The U.S. boys notched more goals in this game than they had in the previous six games, total. Slovenia vs. the U.S. is turning into a classic, with this game ending 3-2, and when they met at the World Cup in 2010, it ended 2-2 with a disallowed goal from Maurice Edu that would have made the game 3-2.
Klinsmann started both Edson Buddle and Jozy Altidore up top, after watching his team struggle for attacking impact in their friendly with France on friday. This clearly paid off with Buddle scoring early, and the team creating chances due to the numbers in attacking position. Altidore had a fantastic game against France, holding the ball up well and making dangerous runs, but not scoring. Altidore scored a penalty in this game to give the U.S. the third that saw out the three points. A well needed three points for the Jurgen Klinsmann reign as coach.
Here are the post match interviews from the US players.
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.
Yesterday at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, the USMNT registered their first win under new coach Jurgen Klinsmann, defeating Honduras by one goal to nil. Clint Dempsey scored in the 36' with a sweet foot change in the box, whacking the ball in to the top of the net.
Though only winning by one, the US looked looked dominating at times, and had a goal disallowed for a nothing-push by Dempsey robbing him of his second as he rose above his defender in the box.
Be it a friendly, It was a good day for American Soccer fans as we take our first win under the reign of the German, shoeing promise in things to come. When the USMNT lines-up against Ecuador on Tuesday at Red Bull Arena, Jurgen will look for a repeat performance from his boys and If they manage to keep the confidence shown against Honduras, it should be all but a formality.
Some key points that I feel are pertinent to mention:
How good Jozy Altidore looks when he gets regular playing time for his club side. Having moved to Dutch side AZ Alkmaar this summer, Altidore has had regular playing time that has kept his touch and tempo for the game up. When he was not getting playing time at previous clubs, the ask of being the lead goal scoring threat for the USMNT was too much. Now that he has the confidence of three goals in the Eredivise, Altidore's touch has looked more assured, has been working harder, and looks overall a threat when in possession.
The left side of Brek Shea and Timmy Chandler looked lethal yesterday, combining well as the marauding left back Chandler is complimented well by the defense cautions winger Shea. Shea made the statement yesterday that he has arrived on the International platform, becoming a consistent attacking threat on the left and delivering teasing crosses that sliced open the Honduran defense like a preserved frog in science class-suppling the cross to Dempsey for the winner, from (not to mention) the opposite side of his starting position. The only real low point in Shea's game was when he fluffed a sitter, set up by a cross-goal pass from Altidore.
Out of favor Oguchi Onyewu or " Gooch,"seemed to have taken his final bow as a USMNT player under Bob Bradley, looking god-awful amongst other things, until last night. Having being recalled from the doldrums, the cast-out center back made a triumphant return to relevance as he started alongside Capt. Bocanegra in the heart of our defense, helping to secure a clean sheet. I will have to see a few more performances akin to this one to be throughly convinced, but one thing I can say for sure is that he made Michael Orozaco-Fiscal look like a proper donkey.
After this result I would hope the US boys push on and take Ecuador to the chopping block on Tuesday and taking Clint Dempsey's form into account, you might as well call the undertaker.
The US Mens National team takes on Honduras in an International friendly today at Sun Life Stadium in Miami. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann and Capt. Carlos Bocanegra talk a bit about tactics, approach and players for their upcoming game.
The match will kick off at 6pm E.T. and can be viewed live on Fox Soccer Channel and Univision. The Roster shapes up like this, with Edson Buddle replacing the injured Landon Donovan:
GOALKEEPERS (3):Bill Hamid (D.C.United), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake) DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Oguchi Onyewu (Sporting Lisbon), Michael Orozco Fiscal (San Luis), Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls), Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City) MIDFIELDERS (7):Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Chievo Verona), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Jeff Larentowicz (Colorado Rapids), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim) FORWARDS (5):Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Edson Buddle (FC Ingolstadt), Teal Bunbury (Sporting Kansas City)
