OT: USA Women's and Men's Soccer Team

[Jules]

Klinsmann earning his salary, Julian Green commits to USMNT:

http://www.sportingnews.com/soccer/s...-cup-klinsmann

Big time prospect. Should come good!

[sandiego17]

Ya, those calls (and non calls) the last 15 minutes were complete BS.

[Fleet]

I hope Aron Johannsson and Time Howard are starting in Brazil. I like Rimando but Howard is the man.

[sandiego17]

I like Johannsson and Mix a lot, will be very interesting to see who is chosen. Bradley was awesome yesterday. Howard, barring injury, will definitely be starting. The only European based player that played yesterday was Green, teams weren't required to release their internationals for this friendly.

Wasn't encouraged watching that (even with the winning goal that was erroneously waived off). If they give teams like Germany and players like Ronaldo the same openings as Mexico saw yesterday, it'll be a short stay in Brazil. Hopefully that was a ploy to not give the international scouts much. Green looked, well, green.

[Beerman]

I like Johannsson and Mix a lot, will be very interesting to see who is chosen. Bradley was awesome yesterday. Howard, barring injury, will definitely be starting. The only European based player that played yesterday was Green, teams weren't required to release their internationals for this friendly.

Wasn't encouraged watching that (even with the winning goal that was erroneously waived off). If they give teams like Germany and players like Ronaldo the same openings as Mexico saw yesterday, it'll be a short stay in Brazil. Hopefully that was a ploy to not give the international scouts much. Green looked, well, green.

Yea if Mexico had even an average striker, a lot of those runs would have been goals in the second half.

[sandiego17]

Love this stuff:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a71C2pg9UPs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdpCtzpRBs8

[Bolt-O]

I hope leaving Eddie Johnson off the team won't hurt us in the end.

[Panama]

Love this stuff:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a71C2pg9UPs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdpCtzpRBs8

I don't know if "I believe that we will win" even one match. Ghana, Portugal, and Germany is a tough draw. I think the best we can hope for is second place in the group. I hope I'm wrong, of course. And if we can only win one match, I hope we exact revenge on Ghana.

[sandiego17]

I don't know if "I believe that we will win" even one match. Ghana, Portugal, and Germany is a tough draw. I think the best we can hope for is second place in the group. I hope I'm wrong, of course. And if we can only win one match, I hope we exact revenge on Ghana.

Ridiculously tough group, the only group with four teams that played in the knockout stage in 2010. Hopefully, Klinsmann has the team ready to go vs. Ghana, that will be huge for the US chances. Best case scenario would be a win for the US and Germany in the opening matches and the US pulling a Mourinho vs. Portugal and parking a two buses (coupled with another Germany W vs. Ghana.) That way, Germany has already advanced by the time the US meets them. Unlikely the US advances, yes, I agree, but luckily the games aren't played on paper.

[sandiego17]

I hope leaving Eddie Johnson off the team won't hurt us in the end.

That, and grouping Donovan as a pure forward, were, IMO, interesting decisions.

[onelazyfock]

That, and grouping Donovan as a pure forward, were, IMO, interesting decisions.

What does "grouping Donovan as a pure forward" mean?

[sandiego17]

What does "grouping Donovan as a pure forward" mean?

Just how Klinsmann views Donovan, rather than a midfielder and forward is where Donovan is competing for a spot on the final 23. Six forwards are at camp, and it's one of the reasons Klinsmann has sighted for not inviting Eddie Johnson (no need for a seventh). I think 5 will make the squad, and it comes down to wondo or Boyd for the final spot, but who knows?