Trinidad and Tobago's Kenwyne Jones (#9) (Photo : Reuters)
Caribbean Cup sensation Trinidad and Tobago will open their 2015 Gold Cup bid with a match against last year's Copa Centroamericana runner-up Guatemala at the Soldier Field in Chicago on Thursday, July 9.
The match is expected to be a tough and entertaining one as both squads will try to start this tournament strong after coming off second-place finishes in their respective leagues last year.
Stephen Hart's men had a runner-up finish during the 2014 Caribbean Cup against Jamaica, which they lost on penalty kicks after a 0-0 standoff in regulation, via the CONCACAF official website.
T and T will be bannered by striker and team captain Kenwyne Jones up front and will be backed up by up and coming midfielder Joevin Jones and the young but experienced center back Daneil Cyrus.
Meanwhile, Ivan Franco Sopegno's squad also finished second in their own Copa last fall against Costa Rica.
La Azul y Blanco is starred by Seattle Sounders' midfielder Marco Pappa, who top-scored the Copa Centroamericana with four goals, as per Goal. The 27-year-old sensation will get help from veteran captain Carlos Ruiz and their promising defender Elías Vásquez.
The predicted result is a close 1-0 Trinidad and Tobago win over Guatemala. The Soca Warriors owns one of the best team defenses in this year's Cup and it will hold versus La Furia Azul. Plus, Jones could still kick it with the best in the world at 30 years old.
Trinidad and Tobago starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): J. Williams; M. Williams, Cyrus, Bateau, David; Hyland, Guerra, Cummings, J. Jones; Plaza, K. Jones
Guatemala starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Jerez; Vásquez, Castrillo, Lalín, Morales; Contreras, Figueroa, Pappa, Márquez; López, Ruiz
