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Americans Abroad: A Look Ahead

Ricardo Clark 1 (Reuters)

By FRANCO PANIZO

U.S. national team head coach Bob Bradley is expected to announce the roster for the upcoming friendlies next week, and that means players abroad who are on the fringes will have one more chance to earn a call-up.

Ricardo Clark is one of those players. Having recently recovered from a facial injury, Clark will look to see the field for Eintracht Frankfurt when it faces Schalke 04. Should Clark play, a solid performance might earn him a call to a U.S. camp for the first time since the World Cup.

Jose Torres and Herculez Gomez will also be hoping to get back into the national team fold while also attempting to help Pachuca get back on track. Pachuca has not won in its last three matches, and Torres and Gomez could earn a selection from Bradley should they help end the club's drought with respective big games against Atlante.

One player looking to put forth a solid outing in order to help earn his first call-up is Timothy Chandler. The American-eligible defender/midfielder has enjoyed a solid two months since making FC Nurnberg's first team and another strong performance could convince Bradley to select him. Chandler and Nurnberg face VfL Wolfsburg this weekend.

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

FRIDAY

Steve Cherundolo, DaMarcus Beasley and Hannover 96 play FC Cologne.

Amaechi Igwe, Edson Buddle and FC Ingolstadt 04 play FSV Frankfurt. (Igwe is out injured.)

Luis Robles and Karlsruhe play David Yelldell and MSV Duisburg.

Quentin Westberg and Evian Thonon Gaillard play Clermont Foot.

SATURDAY

Brad Guzan and Hull City play Coventry City.

Conor Doyle and Derby County play Swansea City.

Eric Lichaj and Leeds United play Ipswich Town.

Robbie Findley and Nottingham Forest play Doncaster Rovers. (Findley is out injured.)

Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Birmingham in the FA Cup.

Anton Peterlin and Plymouth Argyle play Hartlepool United.

Frank Simek and Carlisle United play Peterborough United.

Mike Grella and Swindon Town play Dagenham & Redbridge.

Daniel Williams and SC Freiburg play Kaiserslautern. (Williams is out injured.)

Ricardo Clark and Eintracht Frankfurt play Schalke 04.

Timothy Chandler and FC Nurnberg play VfL Wolfsburg.

Carlos Bocanegra and St Etienne play Brest.

Jozy Altidore and Bursaspor play Karabukspor.

Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play Eupen.

Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play FC Midtjylland.

Marcus Tracy, Chris Rolfe and Aalborg BK play FC Copenhagen. (Tracy is out injured.)

Sammy Ochoa and Estudiantes Tecos U.A. de G. play Chiapas.

Edgar Castillo and Puebla play Isaac Acuna and Queretaro.

Jose Torres, Herculez Gomez and Pachuca play Sonny Guadarrama and Atlante.

Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL play San Luis.

SUNDAY

Jonathan Spector and West Ham United play Stoke City in the FA Cup.

Maurice Edu and Rangers play Kilmarnock.

Dominic Cervi and Celtic play Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich play Arminia Bielefeld.

Oguchi Onyewu and Twente Enschede play VVV Venlo.

Freddy Adu and Caykur Rizespor play Giresunspor.

Clarence Goodson and Brondby IF play Sonderjyske.

Gustavo Adrian Ruelas and Santos Laguna play Toluca.

MONDAY

Zak Whitbread and Norwich City play Bristol City.

Alfredo Morales and Hertha Berlin play SpVgg Greuther Furth.

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Which matches are you most looking forward to? Think Clark can play his way back into the U.S. national team mix? Eager to see Chandler in action?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I agree 100% with your assessment. I think for the future the NATS are developing a good corp of center backs, now, if we could only could say the same thing for our left back issues.

    Reply
  2. Dempsey likes to play the wing because he likes to see the ball at his feet as much as possible, hence, why he prefers the midfield instead of a forward spot, as to him being a prototype winger, he is not, he doesn’t have the pace to last a full 90, his cealing is about the 75 mark, if you look at some of our NAT games when a forward is subed out is for another mid and Dempsey moves on top for the final run.

    Reply

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