United States National Team (PES 2007)

[Acid]

Quote: Originally Posted by Blaxican8504

Boooooooo Donovan!

I'm surprised he didn't bitch and just stay in America.

Looking good.

[PeruvianPlaya954]

Quote: Originally Posted by Acid

I'm surprised he didn't bitch and just stay in America. Looking good.

Thank you. Sorry for not updating guys, I had PC problems this weekend...will update again probably today

[PeruvianPlaya954]

Bradley Chooses 19 for Exhibition Against Chile



Bob Bradley has elected his 19 players heading into next Sunday's friendly against Chile. It seems that the coach is going to go with a more inexperienced team that will be heading to Houston, Texas. The biggest news coming out of this press conference was the call up of the young phenom Josmer Altidore. The 17 year old was thrilled at the chance to play. "I couldn't believe it when Bob (Bradley) called me up and told me he wanted me for this match! This is the first step towards getting to the next level". Now maybe the teenager will end up watching this match from the bench, but he will gain invaluable experience during the week of training with the rest of the players. But Bradley hasn't just chosen young players, he has also chosen familiar faces yet to play under his reign like John O'Brien and Cory Gibbs. "We have gone with a mix of younger guys and experienced guys." said Bradley in his suit and tie "We want to see what elements everyone can bring to the table." But regardless of age, this game will serve as a tryout for the majority of these players to see if they have what it takes to contribute to the National Team during the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers and beyond.

Goalkeepers (2) - Joe Cannon, Marcus Hahnemann

Defenders (6) - Cory Gibbs, Jimmy Conrad, Jay DeMerit, Michael Parkhurst, Heath Pearce, Jonathan Spector

Midfielders (7) - DaMarcus Beasley, Benny Feilhaber, Kamani Hill, Sacha Kljestan, Justin Mapp, Lee Nguyen, John O'Brien

Forwards (4) - Josmer Altidore, Brian Ching, Landon Donovan, Taylor Twellman

[PeruvianPlaya954]

Dissapointing Draw for the United States


Landon Donovan ran loose as his team drew 1-1 with Chile

A relatively young U.S. squad was held to a 1-1 draw by Chile in Houston, Texas. Players such as Kyle Beckerman, Sacha Kljestan and Michael Parkhurst were given an opportunity to show what they were made of, while familiar faces, like that of John O'Brien's were also allowed to make a case to Bob Bradley on why he should continuously call him up.

Well unfortunately, the chance to rise and shine was waisted for most of the new players. Defender Michael Parkhurst had quite an inconsistant performance, making some very nice defensive plays with great positioning but his passing was well off, continuously giving possession to Chile.

Other players like Kyle Beckerman and Sacha Kljestan also failed to impress. Neither player was able to maintain possession nor make any creative plays. "I just couldn't find my rhythm out there tonight" said a dissapointed Kljestan after the game. Kljestan is right. During most of the game, he would float around the left flank and dissapear, not touching the ball for several minutes.

The lack of rhythm was also true for a majority of the players as the United States failed to create many attacking threats like it did against Angola. Even though this team could be considered a "C" team, with Landon Donovan and Benny Feilhaber in, there should've been more creativy when going forward. "We just struggled to get to the final third of the pitch" said an aggravated Bob Bradley after the game.

The chances came few and far apart. The first real opportunity for either team was when the United States sole forward, Brian Ching took the ball away from the last defender and had a 1 on 1 opportunity. Ching isn't exactly known for his speed so he was pressured and shot from outside the 18 forcing the keeper to make a save. Chile responded five minutes later with their only shot on goal in the first half when Luis Jimenez shot the ball with his left foot but it just went wide.

The lone goal for the United States occurred when Iturra intercepted a pass from Justin Mapp. But Iturra began to dribble around the area and Landon Donovan came running from behind and poked it away. Left one on one with the keeper, Donovan struck a shot to the lower right side of the goal and it rolled in to give the United States a 1-0 lead heading into halftime. Donovan's 2nd goal in as many games.

Unfortunately in the second half the United States couldn't keep up with the Chilean pace. Chile came out attacking down the flanks, especially on the right side picking on West Ham defender Jonathan Spector. Chile didn't get many clear chances on goal, but the nice touch was there. The United States was forced to make some changes. John O'Brien came in for Kyle Beckerman in the 59th minute, and the change was apparent from the start. O'Brien quickly broke up a pass after making his return to the National Team after a 2 year absence. He also had a booming shot that just sailed over the top crossbar moments later in what was the United States best attacking play.

But unfortunately, since the United States wanted to use their 6 substitutions and see what other players could do, they took out Jimmy Conrad and replaced him with Heath Pearce. Pearce went to the left side while Cory Gibbs slid over to the center to pair up with Parkhurst. Gibbs was torn apart in the middle. Constantly being caught out of position, with a few fouls against the Ft. Lauderdale native.

In the 75th minute, Cory Gibbs made a foul 28m out tripping up Luis Jimenez. This proved to be enough for Chile as Valdes curled a free kick into the upper 90, leaving keeper Joe Cannon helpless.

The rest of the game was pretty dull with the highlight being Josmer Altidore receiving his first International Cap and a standing ovation as he ran onto the pitch. Josmer showed flashes of quickness and technical skill, but with noone really feeding him the ball up top, Altidore coudn't do much.

Regardless of the outcome though, the United States got to see some more players in action just a few months before qualifying. Hopefully Bradley got a good look on who he wants to include and who he wants to keep on hold.

1-Chile v United States-1
USA-Landon Donovan 41'
CHL-Valdez 76'

GK-Joe Cannon
D-Jonathan Spector
D-Michael Parkhurst
D-Jimmy Conrad (Heath Pearce 69')
D-Cory Gibbs
M-Benny Feilhaber (Kamani Hill 52')
M-Kyle Beckerman (John O'Brien 59')
M-Sacha Kljestan (Lee Nguyen 52')
M-Landon Donovan
M-Justin Mapp (DaMarcus Beasley 77')
F-Brian Ching (Josmer Altidore 69')

Man of the Match - Landon Donovan

[PeruvianPlaya954]

19 Player Roster Released for Friendly in France


Carlos Bocanegra returns for the final friendly against France

The United States "A" team will be heading to France for their friendly against the 1998 World Cup Champions. The United States knows France is sending a full strength squad including the likes of World Class players such as Barcelona Striker Thierry Henry, Frank Ribery, Claude Makelele and more! The U.S. will have their hands full against Les Bleus but they are bringing back their top performers after last month's dissapoint friendly with Chile was a mix of backups and young gunners. 101 Cap Goalkeeper Kasey Keller has been called back up to the team but it is unlikely he will see any playing time as Tim Howard has also been summoned by Bob Bradley. "We look forward to the challenge to play a quality side like France, especially in Europe" said the head coach. This game is exactly what the red white and blue need. The United States have always struggled on European soil, this was especially proven in the 2006 World Cup where it was last in their group. The United States will look to not only attempt a positive result, but to play well, really well. "I want to see our guys show quality soccer against France." said Bradley "I want to know they are ready for the qualifiers in a couple months." And that we shall see in the coming week.

Goalkeepers (2) - Tim Howard, Kasey Keller

Defenders (7) - Carlos Bocanegra, Jonathan Bornstein, Steve Cherundolo, Jimmy Conrad, Jay DeMerit, Oguchi Onyewu, Jonathan Spector

Midfielders (6) - Michael Bradley, DaMarcus Beasley, Ricardo Clark, Bobby Convey, Benny Feilhaber, Pablo Mastroeni

Forwards (4) - Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Eddie Johnson, Josh Wolff

[PeruvianPlaya954]

United States Complete Comeback


Clint Dempsey celebrates his equalising goal

The United States was not by any means outplayed, outclasses or outcoached tonight. They came out from the beginning with an aggressive mindset and it showed.

The United States did start out slow in tonight's match as France kicked the ball off from the center of the field. They began to string a few passes together and out of nowhere Claude Makelele boosted by defenders and got to the inside of Jonathan Bornstein. He got into the top of the 18 where he ripped a shot only to be denied by Tim Howard. France earned a corner, and the United States received a wake up call.

Thierry Henry was marked tightly throughout the night. Henry showed his class and skill but was continuously pushed to do so on the flanks. The striker couldn't attack up the middle as the American players would collapse on him and force him to make a quick pass or open up wide. "Henry's speed and size wasn't an easy task to contain, but I felt our defense did a great job overall" said Bob Bradley in his Post Game Conference.

Unfortunately, they didn't do a geat job throughout the entire game. Frenchman Frank Ribery showed off his speed, something done often tonight, and juked passed Steve Cherundolo, he was open and crossed the ball. Oguchi Onyewu who had been dominant through the air, mistimed the header and the ball landed to the feet of a wide open Henry. Captain Carlos Bocanegra was out of position and his slide tackle was too little too late as Henry struck the ball into the back of the net.

The U.S. had a couple of quality chances in the first half too. Benny Feilhaber's fake shot and then real shot challenged Gregory Coupet but he held on. And Josh Wolff, who had shown glimpses of speed against the French Defense ripped a shot from mid-range and hit the lower right post.

The second half began and both teams were still trying to figure one another out. Both teams had opportunities, but squandered them away. In the 75th minute, France earned another corner kick and this was one crossed in by Patrick Vieira. Frank Ribery got infront of Bocanegra and akwardly hit the ball with his head but it managed to pass a diving Howard. "I was poor on the man marking on the set pieces today. I take blame for the second goal" said a disgruntled Bocanegra.

So here we have a 2-0 lead for France in front of their home crowd. Time for U.S. to just bunker in and hope for counter attacks? Wrong. The United States didn't give up pushing forward aggresively. Four minutes after the second goal was conceded, Landon Donovan teamed up with Eddie Johnson on a World Class type of give and go that sprung Donovan free. He was 1 on 1 with Coupet and he magically curled the ball away from the French Keeper and into the goal. Donovan's third goal in the past three friendlies.

Down 2-1, the United States went from a 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2 adding another offensive power and subtracting a defender from the equation. The U.S. repeatedly looked for holes in the Defense but couldn't find it until stoppage time arrived. Tim Howard had ran out and intercepted a pass for Trezeguet. He quickly rolled it to Cherundolo who found Benny Feilhaber on the right side. Feilhaber put a picture perfect pass to Clint Dempsey who ran onto it inside the 18 and he had just enough space to strike the ball low and hard past Coupet. The U.S. had tied the game 2-2 in the final moments.

The game ended shortly after but the U.S. earned a respectable result and the coaches and players were proud. "We came back from a 2-0 lead late in the game. We may not have won, but we'll take the tie." said Bob Bradley. "I couldn't believe I had just struck the equaliser in France in the final minute. I got to thank Benny for that. Thanks Benny!" said an excited Clint Dempsey.

No this wasn't a dream. The hold your breath shot at the end of the game was class and clutch and the ending to the game was one that has excited American fans and makes them look forward to World Cup Qualifying this summer.

2-France v United States-2
FRA-Thierry Henry 41' (Frank Ribery)
FRA-Frank Ribery 75' (Patrick Vieira)
USA-Landon Donovan 79' (Eddie Johnson)
USA-Clint Dempsey 90+' (Benny Feilhaber)

GK-Tim Howard
D-Steve Cherundolo
D-Oguchi Onyewu
D-Carlos Bocanegra
D-Jonathan Bornstein (Ricardo Clark 80')
M-Benny Feilhaber
M-Michael Bradley
M-Landon Donovan
M-DaMarcus Beasley (Bobby Convey 45')
F-Josh Wolff (Clint Dempsey 72')
F-Eddie Johnson

Man of the Match - Clint Dempsey

[mgoblue]

Kasey Keller retired? Nice dynasty!

[PeruvianPlaya954]

Quote: Originally Posted by mgoblue

Kasey Keller retired? Nice dynasty!

Nope. Just hasn't been called up...yet.