Soccer Season Just Getting Started for American National Team this Summer

Posted on May 17, 2013 by nrspiller@gmail.com

In this summer before the 2014 World Cup, instead of relaxing and recovering for the upcoming club season, American international soccer players will be gearing up for a tough set of international fixtures that will extend fully throughout the entire summer break. With a pair of big-time friendlies and all-important World Cup qualifiers extending throughout June, and then with the 2013 Gold Cup encompassing most of July, the American players will have to be ready to endure a tiresome journey in the summer heat. Once August arrives, the players will then re-up with their respective clubs and begin their new seasons. And so as the majority of club seasons draw to a close, it seems as if soccer season is just about to start for our nation’s stars.

In just several weeks time, America will take on two powerful European soccer teams in Belgium and Germany. Although they are largely meaningless friendlies, these games will be a great test of potential matchups at the World Cup. Belgium is an up and coming soccer nation with stars like Eden Hazard and Marouane Fellaini, two of the best players in the English Premier League, while Germany is a usual contender at the World Cup. With two German clubs set to play for the UEFA Champions League (basically the Super Bowl of European club soccer), the national team is full of proven talent that will greatly test our national side.

As June continues, the Americans will turn their attention to the 2014 World Cup qualifiers with games against Jamaica, Panama, and Honduras. With a qualifying group that is very tight on points through three games, the American National soccer team will need to be focused in order to ensure a comfortable qualification. Against three teams that America should be able to handedly beat, this are must-win games for both qualification and for national pride. However, as recent history suggests, such games are no cakewalk. The USA lost in Jamaica just last September so they will have to be up for several tough tests.

Enter July and with it the 2013 Gold Cup. With 12 North American nations battling it out for regional supremacy, this will provide a great warm-up for a major tournament like the World Cup next year. With a group composed of Belize, Costa Rica, and Cuba, America should play well in this stage, especially as the entire Gold Cup will be played on home soil in America. This tournament often comes down to a final between America and Mexico, and while Mexico handedly beat America for the last two Gold Cup titles in the final (5-0 and 4-2), America won the two previous tournaments and would love nothing better than to claim this title.

And at this point, the players will be set to return to their clubs for next season, which begins in August. But for American soccer fans, these games will be exciting tests for a team that has generally failed to impress under new manager Jurgen Klinsmann. Players like Jozy Altidore and Landon Donovan will be under heavy scrutiny and the team will be expected to come together for these upcoming matches. This summer will also provide a great understanding for expectations at the 2014 World Cup. If America can compete against big European oppositions, set themselves apart in qualifiers, and win the Gold Cup, American soccer fans will be excited and ready for next year in Brazil. But should America continue to stutter and falter, more questions about the players and manager will simply continue.

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World Cup Qualifiers Take Team USA to Jamaica

Posted on September 5, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

The CONCACAF Qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup are well underway and the USA will play two matches against Jamaica this week. The United States naturally is the most dominant force in the qualifying area and will be looking to win both matches and qualify smoothly without any hiccups. As the youthful USA Olympic team learned the hard way, qualification isn’t a guarantee and every match is simply 11 vs. 11, so the team will need to be in top form to avoid embarrassment. Pressure will surely be on the squad chosen by Jurgen Klinsmann which features a good amount of young faces.

The Americans started off this round of qualification in solid form drawing Guatemala away and managing a win against Antigua and Barbuda at home this past June. However, Jamaica has also been solid so far, also earning a win and draw against the same teams. Both nations reside on top of the group with four points, and Jamaica will be eager to hold onto that spot to earn a place in the final qualifying round.

Jamaica has not reached the World Cup since 1998 and will be desperate to earn a trip to Brazil. America had better not overlook these matches. The first game will be in Jamaica, meaning a tough trip. The small nations of CONCACAF are known for their less-than-glamorous stadiums and pitches. Therefore, the away matches usually provide a hard task for Americans. The first game will be the away with the home match coming a few days later.

Further providing difficulties for the USA will be their lineup. Both Michael Bradley and Landon Donovan are unavailable because of minor injuries, which will greatly hamper our goal-scoring exploits. Superstar Clint Dempsey will play with the team, but one has to question the form he will be in. Dempsey was recently embroiled in a transfer fiasco at his former club Fulham, which escalated to the point of his refusal to play with the team. He eventually earned a deadline-day move to Tottenham, but he has yet to play a competitive match this season. The last time he played was in June for the United States so it will be interesting to see what kind of shape he is in and if he will even be a starter.

Overall though, America has a vastly superior side, even without our key men. Jozy Altidore has been stellar at AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, and has already scored four goals in only two matches. Also, experienced goalie Tim Howard is a rock on the opposite end of the pitch. I am also excited to see more of Brek Shea, whose incredible run paved the way for the historic American victory in Mexico last month. Shea is a youngster with huge potential in the national side.

Let’s hope that the USA can stroll through these two games. I predict a draw in Jamaica, and a blowout victory when the nations play stateside. America is simply too good for the Caribbean island nations of CONCACAF.

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Powerful USA Win in Mexico Provides Hope for Future

Posted on August 24, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

The USA Men’s National Team has been a bit of an anomaly in the past couple of years. By defeating Mexico at the legendary Azteca Stadium, America has increased the list of big victories that includes teams like Italy and Spain in recent times. But, amongst such glorious victories have also been painful defeats at the hands of Brazil and also Mexico. Another issue for the USA was the failure to qualify for the 2012 Olympics, which hampered hopes that America will improve in international matches.

But the youth was on fine display in the Mexico friendly and proved vital in scoring the game’s lone goal. Brek Shea made a fine run to set up the goal, putting in a glorious nutmeg on a Mexican defender and penetrating deep into the penalty box, before sending a pass across the face of the goal. Shea is only 22 and plays for FC Dallas in the MLS. At 6’3”, the winger is a physical presence and will be a key weapon for the national team if he continues to make plays like these. Shea trained with Arsenal during the offseason and may well make a move to Europe in the coming years to further develop.

Another solid youngster is forward Terrence Boyd. Only 21, Boyd played a fantastic role in setting up the goal against Mexico when he received Shea’s pass, and back-heeled it further across the goal where Michael Orozco Fiscal could tap it into the net. Boyd plays in Austria and looks like he could be a favorite of Jurgen Klinsmann with his German roots and good early performances.

Although he didn’t play in this match, Jozy Altidore is enjoying a resurgent season at AZ Alkmaar in Holland. Through the first two games, he has scored an impressive four goals and could be righting himself again. Aged 22 he is another force to contend with up top.

Clearly USA is still going to favor Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey as they continue to impress and are in the prime of their careers, but these young forwards are biting at the chomp to impress and have earned the right for extended playing time. More competition is only a good thing for the team, so this week America can celebrate the glorious Mexican victory and feel confident going forward to 2014 World Cup qualification matches. Let us only hope that the team can establish some sort of consistency after this run and may actually compete when another big match comes about. If the youngsters continue to shine, we may have a great American soccer team in the making.

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