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Americans Abroad: A Look Ahead

Steve Cherundolo 5 (Getty Images)

By FRANCO PANIZO

Four Americans and their clubs are eyeing a place in next season's Champions League, and winning their matches this weekend could prove vital in their hunt to reach that competition.

Hannover 96 is just three points shy of third place in the Bundesliga standings, and the Champions League qualifying spot that comes with it. Having served a one-game suspension for an ejection, Steve Cherundolo will likely return to Hannover's starting lineup when the club hosts SC Freiburg, while DaMarcus Beasley will be hoping to see the field for just the fourth time this season.

Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers are also three points short of a Champions League qualifying spot, but their chances of getting there this weekend are higher. Bolton faces Blackpool, which currently sits in the bottom half of the Premiership. 

Here is a rundown of who the Americans Abroad play this weekend:

FRIDAY

Quentin Westberg and Evian Thonon Gaillard play Grenoble.

SATURDAY

Frank Simek, Mike Grella and Carlisle United play Tamworth in the FA Cup.

Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa play Arsenal.

Clint Dempsey, Eddie Johnson and Fulham play Birmingham City.

Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Blackpool.

Tim Howard and Everton play West Bromwich Albion.

Jonathan Spector and West Ham United play Wigan Athletic.

Marcus Hahnemann and Wolverhampton Wanderers play Sunderland.

Conor Doyle and Derby County play Burnley.

Dominic Cervi and Celtic play Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Jozy Altidore and Villarreal play Real Zaragoza.

Oguchi Onyewu and AC Milan play Sampdoria.

Ricardo Clark and Eintracht Frankfurt play Bayern Munich.

Steve Cherundolo, DaMarcus Beasley and Hannover 96 play Daniel Williams and SC Freiburg.

Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play Kaiserslautern.

Michael Bradley and Borussia Moenchengladbach play Borussia Dortmund.

David Yeldell and MSV Duisburg play Hertha Berlin.

Carlos Bocanegra and St Etienne play AS Nancy Lorraine.

Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play Royal Charleroi SC.

SUNDAY

Zak Whitbread and Norwich City play Ipswich Town. (Whitbread is out injured.)

Maurice Edu and Rangers play Dundee United. (Edu is out injured.)

Amaechi Igwe and FC Ingolstadt 04 play FC Union Berlin. (Igwe is out injured.)

Luis Robles and Karlsruhe play RW Oberhausen.

Charlie Davies and Sochaux play Caen.

Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play Sonderjyske.

MONDAY

Kenny Cooper and TSV 1860 Munich play SpVgg Greuther Furth. (Cooper is out injured.) 

Marcus Tracy, Chris Rolfe and Aalborg BK play AC Horsens. (Tracy and Rolfe are out injured.)

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How do you see Cherundolo faring this weekend? Do you think Beasley will make a cameo off the bench? Expecting Holden and Bolton to win again? Think Altidore will get some playing time? Do you see all clubs staying in the hunt for a Champions League spot throughout the season?

Share your thoughts below,

Comments

  1. he would of been a solid forward for MLS. He’s getting old and i think he’s sort of bitter towards he’s past experiences in MLS.

    Reply
  2. I’m definitely saying it then. He would of definitely been a fixture at forward for years with the way he’s progressed and played since leaving MLS.

    He’s currently seening heavy interest from Espanyol and other bigger clubs as of late.

    We’re getting more talented and better prospects ages 24 and down as the years go by, but players like Zakuani and others are players can help us now. We need to find some way to expedite the the naturalization process for our athletes.

    I don’t think basketball has a problem with that.

    Reply
  3. Everyone on the team is better than Findley. Even a striker in 3rd division Germany. But for him to get a call-up might as well call up Mike Grella whose scoring goals in League One I believe.

    why not call up those 2 alongside whatever MLS guys Bradley will call in Camp Cupcake? would be nice

    Reply
  4. Pretty impressive stuff from Taylor, and don’t care what division. German football is quality football from the BL to BL3. Look at the goals per game percentage. He be given consideration given our powerful striker trio pool of Findley, Altidore, and Johnson.

    1 Mayer, Patrick 1. FC Heidenheim 1 17 15

    2 Kumbela, Dominick Eintracht Braunschweig 1 17 10

    3 Occean, Olivier Kickers Offenbach 1 14 9

    Schnatterer, Marc 1. FC Heidenheim 1 17 9

    5 Esswein, Alexander Dynamo Dresden 1 13 8

    Kruppke, Dennis Eintracht Braunschweig 1 17 8

    Ziegenbein, Björn Hansa Rostock 1 13 8

    8 Janjic, Zlatko SV Wehen Wiesbaden 1 17 7

    Schied, Marcel Hansa Rostock 1 17 7

    Taylor, Matthew Rot Weiss Ahlen 1 10 7

    Reply
  5. how is Boca doing for his club? Suddenly he joins and they rise to the top of the league and is injured for a month and they drop to 3rd. hmmm

    Reply
  6. I’;m thankful for Fernando Torres. Can only hope he becomes fully fit and stays that way. He could have a 20 goal season if fit. And I just know he’s gonna be gunning through Euro 2012 qualifying since he didn’t do well at the WC.

    Reply
  7. Ives can you do a story on David Yelldell and Luis Robles? Both are starting GK’s for 2 Bundesliga side clubs. Robles club is in danger of relegation to 3 Bundesliga mainly due to him having a horrid backline. Whereas Yelldell’s team has a chance of being promoted to the Bundesliga.

    Reply
  8. Fulham play Saturday. I think or maybe Monday. Either way Dempsey needs to come up big time and score cause Fulham is falling into relegation

    Reply
  9. I have to disagree about Bolton’s chances to win. They’ve been on a torrid streak lately, but Blackpool plays some beautiful football.

    Some of the larger clubs have learned that the hard way.

    Reply

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