CONCACAF's marquee competition kicks off on July 7. For comprehensive 2015 Gold Cup coverage, bookmark this page.
WILL LOS CATRACHOS REBOUND FROM COPA CENTROAMERICANA DISAPPOINTMENT?
It has not been a good year for the Honduran national team. Last June Los Catrachos finished 31st of 32 at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, scoring just one goal in their three games and conceding eight of their own. They followed that up with a rather dismal performance at the 2014 Copa Centroamericana, where they finished fifth, after winning the tournament in 2011 and making it to the final in 2013. They enter this Gold Cup looking to rebound from those mishaps and right the ship in a tough Group A.
GROUP C SCHEDULE
July 7: vs. USA, Frisco, Texas
July 10: vs. Panama, Foxborough, Mass.
July 13: vs. Haiti, Kansas City, Kan.
THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Andy Najar, M/D, Anderlecht: The former D.C. United Homegrown Player has made a name for himself in Europe with Belgian giants Anderlecht. Capable of playing on either wing in midfield or defense, the 22-year-old could be one of the breakout stars of this tournament.
Maynor Figueroa, D/M, Hull City:
This 32-year-old defender should be well-known for anybody who has been watching CONCACAF over the past 10 years. A veteran of the EPL who has registered over 100 caps with
Los Catrachos,
Figureroa's versatility has also seen him move into the midfield on some recent occasions.
Anthony Lozano, F, Olimpia: Lozano seems to have taken the starting striker's role over from Jerry Bengtson and Carlo Costly, both of whom featured heavily in Honduras' unsuccessful World Cup run. The 22-year-old has scored five goals in 14 appearances for Honduras.
THE COACH
Usually when a coach leads his team on a surprising run to the quarterfinals in the World Cup, he gets to keep his job. That wasn't the case for Jorge Luis Pinto. Pinto was one of the stars of the tournament, leading Costa Rica on a miraculous run, but just a year later he is the manager of Honduras.
Since being appointed in December, Pinto has a record of 2-4-1 but was able to lead his team past French Guyana, enabling Honduras to qualify for this tournament.
- Group B preview: Costa Rica are the favorites in Group B free-for-all
GOLD CUP HISTORY
Honduras have a rather rich history in the Gold Cup, despite never winning it. They have reached the semifinals in four of the last five tournaments, only missing it out in the 2007 tournament. They came agonizingly close to reaching the final in 2011, losing to Mexico in extratime.
Los Catrachos did take home a trophy in CONCACAF tournament back in the old CONCACAF Championship days. They won that tournament back in 1981.
MLS/USA/CANADA CONNECTIONS
Usually, Honduran national team rosters are filled with MLS players. That's not the case this time. Only one player on Honduras' roster currently plies their trade in MLS, which would be Boniek Garcia of the Houston Dynamo. There are four former MLS players on the roster, including Jorge Claros (Sporting Kansas City), Johnny Leveron (Vancouver Whitecaps), Mario Martinez (Seattle Sounders), and the aforementioned Najar.
