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The casual USMNT fan might have raised an eyebrow when seeing that Curacao was the opponent in the Gold Cup quarterfinals, but this is a name we should all get used to seeing.
Since gaining it’s freedom from the dissolved Netherlands Antilles in 2010, the Curacao soccer team has been steadily improving. They reached a new peak in 2017 when they won the Caribbean Cup for the first time. That year they also played in their first Gold Cup since 1973. In 2018 they improved again, making the single biggest rise in the rankings of any Caribbean country, and now rank 5th amongst those 31 teams according to eloratings.net.
In this version of the Gold Cup Curacao defeated Honduras 1-0 and managed an impressive 1-1 draw against Jamaica. Having allowed just two goals they should be able to frustrate the US and have proven a savvy team in terms of keeping the game close.
Still, the United States is expected to win and move past the island territory which boasts just 160,000 people. The US Men haven proven tough defensively as well, having not allowed a goal in the tournament, and should enjoy a majority of the ball offensively.
Lineups
Seize the moment
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) June 30, 2019
Your #USMNT Starting XI to take on in tonight's @GoldCup Knockout Round action!
Lineup Notes : https://t.co/gZPvLKHtqT pic.twitter.com/05zcoYDKEX
#GoldCup2019 #USAvCUR ¡Formaciones confirmadas!#EstadosUnidos irá con: Steffen; Lima, Long, Ream, Zimmerman; Bradley, Pulisic, Boyd, McKennie, Arriola; Zardes.#Curazao va con: Room; Gaari, R. Martina, Lachman, Statie; Bacuna, Hooi, S. Martina, Gorré; Napomuceno y Arias
— Camino Mundial (@caminomundialok) June 30, 2019
Berhalter goes with his original starting lineup while Curacao’s lineup is also light on surprises.
How to Watch
Advertised Kick-off Time: 8:30 p.m. Eastern, 5:30 p.m. Pacific
Venue: Lincoln Financial Field — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Available TV: Fox Sports 1 (English), Univision Deportes (Spanish)
Available Streaming: Fox Sports Go (App/Website), Univision (App/Website), FuboTV (Free trial)
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