The intensity of the Gold Cup matches is higher than I recall in the past. Nations such as Guadeloupe, Haiti, Panama and Honduras are viewing this event as a genuine continental championship and are going for goal early in matches against higher rated opposition. This has led to a remarkable number of upsets and near misses in the first weekend of the event. For example in the Miami based Group A, Guadeloupe whom I had mentioned as a possible dark horse last week is leading the group which features a solid Canada team and Costa Rica who has participated in the last World Cup. In Group C, Mexico’s loss to Honduras and struggle to defeat Cuba indicates that Coach Hugo Sanchez better get things moving soon in the right direction of he may not be coaching the national team much longer.