USA Vs. Canada, Gold Cup 2011: Julian De Guzman, Where Are You?

It's tough to win matches when you are dominated in the center of the field. It's really tough to win matches when you are dominated in the center of the field and you aren't as good as your opponent to begin with. Canada is not as good as the United States and their attempt at pulling an upset is being foiled by their complete inability to play in the center. That is largely because of the absence of Julian de Guzman, who is out with an injury and leaves Canada without their best central midfielder.

If de Guzman is Canada's best central midfielder, Dwayne De Rosario is their best attacking player. Unfortunately for the Canucks, De Rosario has been almost invisible because he hasn't seen the ball at all. Without de Guzman to pass through the center to Rosario, he is missing. Add in Canada's complete inability to close down space and disrupt the U.S. play through the center and it's just a nightmare for the Canucks in the middle. Terry Dunfield, you are not Julian de Guzman and it shows.