USA vs. Czech Republic Preview

Away from the hustle and bustle of the Princeton training camp, the United States National Team's staff and players have moved three and a half hours, by bus, north to East Hartford, Connecticut, where tomorrow they will take on the Czech Republic in the first of the two game send off series before traveling to South Africa for one last tune-up friendly against Australia, finally heading into the match-up against England  on June 12.  With all 30 U.S. players still in camp and all training without restrictions, the group that Bob Bradley can pick from is as vast as it is relatively unknown.  We can expect little to see from sure bets like Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, and Tim Howard.  Expect mostly the fringe players to get most of the time here, as Bob Bradley has said he'd like to trim the roster to his final 23 before the final send off series match up against Turkey in Philadelphia on Saturday.  So expect to see guys like Robbie Findley, Sacha Kljestan, Robbie Rogers, Chad Marshall, Eddie Johnson, Hurculez Gomez and Edson Buddle to get significant minutes.

But we've already discussed how I think the US will come out, so we move on the to opponents.  The Czech Republic, one of Europe's most highly rated teams, but failed to qualify for this summers tournament after finishing third place in their group behind the US' group-mate in South Africa Slovenia, and Slovakia, who the US lost to 0-1 in November of last year.  Still a powerful opponent who the US knows well, after the Czechs thumped the Yanks in the teams' opening game of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

As we speak, I'm sure the coaching staff is watching film of the Czechs and the Turks as the two teams played a friendly two days ago at Red Bull Arena, which was won by Turkey 2-1.  Here is the line-up that the Czechs started:
(3-5-2)

-----------------------Cech

Kusnir---------------Mazuch--------------Hubschman

----------------Rajnoch----Plasil

Holek-----------------Cerny---------------Pudil

----------------Fenin---------Necid

Very rarely do we see teams on the international level play a 3-5-2 formation, but if it works for them then more power to 'em.  Breaking down the Czechs is simple, yet difficult in its own right.  No real international superstars on the field, except in goal where Petr Cech prowls and has the ability to stop shots some keepers wouldn't even try to save.  Their backline is relatively inexperienced, but good enough to hold its own.  Its deep midfielders are the ones to watch for.  Rajnoch will hound opposing offensive players and is well known for his defensive bite and prowess.  Plasil has become a key player for his club side (Bordeaux) in central midfield and has become a playmaker for the Czechs as well.  Pudil on the left plank is a scare, with pace and good crossing ability.  Fenin and Necid up top aren't exactly world class, but decent enough to take their chances if presented to them.  Now ofcourse this is the formation that they cam out in last time out, so perhaps coach Michal Bilek has rested some players to present a sterner test to the United States. 

As for the US' starting 11, here are the guys I'd start:

--------------------Howard

Spector-----DeMerit-----Onyewu-----Bocanegra

--------------Bradley----Feilhaber

Holden----------------------------------Donovan

-------------Buddle------Findley

More to come later....

Starters Against Czech Republic

In four days the United States will take on the Czech Republic in East Hartford, Connecticut.  As the United States continues to prepare for its upcoming friendlies, NP will take a look at some potential line-ups for the Czech match.  Bob Bradley has stated that he would like to cut down to his 23 man roster following the match, so I expect a majority of the fringe players to get some playing time.  Also, the guys who have been out injured for awhile, I expect to get some game time under their belts. I'll offer a couple different potential line-ups along with the substitutes.

--------------------Howard

Spector-----Onyewu-----Bocanegra-----Pearce

--------------Bradley----Clark

Holden--------------------------------Donovan

-------------Johnson-----Gomez

Subs:
Bornstein for Pearce
Feilhaber/Torres/Edu for Clark
Bedoya/Beasley/Rogers/Kljestan for Donovan
Buddle/Findley for Johnson/Gomez

I expect Onyewu, Holden, Bocanegra, and Spector to go the full match, in part because the first three haven't had a full game in quite some time and they need as much game time as possible, and Spector and his backup/replacement Steve Cherundolo are known quantities.  Though Spector gets my nod since he struggled his last couple games at West Ham.  Clark only has played two games for Eintracht Frankfurt after an injury cut short most of his season so I expect Bradley to get him in there and sub him out at halftime or there after for Feilhaber or Torres.  The plethora of wide options means that Holden may not get a full match, but with the four I listed all fringe players, they definitely deserve their shot, Bedoya and Beasley I expect are going to be the ins and Rogers and Kljestan the outs.  Also other than Altidore all five forwards are essentially on the hot seat.  Ching has been injured, Gomez and Buddle are the hot hands, but have three caps between the two of them Findley doesn't even start for Real Salt Lake at this point and Eddie Johnson is the savvy vet of the forward pool with 40 caps.

One could argue for Brad Guzan to get a match since he hasn't played at all in the second half of the season that I can recall, so I could understand him getting the start.  Howard has also been nursing a minor leg injury and so Guzan or Hahnemann could get the nod there.  Dempsey, Altidore, and the other guys left off are known quantities and will get their chances against Turkey and Australia. 

I'm going on vacation to Edisto Island, South Carolina, so when you hear from me next I'll be enjoying Mai Tai's on the beach.  I'll be back for a Czech Republic match preview on Monday.

Slovenia Finalizes 30 Man Roster

The US' third opponent in South Africa has finally produced its full roster.  Here it is:

GOALKEEPERS (4): Samir Handanovic (Udinese), Jasmin Handanovic (Mantova), Aleksander Seliga (Sparta Rotterdam), Jan Koprivec (Maribor)

DEFENDERS (10): Bojan Jokic (Chievo), Marko Suler (Ghent), Bostjan Cesar (Grenoble), Branko Ilic (Lokomotiv Moscow), Matej Mavric (Koblenz), Dejan Kelhar (Cercle Brugge), Elvedin Dzinic (Maribor), Miso Brecko (Cologne), Aleksandar Rajcevic (Koper), Suad Filekovic (Maribor)
 
MIDFIELDERS (10): Andraz Kirm (Wisla Krakow), Andrej Komac (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Rene Krhin (Internazionale), Mirnes Sisic (Giannina), Darjan Matic (Rapid Bucharest), Dare Vrsic (Koper), Dalibor Stevanovic (Vitesse Arnhem), Robert Koren (West Bromwich Albion), Aleksander Radosavljevic (Larissa), Valter Birsa (Auxerre)
 
FORWARDS (6): Milivoje Novakovic (Cologne), Zlatko Dedic (VfL Bochum), Zlatan Ljubijankic (Ghent), Nejc Pecnik (Nacional), Miran Burgic (AIK), Tim Matavz (Groningen)

USA Roster Analysis

Now that we've all calmed down a bit lets examine the ins and outs of the 30 men who will begin camp on May 17.

Goalkeepers:  Easiest calls of the lot.  Howard, Guzan and, Hahnemann are miles ahead in class from every other keeper not named Brad Freidel in the player pool.  Howard will be the starter on June 12, but who backs him up is the only question.

Defenders: Interestingly I'd thought that Clarence Goodson had all but wrapped up the 4th center-half spot, but Chad Marshall gets the call for one final push.  Goodson still with a leg up on Marshall though considering Marshall has only played one full game with Columbus in several months while Goodson is starting and playing full matches consistently in Norway.  Elsewhere Onyewu returns to the Nats for the first time since October, and DeMerit and Bocanegra return after successful stints with their clubs.  Spector and Cherundolo are pretty much locks to head to South Africa, and Bornstein and Pearce will head up the left.  I'm still expecting Bocanegra to man the left against England (please) as Bornstein has struggled with Chivas USA thus far, and Pearce has been playing more in midfield for FC Dallas.  I really expected an extra outside back such as Edgar Castillo or Frank Simek instead of the 5th center-half.

Midfielders:  Here's where most of the surprises come from.  Robbie Rogers, who is struggling mightily at Columbus thus far this season and Sacha Kljestan, who isn't exactly struggling at Chivas USA, but seemed to have played himself out contention last summer, are the mind-numbing inclusions here.  Perhaps a bit of a surprise to some is the inclusion of DaMarcus Beasley, who hasn't seen the field of late while at Rangers, but his 90 caps and World Cup experience put him here.  The exclusion of Freddy Adu its a little bit surprising to me at least, he's played well the last couple of weeks in Greece and I though it would merit at least a call into camp.  All the other regulars are here as well: Donovan, Dempsey, Bradley, Edu, Clark, Feilhaber, Torres, Holden.  Also note...who thought that in 2010 that Freddy Adu would be out of the picture and Alejandro Bedoya was in the picture??  Atta kid Ale.

Forwards: Up top all of the hoopla has been about the exclusion of Charlie Davies.  The decision has armchair managers everywhere in an uproar about Bob Bradley's snub.  First of all, it's in Bob's best interest to bring the best players available in to camp.  Davies wasn't left out because he wasn't good enough, that is for sure.  The fact of the matter his that he hasn't yet been fully cleared medically from Sochaux, and therefore not released to camp.  Its a sad ending to a journey where Davies has been always positive and strong.  His glory will come in the World Cup, just not this one.  Brazil 2014 has best watch out.  Otherwise, Jozy Altidore and Brian Ching are pretty close to sure things.  Robbie Findley is only in camp to simulate the speed guys that England will probably throw at us on the wings (Aaron Lennon and Theo Walcott), and so the final two spots will be up in the air between Johnson, Gomez, and Buddle.  All three of them merited call-ups as they're all on hot streaks at the moment.  Let's hope these streaks can continue.  I keep hearing about the great Conor Casey snub, and let me say, that Ching, when healthy is the better hold up man that Bob Bradley loves.  AND Casey has thus far only scored from the penalty spot on the season.  Truth be told, he hasn't performed well since his brace @ Honduras.

My June 12 starting 11:

-------------------Howard

Spector-----DeMerit-----Onyewu-----Bocanegra

--------------Bradley------Edu

Holden--------------------------------Donovan

------------Dempsey-----Altidore

Official 30 Man Roster

Here it is...

GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton)
 
DEFENDERS (9): Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)
 
MIDFIELDERS (12): DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers), Alejandro Bedoya (Örebro), Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Bolton), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), José Torres (Pachuca)
 
FORWARDS (6): Jozy Altidore (Villarreal), Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Herculez Gomez (Puebla), Eddie Johnson (Aris Thessaloniki)

Surprise inclusions: Rogers, Marshall, Kljestan, Findley

Surprise exclusions: Davies, Adu, Castillo, Casey

Analysis coming a bit later after I cry for a bit...