Gold Cup quarterfinals - Snapshots

Group stage performance: Much like the United States, Costa Rica underwhelmed in the group stage, giving Mexico a much weaker test than most expected and needing a stoppage-time equalizer just to tie El Salvador.

Needs to improve: Play in the final third. The Costa Ricans can keep possession, and move the ball around, but the final pass has been lacking, leaving a normally potent offense struggling for quality chances.

Knockout stage outlook: Coming into the tournament Costa Rica seemed like a lock for the semifinals, but given their group stage struggles, the Ticos can't be considered a shoe-in against a Honduras side that gave Jamaica all it could handle. Even if Costa Rica reaches the semis, it showed in the group stage that a win against Mexico just doesn't look likely this time around.

-- Ives Galarcep

Group stage performance: Finished second to Jamaica in group play and edged Guatemala for second on goal difference. Suffered a major blow by losing three top players to injury just before the start of the tournament, but still finished second in a tough group.

Needs to improve: It's 7-1 thrashing of Grenada aside, the Catrachos were woeful offensively and were shut out in their other two matches. Their defense is good enough to win a quarterfinal, but Honduras's attack is one of the weakest in recent memory.

Knockout stage outlook: If Honduras had the likes of Wilson Palacios, Maynor Figueroa and Emilio Izaguirre, you could have given the Central Americans a chance against most teams in the tournament, but without that star power it's tough to see Honduras doing much other than edging Costa Rica in the quarters.

-- Ives Galarcep

Group stage performance: Put on one of the most dominating Gold Cup group stage runs in tournament history, outscoring opponents 14-1 thanks to eight difference goal scorers, including Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez's five tallies.

Needs to Improve: Passing drug tests? Seriously speaking though, Mexico showed few weaknesses in the group stage.

Knockout stage outlook: The tournament favorite, Mexico will face some good tests against Guatemala, then the Costa Rica/Honduras winner, but it is tough to pick anybody but Mexico to lift the Gold Cup in the final considering how well El Tri is playing.

-- Ives Galarcep

Group stage performance: A better than expected performance in the group stage, registering a 0-0 draw with Honduras and a 4-0 win over Grenada. Guatemala managed to hang in with Jamaica despite being outclassed, thought there are still several concerns.

Needs to improve: Putting the ball in the back of the net. Their only four goals came against Grenada, and the team struggled to even create good opportunities in its other two matches. It is less a case of finishing accuracy and more so about generating changes.

Knockout stage outlook: The road ends here for Guatemala, which can be happy with a quarterfinal appearance.

-- Jeff Kassouf

Group stage performance: A perfect 3-0 run, with three shutouts, Jamaica cruised through a group that wasn't exactly a pushover. The Reggae Boyz used their overwhelming team speed to dominate opponents, while showing defensive discipline not normally associated with Jamaica teams.

Needs to improve: When you don't give up a goal in the group stage there isn't much you can improve on, but Jamaica will need to finish its chances better as the opposition gets tougher and the chances start coming less frequently.

Knockout stage outlook: It isn't often when a team that just rolled through a group unbeaten and un-scored upon enters a quarterfinal as an underdog, but Jamaica faces a USA team that will present much tougher challenges than any of Jamaica's group stage opponents. That being said, Jamaica has the speed to unsettle the United States, and an upset win could pave the way for an improbable run to the Gold Cup Final.

-- Ives Galarcep

Group stage performance: Second in Group C, a 2-1 record. The Americans underperformed considerably and failed to deliver a single dominating performance.

Needs to improve: Finishing was awful in the group stages, and aside from Jozy Altidore, no American player looked like a threat in multiple matches. The central defense will need to be sharper as well to win the Gold Cup.

Knockout stage outlook: Despite the struggles early on, the United States still has the players to reach the Gold Cup Final. Jamaica will provide a tough test, and a potential rematch against Panama in the semifinals would make for a great battle. For now, despite some lack of form, the Americans are still on pace to reach the final.

-- Ives Galarcep

Group stage performance: Won Group C with a 2-0-1 record and a historic victory against the United States. Boasting a high-powered attack, the Canaleros have momentum heading into the knockout rounds.

Needs to improve: Panama defended well against the United States, but must show even more discipline in the knockout rounds and avoid getting caught overstretched by pushing too many numbers forward.

Knockout stage outlook: Panama's last-second equalizer against Canada in its final group stage match should offer the team some momentum heading into the quarterfinals, where a meeting with El Salvador awaits. They should advance to the semifinals, where a potential rematch with the United States could prove too much to overcome.

-- Ives Galarcep

Group stage performance: Rodolfo Zelaya's injury time goal before half against Costa Rica proved the difference between qualifying and going home after group. The surprise result against the Costa Ricans put La Selecta on track for four points, a destination confirmed after they took their turn kicking Cuba.

Needs to improve: Their seven goals allowed are more than any other nation present in the final eight. They're one of those quarterfinalists that failed to keep a clean sheet in group play. Good thing for them the other is Panama.

Knockout stage outlook: El Salvador hasn't  scored in their last three meetings with Panama, a stretch that includes two January meetings at the Copa Centroamericana. They've won only one of their last nine meetings with the Canaleros. "Decided underdogs" is the cliche we're looking for.

-- Richard Farley