TIM HOWARD was left devastated by the USA’s Gold Cup final defeat against Mexico – then hit out at CONCACAF organisers for a post-game ceremony conducted in Spanish.

America raced into a two-goal lead inside 23 minutes at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena only to be hit with a Mexican wave which saw them eventually lose 4-2.

And enraged Everton goalkeeper Howard said: “CONCACAF should be ashamed of themselves. I think it was a disgrace that the entire post-match ceremony was in Spanish. You can bet your (butt) if we were in Mexico City it wouldn’t be all in English.”

Not content with leading 2-0, the US went in search of a third goal but paid the price as Mexico struck through Andres Guardado, Giovani dos Santos and a Pablo Barrera double.

“They’ve got some special players,” admitted Howard.

“I thought we’d knocked the stuffing out of them at 2-0 really hit them where it hurt but take your hat off to them they are a good bunch of players.

“Our game plan worked to a ‘T’ they came out and possessed it and spread us out but we picked and chose our spots and when to get them.

“Our combinations were really good up front we hit them and it’s beyond me how they rallied back from that.

“Sometimes you lie in wait and it kills you, a bend but don’t break defence can break.

“We felt good about what we were doing, playing from a good shell and then springing and breaking.

“Every team in this tournament has sat back and waited on them, and they just picked them apart we didn’t want to do that, going for the third goal was just being aggressive.”

Meanwhile, Everton captain Phil Neville says he has high hopes for the new season – and believes the future of the club looks bright with the recent Academy successes.