NASHVILLE – The old specter haunted the US national team again when they faced Panama at Nissan Stadium to open Group B play in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Yes, for the fourth time running in meeting in international tournament play, each walked away with a single goal and a single point each. And given that seemingly eternal scoreline between the two countries, it wouldn’t, on its surface, seem like the worst result.
Yet, in perhaps a marked departure from past eras, head coach Bruce Arena didn’t mince words or pretend all was copacetic.