The US National Team is now ranked 7th in the world - the highest ever ranking for the USA.
I guess owning Grenada really paid off.
Game is tomorrow (Sunday) at 6 PM CT on ESPN2.
US roster:
Goalkeepers (2): Tim Howard (Manchester United), Zach Thornton (unemployed)
Defenders
: Chris Albright (Los Angeles Galaxy), Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham FC), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Cory Gibbs (Dallas Burn), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), Eddie Pope (MetroStars)
Midfielders (7): Chris Armas (Chicago Fire), DaMarcus Beasley (Chicago Fire), Bobby Convey (D.C. United), Landon Donovan (San Jose Earthquakes), Eddie Gaven (MetroStars), Brian Mullan (San Jose Earthquakes), Kerry Zavagnin (Kansas City Wizards)
Forwards (4): Brian Ching (San Jose Earthquakes), Clint Mathis (Hannover 96), Brian McBride (Fulham FC), Josh Wolff
(Kansas City Wizards)
That roster has one Wizard too many.
We SHOULD be able to win this one seeing as how most of our players are in mid-season form. We beat Poland in Poland earlier this year so anything less than a win will be a disappointment.
Of course we COULD have been playing Brazil tomorrow in a MEANINGFUL game but who would want that?
This game will be a good chance to get a look at players like Gaven, Mullan and Ching.
Some interesting game notes from ussoccer.com:
- DaMarcus Beasley leads the U.S. in scoring (4), games played (8) and minutes played (630) for 2004
- our earlier win against Poland started a current 5-game winning streak
- Brian Mullan is a great player but he couldn't send a good cross if his life depended on it
- The U.S. men are making their first appearance in the Windy City since June 13, 1993, a 4-3 loss to Germany.
- In their history, the U.S. has played Poland more times than any other European opponent (13, dating all the way back to 1924). Poland leads the all-time series with a 7-5-1 record.
- With a victory against Poland this Sunday, U.S. Manager Bruce Arena would record his 50th career win for the United States.
OK, one of the above may or may not have been my opinion/observation.
CHECK THIS OUT:
Former D.C. United midfielder Mike Slivinski holds the record as the youngest player ever to appear for the United States men’s team, appearing against Jamaica on Sept. 14, 1991 at the age of 16 years, 318 days. Ironically, teammate Mark Jonas became the second youngest player to get a cap on that same day, at the age of 16 years, 332 days. Neither Slivinski nor Jonas ever made another appearance for the senior team.
If Eddie Gaven plays tomorrow he will become the 4th youngest player to get capped by the US national team, behind Bobby Convey (3rd) and the players mentioned above.
This game will be in Chicago so there will be a lot of Polish people at the stadium... hopefully they'll stick around for the Fire game (it's a doubleheader).
Yeah... that's about it for now.
I guess owning Grenada really paid off.
Game is tomorrow (Sunday) at 6 PM CT on ESPN2.
US roster:
Goalkeepers (2): Tim Howard (Manchester United), Zach Thornton (unemployed)
Defenders
: Chris Albright (Los Angeles Galaxy), Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham FC), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Cory Gibbs (Dallas Burn), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), Eddie Pope (MetroStars) Midfielders (7): Chris Armas (Chicago Fire), DaMarcus Beasley (Chicago Fire), Bobby Convey (D.C. United), Landon Donovan (San Jose Earthquakes), Eddie Gaven (MetroStars), Brian Mullan (San Jose Earthquakes), Kerry Zavagnin (Kansas City Wizards)
Forwards (4): Brian Ching (San Jose Earthquakes), Clint Mathis (Hannover 96), Brian McBride (Fulham FC), Josh Wolff
(Kansas City Wizards)
That roster has one Wizard too many.
We SHOULD be able to win this one seeing as how most of our players are in mid-season form. We beat Poland in Poland earlier this year so anything less than a win will be a disappointment.
Of course we COULD have been playing Brazil tomorrow in a MEANINGFUL game but who would want that?
This game will be a good chance to get a look at players like Gaven, Mullan and Ching.
Some interesting game notes from ussoccer.com:
- DaMarcus Beasley leads the U.S. in scoring (4), games played (8) and minutes played (630) for 2004
- our earlier win against Poland started a current 5-game winning streak
- Brian Mullan is a great player but he couldn't send a good cross if his life depended on it
- The U.S. men are making their first appearance in the Windy City since June 13, 1993, a 4-3 loss to Germany.
- In their history, the U.S. has played Poland more times than any other European opponent (13, dating all the way back to 1924). Poland leads the all-time series with a 7-5-1 record.
- With a victory against Poland this Sunday, U.S. Manager Bruce Arena would record his 50th career win for the United States.
OK, one of the above may or may not have been my opinion/observation.
CHECK THIS OUT:
Former D.C. United midfielder Mike Slivinski holds the record as the youngest player ever to appear for the United States men’s team, appearing against Jamaica on Sept. 14, 1991 at the age of 16 years, 318 days. Ironically, teammate Mark Jonas became the second youngest player to get a cap on that same day, at the age of 16 years, 332 days. Neither Slivinski nor Jonas ever made another appearance for the senior team.
If Eddie Gaven plays tomorrow he will become the 4th youngest player to get capped by the US national team, behind Bobby Convey (3rd) and the players mentioned above.
This game will be in Chicago so there will be a lot of Polish people at the stadium... hopefully they'll stick around for the Fire game (it's a doubleheader).
Yeah... that's about it for now.
