International Friendlies

[epjr]

The U.S. team began training for the match Monday. After Saturday's game, the first between the U.S. and Slovakia, the Americans close their 2009 schedule on Nov. 18 against Denmark in Aarhus. U.S. coach Bob Bradley may make roster changes for that game.

The roster against Slovakia:

Goalkeepers:
Brad Guzan (Aston Villa, England), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton, England), Troy Perkins (Valerenga, Norway)

Defenders:
Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes, France), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover, Germany), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City), Clarence Goodson (IK Start, Norway), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus), Chad Marshall (Columbus), Heath Pearce (Dallas), Jonathan Spector (West Ham, England)

Midfielders:
Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany), Clint Dempsey (Fulham, England), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus, Denmark), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Dax McCarty (Dallas), Robbie Rogers (Columbus)

Forwards:
Jozy Altidore (Hull, England), Conor Casey (Colorado), Jeff Cunningham (Dallas, England), Eddie Johnson (Fulham).

[epjr]

Reports:
USA MNT to face Slovakia MNT
Tehelne Pole; Bratislava, Slovakia
Nov. 14, 2009 @ 10 a.m. ET
Fox Soccer Channel and Galavision

Slovakia qualified for the World Cup after topping a qualifying group that included Slovenia, Czech Republic and Poland. The Slovak squad features several top European players, including Napoli star Marek Hamsik, Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel and qualifying scoring leader and VFL Bochum midfielder Stanislav Sestak.


THEY ARE GOING TO RSA THANKS TO THIS GOAL AGAINST THEIR FORMER CONJOINED TWIN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

[epjr]

SPRING FRIENDLY ACCORDING TO THE BBC


Northern Ireland is set to take on the USA in a friendly as England's Group C opponents build up for the World Cup finals in South Africa. The Americans have asked the Irish FA for the game, which would take place in March or May.

IFA president Raymond Kennedy said it has a number of offers for friendlies but the USA was the front-runner.

He added that the match would likely to be staged away from Windsor Park to make it "financially feasible." -BBC sport

[epjr]

Reports: USA to face Honduras in January friendly

If you are wondering who the U.S. men's national team will be lining up for friendlies in 2010, it appears the first of those opponents has been lined up, while another potential opponent has surfaced.

According to reports out of Honduras, the U.S. men's national team will face fellow World Cup participant Honduras on Sunday, January 24 at Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

The meeting would be the first for the sides since the Americans posted a 3-2 victory in San Pedro Sula on Oct. 10 to clinch their World Cup place. That win by the Americans was their fourth of 2009 in four meetings between the teams this year.

[epjr]

U.S. finalizing February friendly vs. Mexico

Whether it's for the money or to assist preparations for the 2010 World Cup, U.S. Soccer is negotiating to play a friendly against Mexico in February.

According to a source, several cities -- at least one of which has hosted a U.S.-Mexico friendly in the past -- are in the running to stage the game. It would be the second game on the national team's calendar this year, following a Jan. 24 game against Honduras at Home Depot Center that has been reported in the Honduran press but not confirmed by U.S. Soccer.


Read more: sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/soccer/12/09/us.mexico/index.html#ixzz0ZJbufOLm

[epjr]

The United States will play the third-ranked Netherlands in a World Cup warm-up at Amsterdam on March 3, and both teams figure to be at relatively full strength.

The game will be played on the only day before May that FIFA requires clubs to release players to national teams.





Read more: sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/soccer/12/16/us.netherlands.ap/index.html#ixzz0ZuNo7KQE

[epjr]

The United States has struggled to a friendly win over El Salvador that achieved little but prove that the team struggles without its Europe-based stars.

Brian Ching scored a diving header in the 75th minute and Sacha Kljestan got the go-ahead goal in the second minute of stoppage time Wednesday night in a 2-1 friendly victory over 71st-ranked El Salvador.

soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=289058&cc=5901

[epjr]

U.S. to face Czech Republic and Turkey before going to South Africa

May 25: U.S vs. Czech Republic (TBD)
May 29: U.S vs. Turkey (in Philadelphia)

www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-National-Team/2010/02/US-to-Face-Czech-Republic-and-Turkey-in-Send-Off-Series.aspx

[epjr]

US falls to Netherlands in friendly
Bocanegra nets late goal in final match before naming of World Cup roster


Dirk Kuyt and Klaas Jan Huntelaar grabbed the goals as Holland beat fellow World Cup qualifiers the United States in Amsterdam.
Kuyt opened the scoring from the spot five minutes before halftime after Wesley Sneijder was fouled and substitute Huntelaar made it two with a deflected strike in the 73rd minute.

web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20100303&content_id=8663608&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp

[epjr]

U.S. Men vs. Brazil
New Meadowlands Stadium; E. Rutherford, N.J.
Aug. 10, 2010 @ 8 p.m. ET
Live on ESPN2 and Univision

[epjr]

Altidore and Gonzalez replace Marshall and Jones on the USA roster for Brazil friendly

A day after releasing the roster for next Tuesday's friendly against Brazil, the U.S. national team made two personnel changes: Omar Gonzalez will replace fellow center back Chad Marshall and forward Jozy Altidore will step in for midfielder Jermaine Jones.

After weekend matches for many players, the 18-man squad will begin gathering in New Jersey on Sunday and hold its only full training session Monday ahead of the match at the new Meadowlands stadium Tuesday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2, Univision).

Jones, who missed last season with Bundesliga club Schalke because of a shin injury, initially accepted the U.S. invitation. However, he and his club didn't think that he would be fully fit for what would likely have been his U.S. debut. The USSF said that Jones will "remain with FC Schalke to prepare for his first competitive matches in more than a year."

"I would like to thank Bob Bradley and the U.S. federation greatly for my first official invitation," Jones said in a prepared statement. "It is an honor that I have been working towards for over a year, and while I initially felt like I was ready to make my first appearance, it is also extremely important to me that I am 100 percent fit for my first national team game and that I make a good impression on the manager and my teammates. I hope to receive another invitation and finally fulfill my goal of playing with the U.S. national team in the very near future."

[epjr]

[epjr]

Brazil named their roster for the friendly against the US

Goalkeepers:
Jefferson (Botafogo), Renan (Avai), Victor (Gremio)

Defenders:
Andre Santos (Fenerbahce, Turkey), Daniel Alves (Barcelona, Spain), David Luiz (Benfica, Portugal), Henrique (Racing Santander, Spain), Marcelo (Real Madrid, Spain), Rafael da Silva (Manchester United, England), Rever (Atletico Mineiro), Thiago Silva (AC Milan, Italy)

Midfielders:
Carlos Eduardo (Hoffenheim, Germany), Ederson (Lyon, France), Hernanes (Sao Paulo), Jucilei (Corinthians), Lucas Leiva (Liverpool, England), Paulo Henrique Ganso (Santos), Ramires (Benfica, Portugal), Sandro (Internacional)

Forwards:
Andre (Santos), Neymar (Santos), Alexandre Pato (AC Milan, Italy), Robinho (Santos), Diego Tardelli (Atletico Mineiro)

Lots of kids on the roster, but still serious competition for the US.

[epjr]

U.S. set to face Poland in Chicago


The U.S. men will play Poland in an exhibition game Oct. 9 at Soldier Field.

The United States has won seven of its 16 matches against Poland, including three of the last four. The last time the teams met in the United States was in 2004, also in Chicago, when the Americans got an equalizer from Carlos Bocanegra in the 88th minute.

"We know this is an important opportunity for Poland as they prepare for the 2012 European Championship, so we expect a challenging game," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. "Chicago has a fantastic tradition of supporting soccer and the U.S. national team, and with the large Polish community in the area it should make for an exciting atmosphere."

msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/usa/story/us-set-to-face-poland-in-chicago

[epjr]

In the span of six days, Philadelphia fans will get the chance to watch the best American soccer players, men or women, at PPL Park.

The US Soccer Federation and the Philadelphia Union announced on Monday that the newest MLS stadium, which opened in June, will host a US Men’s National Team friendly against Colombia on Tuesday, Oct. 12 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2 and Galavisión).

The match will come less than a week after the US Women’s National Team hosts China in preparation for World Cup qualifying on Wed., Oct. 6.

It will be the second USMNT match in Philadelphia in less than five months. Bob Bradley’s men previously beat Turkey 2-1 in their final send-off match before the 2010 World Cup on May 29 at Lincoln Financial Field.