'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#2 USA still have a lot of work to do
When the United Sates failed to qualify for the World Cup in Russia last year, it meant the country would not appear in football's biggest tournament for the first time since 1990.
It marked a low point in the nation's football err soccer history, and whole-scale changes were made to the squad, with former player Gregg Berhalter announced as the new manager, replacing Dave Sarachan.
Since then, the 46-year-old has won plaudits for his technical work with the side, emphasizing that the USMNT embraces the modern style of playing out from the back, and though they impressed by getting to the final of the Gold Cup, that defeat in July as well as this one serves as a reminder that there is still a lot of work to be done.
They had 54% of the possession and hit the target on four occasions, but a lot of United States' play left a lot to be desired, and if they are to take the next step and become an elite nation, vast improvements must be made.
#1 Mexico's squad depth is evident
Ever since he was appointed as manager, Gerardo Martino has been hammering on the importance of having a strong squad depth, and has extended invitations to numerous untested players in his nine-month tenure as Mexico coach.
Indeed, El Tri won the latest edition of the Gold Cup without the services of established regulars like Hector Herrera, Hirving Lozano, Chicharito, Jesus Corona and Miguel Layun, and in the game against United States, Martino once again fielded some second string players, with established stalwarts like Hirving Lozano and Raul Jimenez starting on the bench.
In a show of absolute dominance and squad depth, the Wolves man, who has arguably been Mexico's standout performer over the last one year, while Hirving Lozano - who recently joined Napoli, both being substitutes. The latter was called from the bench with 20 minutes to go and still made a mark on the game with a fine assist.
By contrast, Berhalter started with what can be considered his strongest eleven (although he was missing the services of John Brooks and Tyler Adams) and had mostly untested youngsters to call upon from the bench.
Tata Martino would undoubtedly field a much stronger side when his term faces his native Argentina next Thursday, but the fact that his wards were able to dispatch the other top gun in North America without their best players is indicative of just how vast the gap is between Mexico and the rest of the continent, and the next step now would be to take it up a notch against the world's biggest sides; starting with Argentina.
