USA vs. France preview.

The USMNT takes on the French National team tomorrow, Friday @ 2:30 ET on Espn 2, and as American, I am hoping for a French breakdown akin to the one in South Africa 2010. 


This is likely not to happen, as the bad blood has been willed out since the departure of manager Raymond Domenech and the introduction of Laurent Blanc. The former Bordeaux manager has reigned in the respect of the French team, stamping his seal on the team with mixing up the line-up and injecting new blood into the side. This French side is ranked #15, in terms of Fifa's rankings, and with a weakened side most likely played, the U.S. will still struggle to find any joy from the game.


This game, be it a friendly, poses the most strenuous test for Jurgen Klinsmann's yanks, and prepare your self for NO real change what-so-ever. I predict a 3-0 defeat, in which my disappointment will be compounded with John Harke's top-notch analysis, saying, Well...


Brek Shea has announced himself as an International player, showing well on the left side of midfield.


Kyle Beckerman holds the ball well, and is very helpful to the back-line with the added support he provides, all be-it letting in 3 goals.


Michael Orozco- Fiscal is crap, and should not be playing for the USMNT, but in John Harke's words, "He has room to improve." But once again we will see, even if Jurgen doesn't, that Fiscal is not a class player.


Jozy Altidore, struggles up-top by himself, making no impact really, beside maybe one or two good hold up's. He will be removed at the 73' mark, only to be replaced by____ shit? insert the blank, with Agudelo not selected to travel. 


But with all that said, it;s " The Big Picture," that matters.


With Landon Donovan competing in the MLS cup final, the American talisman has not traveled to France, so in this light who's his replacement?  Looks to be the 23-year old Hoffenheim, "German-American" midfielder Fabian Johnson.


Now I present the US Lineup:

The side that will be under the cosh from the start, and will sitting deeper than this image portrays.


For the French side that we ride out to battle will see some refreshment, with on-form PSG striker Kevin Gameiro getting the nod from the start, but not in his usual lone-striker role for his club side, but as a support striker for Karim Benzema, with Marseille's Loic Remy's questionable inclusion.


Influential defender Patrice Evra will not ply for Les Bleus, which for me is not a loss at all. Once the worlds best left-back, the Man United player has been in decline the last couple years,  caught out of position to often, unable to make it back to defend after his marauding runs forward. In all honesty against the US that's not a real big issue, but having the on-form Valencia left back Jeremy Mathieu is better value for your franc's...sorry euros.


Look out for midfield dynamo, Yann M'vila from Rennes to be holding it down in the middle of the park. Somewhat overlooked by media outlets, this Makelele reminiscent player has exploded through the ranks of late, being target by Arsenal for a move to London last summer. Partnering M'vila in the center will be either Marvin Martin or Newcastle newboy, Yohan Cabaye.


We all know what to expect from Franck Ribery and Blanc's favorite Jeremy Menez, who will ask some real soul-searching Q's of Timmy Chandler and Steve Cherundolo.


Here's the French Line-up:

Ouch that hurts!


Line-ups provided by The Shin Gaurdian

A Yankee Home Coming

American Eddie Johnson may be making a return to the US with a number of MLS clubs pursuing the 27 year old striker.  After shining in the MLS for FC Dallas and KC Wizards he moved to the EPL in 2008 signing for  Fulham. The American was less than a regular in London club's starting XI, troubled with injury and lack of form saw him loaned out to Cardiff in the same year he signed for Fulham. A return to his roots could only help the one time fixture for the U.S Men's National Team, regain from. MLS will allocate him to a club, with Chivas getting first crack to sign him. If Chivas elect's to pass on signing him then Toronto, Houston, and Chicago will get their shot. 



If Eddie returns he will join  fellow recent returnee Freddy Adu to the American domestic game, who will now join the Philly Union, a move welcomed by player and country. If dissected, many of the USMNT players are playing abroad either in Europe or other, which is a important factor in expanding the knowledge of the US game abroad/ giving US players valuable experience. On the flip-side, this can also be detrimental. When Freddy Adu signed for  Benfica in 2007 the excitement and expectation was about in a bounty, but after being loaned out to AS Monaco, Belenenses, Aris, and Caykur Rizespor, the glory becomes a bit muddied.  Adu was loaned out to varying from Greece, Turkey, and Portugal, that are to be frank, no-bodies. As an American soccer fans I want to be able to view my players abroad, not lost in the doldrums of the turkish second division. Once the future of American Soccer, now is viewed as un-fulfilled potential. Like Eddie, Adu will look to return home stateside to regain form, and up the skill and game in the US Domestic game.

Who Ever Said "Brain's Is Better Than Braun?"

I believe the USA have finally found an answer to their center forward woes! After the Altidore experiment has failed due to his lack of pace, touch and general prowess in front of goal, it is apparent there needs to be a new central striker to spearhead the attack, accompanying Juan Agudelo. A player who can hold the ball up, combined well with fellow attackers, and most importantly take his chances. Enter: Justin Braun, forward for Chivas USA and hottest American prospect in the MLS. This season he has supplied 7 goals for the Los Angeles outfit, including 2 hat trick's, including one tonight against Houston Dynamo. He played fantastic tonight, strong in his hold-up play,  continuously split Houston's  back-line with his runs, and finished his second with a  deft chip. 

As a US Men's National Team supporter I have been crying out for a forward who can first and formost score goals! Focusing on a forward who will be present for Brazil 2014, one that can grow into the system and develop.  Bob Bradley has tried everything from Robbie Findley, who has pace, but nothing else. To throwing Donovan and or Dempsey up top. Duce and Don don't make much of an impact, as their usual and most effective positions are on the wings or sitting behind the striker. Braun is that powerful center forward the US needs. He's 6 foot 3, and a powerful presence that Agudelo, (surly a player that will be in the mix come 2014) can play off of. Agudelo doesn't work best when he has to bear all the attacking responsibility on his young shoulders, so with the introduction of  Braun Agudelo's load will be lightened. Think of it as a Crouch,  Vander Vaart combination of big man-small man. Along with his talent, Braun is also young. He's 24 so come the World Cup he will be sitting pretty at 27. If he continues in his current vein of form, he should be a shoe-in, with our limited options. 

Braun was  invited to train in December of 2009 with the USMNT, instigating a call up for a match with Honduras, but didn't feature. He received a second call up, but was suffering from a achilles injury, not leaving him enough time to make his first international appearance. Braun could answer this question for the USMNT, and with the way he's playing at Chivas Bob Bradley would be hard pressed to find a more suiting candidate for his CF.