USA vs. Ecuador – Copa America quarterfinal
Get ready to cheer – the USA takes on Ecuador in the 2016 Copa America Centenario at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington tomorrow and this is the time for our U.S. Men’s National Team to shine. Led by Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann, the USMNT is on road to international recognition.
The man to watch in tomorrow’s 2016 Copa America Centennial USA vs Honduras match is Clint Dempsey who just scored his 51st goal in his 127th cap for the USA when the team took on Paraguay. Dempsey has scored the winning goal in each of the USA’s last two matches. Whether Gyasi Zardes will feed Dempsey the ball or not in USA’s big match up in Seattle, Dempsey is just six players behind the all-time U.S. leader and fan favorite Landon Donovan who holds the record.
What does Donovan think of USA being in the knockout stage of the 2016 Copa America Quarterfinals? Diane Scavuzzo spoke with Landon Donovan earlier today to get his thoughts on how Jurgen Klinsmann and the U.S. Men’s National Team was performing.
“I have been really impressed – Obviously, the USA vs Colombia result (USA lost 0-2 to Colombia on June 3rd) was not what everyone wanted, but the team has done really well since,” said Donovan. “The response from the team has been great — the way they have played was smart and tactically mature – and the USA absolutely deserves to go through to the quarterfinals.”
Is America taking the 2016 Copa America seriously? It is often referred to as the World Cup without Europe….
USA vs Ecuador is going to be the biggest soccer game since the USA played against Belgium in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil — but this time, with real, home field support. And, we have every chance of getting through,” says Landon Donovan.
Originally devout soccer fans were worried that the USA might have to tackle Brazil — if we were lucky enough to make it to the quarterfinals as we were once again in the Group of Death. Surprise, surprise — Brazil is going home embarrassed and the USA might reach the semifinals if all goes well. After all, the USA just played Ecuador in a friendly three weeks ago and we won. Of course the USA won 1-0 with a goal by Portland Timbers’ Darlington Nagbe in the 90th minute. Ecuador is ranked 13th by FIFA and this will not be an easy match, even if they are a familiar foe.
Will we see great soccer action? Just as in the USA vs Paraguay match when John Brooks brilliantly defended as Paraguay attacked by sliding in to deny Miguel Almiron a point-blank shot at goal, the Copa America is all about great soccer. While it may have taken most Americans a bit of time to rally behind this International soccer tournament, the fans will be out in force supporting our team — and, looking for a victory.
Some pundits may give the edge to Ecuador, we favor the Red, White and Blue. #GOUSA.
Thursday’s game will be broadcast live on FS1, UniMas and UDN. Fans can also follow the action on Twitter @ussoccer and @ussoccer_esp.
Dempsey Photo Credit: Photo Works / Shutterstock.com, Landon Donovan Photo Credit: Photo Works / Shutterstock.com and, of course, COPA AMERICA CENTENARIO
