MIAMI, Florida – Four years ago in 2017, Curacao made their Concacaf Gold Cup debut, going toe-to-toe with experienced sides Mexico, El Salvador and Jamaica in the group stage.
That learning experience proved valuable two years later in the 2019 edition, when Curacao earned their first ever Gold Cup win in a 1-0 victory over Honduras on their way to posting a 1W-1D-1L record in the group stage.
Their record was strong enough to book a place in the knockout round, where they narrowly fell 1-0 to the United States.
Now two years later in 2021, Curacao’s Gold Cup evolution is poised to take the next step.
While Head Coach Guus Hiddink will be unavailable for the tournament, experienced assistant and former Head Coach Patrick Kluivert will guide the Caribbean side through a group stage where they will face familiar foes Mexico and El Salvador in Group A, along with one of the Prelims winners.
Back in the fold for Curacao is veteran MF Leandro Bacuna, who scored Curacao’s first ever Gold Cup goal in that 1-0 victory over the Catrachos.
Also returning is DF Jurien Gaari, who scored the other Curacao Gold Cup goal two years ago in a 1-1 draw with Jamaica to close out the group stage.
Up top in attack, there is plenty of firepower, including FWs Kenji Gorre and Jarchinio Antonia, who each found the back of the net in the First Round of Concacaf World Cup Qualifying for Qatar 2022.
Other key members will be veteran MFs Vurnon Anita and Juninho Bacuna, giving Curacao a potent squad that now has ample Gold Cup experience and the motivation to make Curacao the fifth Caribbean nation to reach at least a Gold Cup semifinal.
