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USA vs. Italy: The Pre-Game Tailgate

USA CrestItalianNationalTeamLogo 

 

The U.S. men's national team takes on Italy today in Genoa in the first major match of 2012 for Jurgen Klinsmann's squad (2:30pm, ESPN2).

The Americans come in with an injury-depleted lineup, but should still provide a good test for an Italy side also missing some key players. Landon Donovan is out, as are Timmy Chandler and Jose Torres, joining Jermaine Jones and Oguchi Onyewu among those players sidelined for today's match.

Here is my Fox Soccer preview of today's USA-Italy clash, the first meeting between the squads since Italy's Confederations Cup triumph in 2009.

SBI will be providing live commentary on today's match so please feel free to join us.

What are you expecting from today's match? Which players are you most looking forward to seeing in action? Think the United States can get a result in Genoa?

Share your pre-game thoughts on today's match in the comments section below.

Comments

  1. Does anyone know of a radio broadcast for the game? In on the road near St.Louis, but a radio broadcast anywhere in the world would work.

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  2. I don’t mind the starting 11 players, but don’t like how they’ll line up.

    I think Edu, Bradley and Williams make a lot of sense as a 3 man midfield. Edu sits, Williams goes forward and Bradley can go up or back as needs dictate.

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  3. The #USMNT starting XI: Howard; Cherundolo, Goodson, Bocanegra (c), Johnson; Bradley, Edu; Williams, Dempsey, Shea; Altidore

    i need to see who is playing what!

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  4. Maybe someone can answer something for me: It is listed on the ESPN web site that ESPN Deportes is showing both France v. Germany at 2:45 AND Spain v. Venezuela at 3:30. The TV listing is currently showing that they are only airing the Spain match. My question is: Is there another channel showing the France friendly live?

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  5. When will those fools at work every figure out that if you show up at work wearing a US national team jersey you are planning to duck out for the game?

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  6. I can see us going out there in a mighty ducks formation, something like this

    ……..Jozy…………….

    …..Shea…Bradley

    ..Sacha………Johnson

    .Williams……….Goodson

    Dolo…………………Boca

    ………Dempsey…………

    Now, true to the movie, in this formation Dempsey holds the ball as the inpenatrable wedge formed by the other players holding hands moves forward knocking Italain defenders off their feet. Then as the uppermost players come on the verge of being offsides they peel away and Dempsey has a clear look at a long shot that will be unstopable.

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  7. What, you don’t think Guissipii “Captain America”(yeah, he used to go by that nickname) Rossi will be in the crowd chearing on his fellow Americans?

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  8. That’s what always got me about that Spain Confederations Cup match… man, did we have a defender set to throw his body in the line of the shot every single time or what? I still watch that game every now and then and it was like pure defensive gutsy play all the way!

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  9. Where’s Jeff Larentowicz?

    I’m kidding… but seriously, Klinsy loves a midfielder who isn’t afraid to shoot from 35 yards out, kind of surprised some of the guys on the edge of the national team haven’t figured this out and tried it more often.

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  10. I have DishNetwork and I think I get all the Spanish chanels (standard on the cheap packages even) except Gol, so I should be good… but I have to remember to watch it instead of relying on the DVR as I think it is set to the other chanel.

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  11. well, since everyone else is:

    Jozy, Boyd
    Shea, Bradley, Sacha, Dempsey
    Johnson, Boca, Williams, Dolo

    less experimental side:

    Jozy, Dempsey
    Shea, Bradley, Williams, Sacha
    Johnson, Boca, Goodson, Dolo

    i could see us using a 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-1-2. i think a 4-3-1-2 would be interesting and is the only option where Williams could play on the right (since it’s not on the wing). In a 4-3-1-2 I would do this though:

    Jozy, Shea
    Dempsey
    Sacha, Williams, Bradley
    Johnson, Boca, Goodson, Dolo

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  12. yeah, his time will come. I guess I’m greety and want to see him now like at his club, which by the way, he is not a finished product but seems to be progressing.

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  13. This is what I am thinking. Maybe he does Goodson for Cameron, but this makes the most sense based upon the context of this match…foreign country, etc.

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  14. here is my lineup…

    Altidore-Boyd
    Shea-Dempsey-Bradley
    -Willaims-
    Johnson-Boca-Cameron-DOLO

    we lose some offensive punch on the right side but
    Bradley has played that position for his club.

    OR

    Altidore-Boyd
    Johnson-Dempsey-Shea
    -Williams-
    BOCA-Cameron-Goodson-DOLO

    In this lineup we gain more attack in the right flank since both Johnson and Shea can switch at will. Problem here is we make the left fullback position more defensive with little going forward.

    The Boyd selection should only be made if in training he was better than Buddle, otherwise give the kid some minutes in the second half.

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  15. They typically have the archived match up about 2 hours after the live event ends, so this one should be up around 6:30 EST if it kicks off at 2:30.

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  16. —————Jozy—————–

    Shea———-Deuce———Kljestan

    ——-Williams—-Bradley———-

    Johnson——————-Cherundolo
    ——-Bocanegra–Cameron———–

    ————-TIMMY!—————–

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  17. So is the U-23 game on Telefutura tonight? I get univision but not telefutura.. outside of Justin.tv, is there a reliable means of watching online? I know Univision streams their live sports programming but Im not sure if Telefutura does the same..

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  18. He’s definitely been shaky at RM – so can definitely understand why people who haven’t seen him much at Hoffenheim would think he’s lacking. Definitely a different player when he’s central.

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  19. Haha. Because Italians have a thing for fireworks?

    Naaaah don’t worry, I’m sure there will be a contingent of American Outlaws there to back you up…

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  20. I see your concern, I think Williams has some sort of mental block when playing too close to the touch line. Believe me he can play a lot better if moved to the center. I’m afraid Williams has been misplaced by JK, a victim of having a senior player in his position, not necessary a better senior player.

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  21. Here is the line-up I would like to see:

    Altidore Buddle

    Johnson Dempsey

    Bradley Williams

    Bocanegra Goodson Cameron Cherundolo

    I wish Lichaj was called up for LB and put Boca back in the middle. Please no Spector on the left.

    With all the injuries I’m actually more excited to watch the U-23s tonight.

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  22. I’d love to see USA with some attacking inventive soccer, with the mids & MB getting forward. I’d rather not see the conservative hang back and counter routine – even if it costs us some goals.

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