line, at this point, anything is possible.

All Around the Men in Blazers Network 📣

Rory Smith Is Coming to America 🍫🍊 We know that just made him sound like Prince Akeem, but he will be joining Rog for a load of live show tapings during a Week ‘O Wonder at The Michelob ULTRA Pitchside Club in New York City next week. We will be taping a number of live shows during both semi-finals and also the night before the final itself. For that game, we will go live from MetLife… here is all you need to know. COME AND BE WITH US NEXT WEEK.

Semi-Final Watch Parties 🎉

• Tue 7/8: 3–5:30 p.m.

• Wed 7/9: 3–5:30 p.m.

MiB Live! with Some Lovely Special Guests 🎙️

• Fri 7/11: 6 p.m.

All of these events are FREE, and we want to raise a glass with all of you. All we ask is that you RSVP for the events (you can for all three at once if you’d like) as an RSVP will be needed to enter. Just be sure to select the MiB events you want to attend when signing up. The more of you we can see, the better. RSVP RIGHT HERE. 🎟️

Help Us Understand Your Football Love 📊 We're looking to better understand the beautiful game...through your eyes. It would mean the world to us if you could take a moment to fill out this quick survey about your soccer fandom — how you watch, who you cheer for, and why this game means so much. It’s short, it’s sweet, and your voice will help shape future conversations around football in America with on of our partners. Plus, you’ll be supporting GFOP-powered research — the best kind there is. TAKE THE SURVEY HERE. 📝

Transfer Rumors 💰

🇩🇪 Poch’s new favorite playmaker, Mailk Tillman, is heading back to the Bundesliga as Bayer Leverkusen have made him one of the first key signings of the Erik ten Hag era, potentially to fill the Florian Wirtz-sized hole in the middle of their lineup.

🇪🇸 Speaking of midfielders on the move, seems to only be a matter of time until Johnny Cardoso makes the 330-mile trip from Real Betis in Seville to join Atlético Madrid in the Spanish capital. The two clubs are finalizing a deal worth over $35 million.

🛑 Despite strong rumors involving a move to Nottingham Forest, Tim Weah appears to be staying at Juventus for the time being, regardless of his questionable food takes (more on that below).

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Lucky No. 13 at Craven Cottage? While he’s one of the many American strikers absent from the Gold Cup, Ricardo Pepi, who’s still rehabbing from a January knee injury, is reportedly being targeted by Fulham where he’d follow a dozen other Americans who’ve previously laced ‘em up for the Lilywhites.

🐏 Meanwhile, the USMNT’s current starting striker is making the move to England: Charlotte FC’s Patrick Agyemang is heading to Championship side Derby County. Get those reps in, American Beto.

⭐ Sunday night’s winning penalty taker in the shootout, 20-year-old forward Damion Downs, is very close to joining recently-relegated Southampton, also in the English Championship, from FC Köln in Germany, who were just promoted to the Bundesliga.

🪃 USMNT international, former Atlanta United player, and current Chelsea fullback Caleb Wiley is set to rejoin Watford on loan for the full 2025-26 season. The 20-year-old impressed in his half-season in the Championship last year after moving over from a loan spell at Chelsea’s French sister club, Strasbourg.

News & Notes 🗞️

📊 According to FOX Sports, the USA’s win over Costa Rica was the most-watched non-final Gold Cup game ever with 1.9 million viewers. Moral of the story: Matt Freese isn’t the only person who loves penalty shootouts.

🇦🇺 The USMNT will reportedly host a friendly against Australia on October 14 at Empower Field in Denver, Colorado. Along with the scheduled September friendlies with Japan and South Korea, the American boys should have a decently busy fall as they look for more competitive reps ahead of next year’s World Cup.

🤔 There are varying reports that Mauricio Pochettino either did or didn’t interview for the Brentford manager opening during the Gold Cup, although he recently told a FOX Soccer host, “This club never contacted me. I never talked to them.”

🍝 Juventus’ very own Weston McKennie and Tim Weah did something almost unheard of last week when they united all of Italy against them after decreeing that Italian food lacks the “variety” of American food. This is up there with Pulisic’s claim that, “Sushi is the most overrated thing in the world and I don’t think anyone actually likes it.” Our sincere apologies to Italians and Japanese folks the world over.

👀 Everyone’s favorite bounce-pass enthusiast (and former USMNT manager) Gregg Berhalter was in the crowd on Sunday night to watch his son Sebastian start for the U.S. against Costa Rica.

As a Reminder 📺

Rog and Clint will be linking up for another Do It Live! immediately after the final whistle of the USA vs. Guatemala game tomorrow night (7 p.m. ET, FOX Sports/FS1). Join us and bring your questions about the result, fishing, and life, regardless of who wins.

Courage,

Rog and the USMNT Only team 🇺🇸 🦅

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