USA10Cast: Reviewing January Friendlies
News and Views for Friday, January 27
Landon Donovan and Tim Howard v. Clint Dempsey. The American showdown gets underway at 3:00 PM ET (FSC). Howard likes the Toffees chances.
US households turned viewed in record numbers for last weekend’s Manchester United’s 2-1 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates.
The USWNT will look to wrap up an Olympic birth as they take on Costa Rica (8:00 PM ET). Despite already outscoring their first three opponents 31-0, they’ll need a victory here to progress.
Add Timothy Chandler to the USMNT injured list.
All your weekend fixtures here, highlighted by Villareal v. Barcelona (Sat., 4PM ET) and Liverpool v. Manchester United (7:45 AM ET, FSC) in an FA Cup clash at Anfield.
Global Soccer
Anyone looking for a diminutive soccer god on Time Magazine’s US cover will be disappointed. The Barcelona star didn’t make the cut.
Jack Wilshire’s hopes for a February return look doubtful as the midfielder aggravated his injured ankle in practice on Friday.
Want away Chelsea defender is getting his wish. Paris Saint-Germain has announced the signing of the Brazilian centerback on a roughly $6 million transfer fee.
Dynamo Kiev in Stealth Shea Bid?
A source with knowledge of the dealings told 10Kit Thursday that FC Dallas winger Brek Shea is in the sites of Ukrainian outfit Dynamo Kiev.
The perennial Champions League also-rans are supposedly prepared to pay $10 million for the Hoops star, but Shea’s camp isn’t convinced by the idea of going to Eastern Europe, and seems to think they can negotiate a better deal elsewhere, the source said.
A $10 million fee would match the most paid for an MLS player, dished out when Villarreal purchased Jozy Altidore from NY Red Bull. (more…)
Cunningham scores in Comunicaciones debut
While most American eyes were on last night’s U.S.-Panama friendly and other soccer fans has watched a certain other clásico earlier, but in Guatemala they were watching Comunicaciones-Municipal.
The 265th playing of the match also marked the debut of American striker Jeff Cunningham. Earlier in the week he had promised to score golazos for his new club. Well, it looks as though he’s a man of his word. Cunningham came on as a second half substitute and opened his account for the team, helping them secure a 2-0 victory after going a man down just after he had come on the field. He had an earlier chance (seen at the 1:55 mark of the clip below), and if nothing else just enjoy the LMFAO remixes playing in the background.
See it here:
News and Views for Tuesday Jan. 24
Big night tonight in U.S. soccer. The USWNT faces its toughest test of the CONCACAF qualifying tournament with a showdown with Mexico. The U.S. has outscored its opponents 27-0 so far this tournament, but is looking for some redemption against Mexico. A win puts the women in great position to book their ticket to the London Olympic Games this summer.
The Philadelphia Union’s PPL Park will be the host of the 2012 MLS All-Star game.
Global
FIFA President Sepp Blatter has said that UEFA President “ready” to take over as the head of FIFA.
Manchester City has fined Carlos Tevez £9.3 million for refusing to return to the club.
10Kit Originals
Keep up with all of Jon’s coverage of this weekend’s USMNT friendly, including some extra thoughts, a profile of Bill Hamid and a look at how German-based players fared in the game.
Arizona Notebook: Klinsmann Wants More Americans in UEFA Champions League, Jones as Captain, More Notes
With the United States national team arriving in Panama today for their Wednesday friendly, it’s time to turn the page on the USMNT’s first friendly in 2012. Since it’s Monday, though, let’s shake out the ol’ reporter’s notebook and see what we can find from Saturday to tide us over until the Panama previews start rolling in.
Champions League Contenders: After his team’s 1-0 victory against Venezuela, United States national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann was asked about the sterling performances turned in that day by two players who weren’t with the team: Zak Whitbread and Clint Dempsey. Whitbread played center back and helped Norwich City secure a goalless draw with EPL giants Chelsea. The clean sheet, City’s first in Premier League action this season, came about in part because the Canaries executed a plan to keep Chelsea out of the box and deal with crosses.
Klinsmann acknowledged Whitbread is “on our radar screen,” but had much more to say about Dempsey’s performance. The Fulham man scored a hat trick – his second in the new year – during Fulham’s 5-2 defeat of Newcastle. (more…)
Hamid Keeps Clean Sheet In US Debut
GLENDALE, Ariz – Goalkeeper Bill Hamid didn’t try to play it cool after his debut appearance for the United States men’s national team. He readily admitted he was a bit nervous.
It didn’t take long, though, before he settled in.
“My first couple minutes of the game, I’m not going to lie, butterflies were flying, but once I realized, you know, guys are doing well, the guys are comfortable, it gave me a little bit of confidence too back there to be able to settle down, play from my feet and do what I need to do,” Hamid said after the match, a 1-0 victory for the U.S.
The keeper didn’t see too much action around his net with the opponent, Venezuela, only able to muster one shot on goal. Hamid didn’t get a chance to show his athleticism or make any dazzling stops, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. (more…)
Cunningham Arrives in Guatemala, Promises Golazos
Germany-Based Players Shine As Late Clark Goal Gives U.S. Victory Against Venezuela
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The USMNT’s January camp is composed mostly of MLS players, but Saturday night in Arizona it was two Germany-based midfielders who won the match for the U.S.
Ricardo Clark, out of favor at Eintracht Frankfurt, headed in the game’s only goal in the seventh minute of second half stoppage time on a cross from Jermaine Jones of Schalke, who turned in a man of the match performance in the friendly defeat of Venezuela.
Clark entered the game as a substitute in the 62nd minute, and the defensive midfielder seemed an unlikely candidate to score a goal with the wealth of attacking talent the United States still had on the pitch; however, Clark said his goal as a reserve was to inject life to the squad. (more…)
USMNT vs Venezuela Player Ratings
A late goal at the University of Phoenix by Ricardo Clark was the difference in the USMNT’s match against Venezuela. Although the USMNT had the majority of the possession, they did not create enough chance to constantly challenge the Venezuela defense.
The Clark goal will probably hide the fact that this was a pretty dismal display from the USMNT, and in the future they need to create more. The positive was the amount of pressure the entire US squad put on the Venezuela players for the entire match allowing their opposition to create little without having to park the bus.
Player ratings after the jump (more…)
