Gold Cup Final: Is the US's Run a Success If They Lose the Finals?

USA and Mexico Prepare to Battle in the 2011 Gold Cup Finals

Perception changes quick during the Gold Cup. Just check out the U.S.. It was only a few days ago when this team limped out of the group stage with one of their own players, Tim Howard, calling their performance "lifeless" and outside commentators not being as kind.

And for good reason. The U.S. entered the Gold Cup with what many felt was their most talented team and they exited group stage with their most uninspiring play in the tournament's history.

At the root was a 2-1 loss to Panama?there first ever loss in Gold Cup group stage play. They followed that up with an equaling uninspiring 1-0 victory to a clearly overmatched Guadeloupe team.

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Despite these lackluster efforts the U.S. advanced to the quarterfinals, and it appears they entered them as a wiser team.

Here is Landon Donovan talking to the press after Group Stage play:

Some nights you come out flat and you don't get punished and other nights you do. We learned a valuable lesson.

This is more than just talk. The U.S. cruised past Jamaica 2-0 and then avenged the loss to Panama 1-0. And all of a sudden this is one stingy team.

The U.S. has only allowed goals in one game?the loss to Panama, and they are right where everyone expected them to be when the tournament started, the finals.

The U.S. entered this Gold Cup as the co-favorites to win. While they have saved this tournament from being a disaster they have not earned the right to call it a success. Only a championship can salvage that.

This squad needs to show that they can play their best soccer against a team that has similar talent, and not just against weaker teams. Otherwise they proven they are capable of doing nothing except sleepwalking against teams they should be able to beat.

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?Richard Langford

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