GKs: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan
Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra, Jonathan Bornstein, Steve Cherundolo, Jay DeMerit, Chad Marshall, Oguchi Onyewu, Jonathan Spector
Midfielders: Michael Bradley, Ricardo Clark, Clint Dempsey, Benny Feilhaber, Stuart Holden, Jose Francisco Torres
Forwards: Jozy Altidore, Conor Casey, Brian Ching, Charlie Davies, Landon Donovan
Quick Thoughts:
This will mark many the first trip to the Azteca for a few of the key players out there and how the veterans are able to lead and the young ones cope with the atmosphere will tell a lot about how far this team has really come this summer.
Bocanegra, Onyewu, Donovan, and Dempsey will be counted on to lead while keep an eye on DeMerit, Bradley, Clark, Torres, Altidore and Davies to see how they respond to an atmosphere unlike any other.
The only real surprise inclusion is Chad Marshall, who BB must have liked enough during the Gold Cup to move up to the A squad. It also probably means that Bocanegra will be utilized as the LB and therefore another pure CB was needed. I like this.
It will be key for Michael Bradley to keep his cool in what will surely be the most hostile of environments. He is famous for his temper and will have all his tackles watched closely. He will be integral to the US's success/failure though and absolutely needs to stay on the field.
Glad to see Holden get a call up and even if he doesn't get in the game, it will be good experience to train and travel to the Azteca.
With Guzan's impressive performances during Aston Villa's preseason, I think everyone can be confident in the GK situation for a long time.
Not sure why BB needs both Conor Casey and Brian Ching as they are basically exactly the same player. Big and slow but willing to work hard. I don't think either has the pedigree to make an impact in the interational game though. Ching specifically brings WCQ experience but not the necessary skill.
The US is very thin up front, throughout the entire national team system, and will have trouble filling either Davies/Altidore's shoes should one or both go down with an injury. Even those two are still very very raw and will need to polish themselves in the coming year. Their performance here will be fascinating to watch but shouldn't torn apart.
I was going to put in my starting 11 + some of my own thoughts here but that can wait until next week when the game is upon us...along with some what to watch fors and maybe a prediction. Stay tuned and get pumped.
Happy Friday!
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