USMNT v. Belgium - International Friendly

[shagcarpetjesus]

This is the first of 5 matches for the USMNT in the next 3 weeks and will be on ESPN tomorrow (Wednesday) night at 7 pm central.

It sounds like Klinsmann is going with Kljestan & Jones together in the central midfield with Bradley not joining the squad until the friendly against Germany. Belgium is bringing their A-team, so despite this being a friendly they should provide a very good measuring stick for the US.

US SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire)

DEFENDERS (6): DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Michael Parkhurst (Augsburg)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Stuart Holden (Bolton), Jermaine Jones (Schalke), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Clint Dempsey (Tottenham Hotspur), Herculez Gomez (Santos), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders FC)

BELGIUM SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS (4) : Koen Casteels (Hoffenheim), Thibaut Courtois (Atletico Madrid), Jean-François Gillet (Torino), Simon Mignolet (Sunderland)

DEFENDERS (9) : Toby Alderweireld (Ajax), Laurent Ciman (Standard Liege), Guillaume Gillet (Anderlecht), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Nicolas Lombaerts (Zenit St. Petersburg), Sebastien Pocognoli (Hannover), Daniel Van Buyten (Bayern Munich), Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur)

MIDFIELDERS (7) : Nacer Chadli (Twente), Steven Defour (Porto), Moussa Dembele (Tottenham Hotspur), Marouane Fellaini (Everton), Thorgan Hazard (Zulte-Waregem), Timmy Simons (Nuremberg), Axel Witsel (Zenit St. Petersburg)

FORWARDS (8) : Christian Benteke (Aston Villa), Kevin De Bruyne (Werder Bremen), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Maxime Lestienne (Club Brugge), Romelu Lukaku (West Bromwich Albion), Dries Mertens (PSV Eindhoven), Kevin Mirallas (Everton), Jelle Vossen (Genk)

 

[PhillipJCY]

Am I a bad supporter if I am more excited to watch the Belgian and German players for these friendlies? This Belgian squad is stacked and I am assuming Germany will be as well. Hopefully the USMNT takes some lumps these two games and come out hungry for WCQ in June.

 

[shagcarpetjesus]

Personally, I don't think there is anything wrong with being excited about watching quality players from other countries. Belgium is loaded with young talent, it will be interesting to see if that squad can be molded into an international threat over the next few years.

Germany's traveling squad is pretty light if I recall. I think Low didn't call in most of the players from both Bayern Munich & Dortmund because of their involvement in the CL final. And if I recall Real Madrid had a conflict as well so no Ozil or Khedira as well. They'll still have a good side, but it's definitely not the best squad they can assemble.

 

[Deanster]

Belgium is certainly bringing their top talent, look at that roster! This will be a great test for us and am hoping to see a quality performance.

 

[Deanster]

Also very glad to see Holden back on the roster.

 

[3TrueFans]

Belgium's lineup is pretty brutal, I didn't even know some of those guys were Belgian. Hazard, Lukaku, Benteke, Fellaini, Dembele, Kompany, Vermaelen. Jebus.

 

[klamath632]

Belgium's lineup is pretty brutal, I didn't even know some of those guys were Belgian. Hazard, Lukaku, Benteke, Fellaini, Dembele, Kompany, Vermaelen. Jebus.

That last guy is from Israel, not Belgium.

 

[3TrueFans]

That last guy is from Israel, not Belgium.

Sure but are you going to tell him he can't play?

 

[klamath632]

Sure but are you going to tell him he can't play?

No idea if the guy is a footballer or not, but I watched him pitch and the dude definitely can't throw a curveball.

 

[MrOtter]

I'm very excited for this game. Both to see Belgium in action and see how we handle them. I'm a big Kljestan fan so I hope he impresses while MB90 isn't there. I think a fit Stu Holden and Bradley are our two best center mids but a guy like Kljestan to fill in is really nice, especially since I doubt Holden is really back up to full speed.

Off-topic: Everyone should watch this video of RVP schooling little kids, it's awesome.
[video=youtube;wDaFhCJC2Oo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wDaFhCJC2Oo[/video]

 

[theshadow]

No idea if the guy is a footballer or not, but I watched him pitch and the dude definitely can't throw a curveball.

"Ah, Jésus. I like him very much, but he no help with curveball."
"Are you tryin' to say Jesus ****** can't hit a curveball?"
"Okay, Harris, let's not start a holy war here."

 

[3TrueFans]

I'm very excited for this game. Both to see Belgium in action and see how we handle them. I'm a big Kljestan fan so I hope he impresses while MB90 isn't there. I think a fit Stu Holden and Bradley are our two best center mids but a guy like Kljestan to fill in is really nice, especially since I doubt Holden is really back up to full speed.

Off-topic: Everyone should watch this video of RVP schooling little kids, it's awesome.
[video=youtube;wDaFhCJC2Oo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wDaFhCJC2Oo[/video]

I wish I could do that, stupid self having to not be good at soccer.