If we have a somewhat full roster, this will be a good barometer of how we will fair in the World Cup this summer. Although I've heard that there will be restrictions on the number of Cup players we can use. Anyone got the scoop?

ps- the game I'm looking forward to is Jamaica.

pps- check out the updated schedule, we will also be playing Morocco, Venezuela, and Latvia.

Looking forward to the Germany game, but I wouldn't read too much into the outcome.

I'm kind of disappointed in the quality of our May opponents.

I think the only European players available for Germany are the German based players and maybe a few English players that Arena can sweet talk into being released. I'm really hoping Reyna shows up but Pearce might be reluctant to let him go since he 1) just got back from injury and 2) is already wearing the captain's armband for City. I wouldn't be surprised to see Conor Casey get a look in training camp before the game if nothing else. He is back training with Mainz and was rumored to start last week but only made a cameo toward the end against M'gladbach.

As for our May games, I'm a little disappointed as well. I know it's hard to schedule quality teams because most good teams are in the WC but there are a few I can think of that didn't make it....Ireland and Turkey come to mind.

Don't worry, you will not be able to read anything into this game the way Germany is playing right now.

Lost 4-1 to Italy at home......and has been playing like absolute shiat.

I think I saw today where Reyna won't be on the roster for the Germany match. And as was mentioned...there's a good chance we'll beat them just because they have so much turmoil right now and just aren't playing well.

Either way, not a big indicator of what we should expect.

I don't know that we ever have a good chance to beat Germany when we are playing them in Germany with a half strength team. Klinnsman and his players will be looking to make a point after the Italy debacle.

But yes, Reyna didn't make the roster. The only English based players there are Convey and Hahneman because Reading are 15 points clear in the Championship.

You know, as a Mexican national I always new that the US was a monster waiting to be awaken.

It is no surprise to me anyway the incredible imporvement that the US has had in mens soccer. All you had to do is look at several things to see what was coming.

#1-The large population-meaning there is plenty of youth & talent to develop.

#2-Facilities-there is no other country in the world that has the money to invest in facilities. I am not talking about the US national team facilities or the professional team facilities, I am talking about your junior HS, HS facilities all around the nation and the quality of them. Incredible public facilities.

#3-Money and market-goes right along with #2, but also pulling players from other significant professional leagues to come and play in the USA league. Yes, they might get paid better in their home country, but they do not get paid with dollars and they still are living in a 3rd world. These players have a great impact on the fans and the growth of popularity among children which are the future of soccer in the US.

These 3 ingredients are the reason as to why the US moved to #5 in the World Rankings. That along with a great coach Arena (that I can't stand).

Anyway, jsut my 2 cents

Just saw that Donovan will not be playing. With him and Reyna out, my guess is our midfield will be extremely disorganized and we'll see a lot of long balls to EJ (assuming he plays). It won't be very pretty as I'm sure like most German teams of the past, they are still very good in the air. I'm very dissappointed as I wanted to see the US close to full strength.

Well, it sounds like it will be a watered down team. Hopefully it will be a fun game anyway.

ps- anyone order one of the new jeresys? I'm going to order a personalized white one in April (I like the old school look to them).

no dempsey either

via fox soccer http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5427920

quote:

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Germany's national soccer team has been treated like a punching bag since it lost to Italy 4-1, and now fans are expecting - perhaps demanding - an ego-boosting rout of the United States on Wednesday.

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Here's the roster according to ussoccer.com...


U.S. Men's National Team Roster vs. Germany
March 22, 2006 - Dortmund, Germany

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. DOB Caps/
Goals Hometown Club
Berhalter, Gregg D 6'1" 175 08/01/73 43/0 Tenafly, N.J. Energie Cottbus (Germany)
Cherundolo, Steve D 5'6" 145 02/19/79 32/0 San Diego, Calif. Hannover 96 (Germany)
Ching, Brian F 6’1” 195 05/24/78 15/3 Haleiwa, Hawaii Houston Dynamo (MLS)
Conrad, Jimmy D 6'2" 185 02/12/77 12/0 Temple City, Calif. Kansas City Wizards (MLS)
Convey, Bobby M/D 5'8" 150 05/27/83 35/1 Philadelphia, Pa. Reading FC (England)
Feilhaber, Benny M 5'9" 150 01/19/85 0/0 Irvine, Calif. Hamburg SV (Germany)
Gibbs, Cory D 6'3" 178 01/14/80 17/0 Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. ADO Den Haag (Holland)
Hahnemann, Marcus GK 6’3" 220 06/15/72 6/0 Seattle, Wash. Reading FC (England)
Johnson, Eddie F 6’0” 180 03/31/84 13/9 Palm Coast, Fla. Kansas City Wizards (MLS)
Keller, Kasey GK 6'2" 190 11/29/69 90/0 Lacey, Wash. Bor. M'gladbach (Germany)
Klein, Chris M 6'1" 180 01/04/76 21/5 St. Louis, Mo. Real Salt Lake (MLS)
Mastroeni, Pablo M 5'10" 170 08/26/76 44/0 Phoenix, Ariz. Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Olsen, Ben M 5'8" 140 05/03/77 31/5 Middletown, Pa. D.C. United (MLS)
Pearce, Heath D 5’10” 175 08/13/84 4/0 Modesta, Calif. FC Nordsjælland (Denmark)
Pope, Eddie D 6'1" 180 12/24/73 77/8 High Point, N.C. Real Salt Lake (MLS)
Twellman, Taylor F 5’11” 170 02/29/80 17/5 St. Louis, Mo. New England Revolution (MLS)
Wolff, Josh F 5'8" 160 02/25/77 43/9 Stone Mountain, Ga. Kansas City Wizards (MLS)
Zavagnin, Kerry M 5’10” 170 07/02/74 20/0 Plymouth, Mich. Kansas City Wizards (MLS)

OK, the Germans will give their best game to us, they are in a National Team crisis, although it has calmed down in the last few days with renewed hope of beating the USA and forgetting Italy.

This is just what our team needs to see if we have the guts to play with a desperate team in a hostile place with a depleated roster. I expect no let down from USA. I suspect the team will not hunker down, but play like they have nothing to lose. The longer we frustrate the Germans the more desperate they will become, knowing they really have to win at home.

FFH, a Frankfurt radio station got an Email from and American fan in the USA simnply saying USA 3-0...

We shall see...

I think there's a decent chance we'll lose as this game means a heck of a lot more to Germany than it does to us and we are missing some very key players (Landon, Reyna, Beaseley, Onyewu etc) but I don't think we'll get Birminghamed.

2-0 Germany but we'll create our chances. They are bringing something that is pretty close to their first team and really need a win after Italy). We are bringing a lot of fringe players many of which won't be back in Germany in 2 1/2 months. Guess we'll find out in about 3 hours...

It seems like if we play solid defense and, as you mentioned, frustrate the Germans, we will have opportunities to score on the counter-attack. Unfortunately, with Boca and Gooch out, we are missing (IMO) our top two backs. The absence of Donovan, McBride, and most of our best midfielders will also hurt our ball distribution and finishing. I (quite optimistically) predict a 1-1 draw.

[This message has been edited by tool (edited 3/22/2006 10:36a).]

Is the game today at 2 CST or EST?

2:25 ET

Looks like I'll have to take a late lunch.

ussoccer.com announces starting XI. It's not clear what the formation will be. No surprises here, except perhaps the fact that three players who are usually used as forwards are starting.

I guess with the possibility of BMB being less than 100% or even absent from the WC, Bruce is even more short-handed up front.

Keller

Conrad
Berhalter
Gibbs
Dolo

Zavagnin
Mastroeni
Convey

Wolff
Ching
Johnson

I predict 1-0 USA victory. Keller shines and Wolff scores.

USA has had a couple good chances, Germany has had several really good opportunities

didnt we wear these jerseys back in 95?

15 minutes gone, still scoreless

Germany came out on fire. US survived but looked sloppy for awhile. One reason is playing a man down. Wolff and Mastro each sat for a few minutes with injuries. USA has had 3-4 good scoring opportunites. Germany probably had 5 good chances.

Wolff just left game as I was typing. Not sure what his inury is. I thought he had his bell rung the first time. He walked off so I don't think it's leg injury.

Yep, they just said Wolff left game with concussion. He hurt head about 5 minutes into game. On the play he made an awesome thru ball to EJ. EJ screwed it up though. Our best chance so far. Wolff got hit again 20 minutes into game and left.

30 minutes gone, scoreless. Game has settled down and playing about even.

Zavagnin got a yellow card on cheap foul. He'll miss next game.

Germany has had some great buildups and decent chances. US has countered very well, several good chances.

USA B-team is playing evenly with German A-team in front of 70,000 German fans. I'm impressed.

As an aside and only slightly related...

Reyna is out for a month with a shoulder injury. This is getting really scary.

man, I do not recommend getting trashed the night before these early day games..I just missed the whole first half.

All of the injuries are definitely scary, but at least the team is showing a little depth. That's something that has been missing, historically.

I do hear that John Obrien is healthy and brokering a deal to go to the MLS. Please go to fc dallas, please go to fc dallas.

Scoreless at half. The final 15 minute stretch was won by US. They controlled the play. Offense looked pretty good. Biggest problem defensively is fouling guys. Germany is scary on setpieces and we've giving them plenty. We're also getting plenty. Cherundulo had another beauty that Kahn stopped.

I don't know who's moving to the bench, but Bobby Convey ought to start in World Cup. He's been solid on defense, a couple of real nice runs, and several great crosses.

Gibbs looked good too.

Crap. Klose just scored 30 seconds into 2nd half. It was redirection off set piece, Keller had no chance.

Anyone know of any good match tracker's for those who aren't able to view the game on TV?

ussoccer.com has a match tracker. Just go to the front page.

www.ussoccer.comHas a matchtracker, but site is down right down.

After 60 minutes, 1-0 Germany. US has played well this stretch. The goal was inevitable with that many fouls called near the box. Aside from goal, USA has controlled the play this half.

Germany has always been physical. But they're really hammering US forwards. Lots of fouls called, we're getting good setpieces.

WHOOA. Speak of the devil.... Kahn just made a brilliant save on EJ's header on set piece. He had no business making that save.

quote:

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He had no business making that save.

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He made several in 2002 like that, IIRC. Reading the Matchtracker descriptions, I'm having flashbacks to the last World Cup.

I wish I could see it...

At least I'm Tivoing it.