Expectations for the United States men's national team are high in the Gold Cup, regardless of who actually suits up. Not only is the U.S. expected to win every game in the tournament's group stage, but by clear margins as well. Fail to reach such a level, and the tendency to look at the players askance begins.
Sunday's Gold Cup opener against Haiti was a case in point. The U.S. labored to a 1-0 victory over a side that was not only reeling from the assassination of the country's president, Jovenel Moise, but coping with the fact that five players -- including starting forward Frantzdy Pierrot -- had been ruled out due to positive COVID-19 tests.