Paraguay head coach Gerardo Martino named his squad that will face the United States on March 29 in Nashville.  Here it is:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Justo Villar (Valladolid), Diego Barreto (Guarini)

DEFENDERS (7): Antolín Alcaraz (Wigan Athletic), Marcos Cáceres, Paulo Da Silva (Real Zaragoza), Víctor Hugo Mareco (Brescia), Miguel Samudio (Libertad), Aureliano Torres (San Lorenzo), Darío Verón (UNAM Pumas)

MIDFIELDERS (9): Edgar Barreto (Atalanta), Marcelo Estigarribia (Newell's Old Boys), Osvaldo Martínez (Monterrey), Osmar Molinas (Olimpia), Néstor Ortigoza (Argentinos Juniors), Hernán Pérez (Villarreal), Cristian Riveros (Sunderland), Marcos Riveros (Nacional), Enrique Vera (LDU Quito)

FORWARDS (3): Lucas Barrios (Borussia Dortmund), Oscar Cardozo (Benfica), Edgar Benítez (Pachuca)

What does everyone think?  The US stands a chance of erasing the result from the last time these teams met, a 3-1 win for Paraguay at the 2007 Copa America. 

Argentina Squad

Argentina head coach Sergio Batista named a strong roster for the match on March 26 vs. the USA.  Here it is:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Mariano Andujar (Catania), Adrian Gabbarini (Independiente), Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar).

DEFENDERS (8): Nicolas Burdisso (Roma), Federico Fazio (Sevilla), Ezequiel Garay (Real Madrid), Gabriel Milito (Barcelona), Nicolas Otamendi (Porto), Marcos Rojo (Spartak Moscow), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Javier Mascherano (Barcelona),  Ever Banega (Valencia), Fernando Belluschi (Porto), Lucas Biglia (Anderlecht), Mario Bolatti (Internacional), Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan), Javier Pastore (Palermo)

FORWARDS (6): Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid), Nicolas Gaitan (Benfica),  Eduardo Salvio (Benfica), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Jose Sosa (Napoli)

It's gonna be a dog fight, can Tim Howard be the hero he was last team these teams met? 

Bob Bradley Names Veteran Roster for Friendlies

Here it is in all its glory:

GOALKEEPERS-Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Tim Howard (Everton), David Yelldell (MSV Duisburg)

DEFENDERS-Carlos Bocanegra (Saint-Etienne), Jonathan Bornstein (UANL Tigres), Timothy Chandler (FC Nürnberg), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jay DeMerit (Vancouver Whitecaps), Oguchi Onyewu (FC Twente), Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United), Zak Whitbread (Norwich City)

MIDFIELDERS-Michael Bradley (Aston Villa), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Mikkel Diskeruud (Stabaek), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Bolton Wanderers), Jermaine Jones (Blackburn Rovers), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht)

FORWARDS-Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Jozy Altidore (Bursaspor), Edson Buddle (FC Ingolstadt)

First of all, our predictions were a bit off.  The inclusions of DeMerit, Agudelo, Ream, Hahnemann, Feilhaber, Diskerud, and Chandler are all surprising.  For the fact that the former four are all preparing for a lengthy MLS regular season, and the later for haven't played a match in some time, or, as in the case of Chandler, was thought to be out due to passport issues.

All things considered, this is an excellent roster, and marks the first time since the Ghana game that a full strength roster has been called up.  

Some telling absences?  How about Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj, and Alejandro Bedoya?  Not necessarily snubs, but obviously they are first team material.  Clarence Goodson recently broke his toe and will miss a few weeks so that explains his exclusion.  Really thought Michael Parkhurst would get a call here, say, in the place of Ream.  Also thought we'd see Eddie Johnson over Juan Agudelo, simply because A) Agudelo is just getting over a slight knock and B) the CONCACAF U-20 Championships are that same week. 

Knee jerk starting 11 for Argentina?  How about this:

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

Cherundolo-----Onyewu-----Bocanegra-----Bornstein

-------------------Bradley-------Jones

-------------------------Holden 

Dempsey--------------------------------------Donovan

-------------------------Altidore

US Roster, Reconfigured

Little over two weeks ago, I gave you a 20-man roster for the upcoming friendlies.  Since then, a lot has changed, with injuries and club duties taking some of the guys out of the picture temporarily.  I'm going to revise and give you a 23 man roster of roster worthy yanks.

GK: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, David Yelldell (confirmed)

DF: Steve Cherundolo, Eric Lichaj, Oguchi Onyewu, Michael Parkhurst, Zak Whitbred, Gale Agbossoumonde, Carlos Bocanegra, Jonathan Bornstein

MD: Landon Donovan, Alejandro Bedoya, Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones, Stuart Holden, Maurice Edu, Jonathan Spector, Sacha Kljestan

FW: Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Edson Buddle, Eddie Johnson

For Arsenal, It's One Step at a Time

Arsenal are so close to breaking through to that elite of elite tier that it hurts.  Two weeks ago, a famous 2-1 victory over Barcalona in the Champions League Round of 16 first leg at the Emirates had the club and its worldwide fan base in a frenzy.  But back down to earth we crashed back down after an away draw in the FA Cup against lower league side Leyton Orient, after a late, soft goal was conceded by Manuel Almunia, and then when an opportunity to grab the clubs first trophy in some five seasons came around, a defensive blunder between first year gunner Laurent Koscielny and 19 year old keeper Wojciech Szczesny allowed Birmingham City to grab a late winner in the Carling Cup Final. 

As it would turn out, the fact that Leyton Orient forced a replay at the Emirates may have in fact aided in the recovery.  A 5-0 trouncing at the Emirates seemingly helped steady the ship and took a bit of the sting out of the Carling Cup final loss.

Three days later, following Chelsea's defeat of league leaders Manchester United gave the Gunners a chance to close within 1 point of the Red Devils.  A home match against Sunderland seemed a perfect opportunity to put real pressure on United.  But a 0-0 draw meant that the Gunners would only close within 3 points.

Fast forward to today.

Tomorrow, Arsenal will take on Barcelona at the Camp Nou in the Champions League Round of 16 second leg.  A win or draw will see Arsenal through to the quarterfinals and cement them as odds on favorites to make the finals.  Should Arsenal manage a result vs Barcelona, the highs of that competition will have to be held in check, as four days after Barca match, Arsenal go to Old Trafford for a FA Cup quarterfinal match-up against Manchester United. 

Talk about a statement week, potentially beating arguably the best team in the world in Barcelona, and then potentially beating EPL league leaders Manchester United, both away from the relative safety of the Emirates.

A riding high Gunner squad then faces a trap game in the Premiership, as seven days after that FA Cup match at Man U, Arsenal face a West Bromwich Albion squad which has already beaten the Gunners in a 3-2 travesty at home.  With a game now in hand on Manchester United, following United's 3-1 loss against a resurgent Liverpool squad yesterday, the Gunners, within the next eight days can:  toss Barca out of the Champions League and march into the quarterfinals, oust Manchester United from the FA Cup and move on to the semi-finals, and defeat WBA to draw even with Manchester United in the EPL.

Eight days will make or break Arsenal, how Arsene Wenger's squad responds to the pressure will likely mean the difference between another trophy-less season and a season of potential glory.