U.S. chances if it meets Mexico? ... Uh, not great, actually

If this C-list United States team manages to make the Gold Cup final in New York – and that is a muy grande "if" – I’m thinking the Americans are going to struggle against Mexico.

I was the Dallas Cowboys’ spectacular new edifice to watch Mexico pick apart the overmatched side from Haiti. And this one wasn’t close.

Like a lot of the teams at Copa de Oro, Mexico left some its premier starlets off the Gold Cup roster. Unlike the United States, Mexico did bring some of its best and brightest to the tournament.

For instance, if they meet in a week's time in New York, I’m not liking Clarence Goodson’s chances against Gio Dos Santos.

Dos Santos is considerably faster than any of the three center backs that played for Bob Bradley’s team Saturday agaisnt Panama. Bradley's bunch, fighting with its weaker hand at the moment, needed extra time to squeeze ever so perilously past the Panamanians in the quarterfinal.

The United States could well lose to Honduras in Thursday's semi, so all talk of the next Mexico-U.S. matchup may be moot anyway.

And it’s no cinch that Mexico will appear in next week’s final, either. Costa Rica has brought a good team, as the Ticos’ current version probably represents its first-choice selections more than any Gold Cup side.

But if it does come to pass … well, Javier Aguirre’s current version of El Tri is like a really fit dancer – quite solid in the middle. Gerardo Torrado partnered with Israel Castro on Sunday in the middle of the park with good results. Torrado is a little older and slower these days, but he still brings some sophistication to El Tri’s attack.

Center backs Jonny Magallon and Ismael Rodriguez are first-choice types, as is goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. And then there’s Dos Santos – he really should rethink that girly headband – who nailed a beauty for Mexico’s second goal against beleaguered Haiti.

Plus, El Tri’s set piece work remains as salty as ever. Mexico had two great chances off dead balls within the first 15 minutes Sunday. Later, Mexico’s penalty kick originated off a corner kick, as did a second half goal.

None of that will matter much for the United States if it gets beat Wednesday. But if the Americans do get through to Sunday’s final, they have a decent chance of forfeiting a piece of that dominance they’ve worked so hard to build in the bitter border rivalry.