Clint Dempsey says the USA needs to start fast in the Gold Cup

The U.S. national team is getting set to spend another summer together. After going all the way to the final of the 2009 Confederations Cup and making it to the second round of the 2010 World Cup, it would be easy to assume that the USA might take the Gold Cup lightly. After all, playing in a group with Canada, Panama and Guadeloupe doesn't seem nearly as daunting as facing off against Brazil, Italy and Egypt.

But U.S. midfielder Clint Dempsey, who took time out on Wednesday morning to speak exclusively with Goal.com, says that he expects a tough run through the Gold Cup, and that anything can happen in tournament play.

"I don’t think any game is going to be easy in this tournament because I think everybody is going to think they have a chance," the Fulham midfielder said. "For example, look at the first Gold Cup that we won that I was a part of (in 2005). We played Panama in the final. I don’t think people were thinking that was going to happen. So, in this tournament, the way it’s set up, anything can happen, so we’ll see. We won’t take any opponent lightly. We’re going to take it one game at a time and make sure we bring our A-game."

One thing the USA has learned from its recent competitions is the value of starting a tournament out well. In the Confederations Cup, it took a miracle turnaround on the last day of group play to earn passage to the semifinals where Bob Bradley's side knocked off Spain, and in the World Cup a last-minute goal from Landon Donovan in the third group match assured passage to the round of 16.

With Canada as the USA's first opponent in the Gold Cup, Dempsey knows the match won't be easy, but stressed that his team needs a fast start.

"I think the thing you take from tournaments is that you want to start well, give yourself a chance early," he said. "You don’t want to be trying to chase results and hoping results go your way come the end of the tournament because you didn’t get the job done in your first two games. The thing is just trying to make sure you get points and do the best you can do in the first two games to give yourself a platform.

"We need to go out and take care of business early."

But just starting well and getting out the group won't be enough to keep the USA happy.

"We want to win the tournament because if you win the tournament it puts you in the Confederations Cup," Dempsey said. "And we want to build on what we did before and be moving in the right direction."

The USA will play a friendly against Spain on Saturday in Boston before kicking off the Gold Cup next Tuesday against Canada.