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Americans Abroad: Weekend Preview

TimHoward1

Photo by Matt West/ISIPhotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

The U.S. Men’s National Team had plenty of heroes at the World Cup, and this weekend will mark the first time since their tournament ended in Brazil that we’ll get to see many of them in action.

Author of the most impressive U.S. performance this summer, Tim Howard will play in his first match since masterfully delivering a record 15 saves in the Americans’ Round of 16 defeat to Belgium when he leads Everton to battle on Saturday. The Toffees open up their Premiership season by visiting Leicester City, and Howard will be hoping to carry the momentum gained from his World Cup outing en route to helping his club start the campaign with three points.

John Brooks – who scored the late winner against Ghana in the U.S.’s World Cup opener – will also attempt to make an impact on Saturday. Brooks and Hertha Berlin are set to go on the road to face fourth-division club Viktoria Koln in a DFB Pokal match, and the young centerback is eyeing a place in the lineup so as to partake in his first match since the Americans picked up a dramatic 2-1 win over Ghana back in June.

Two other players who saw time down in Brazil that might feature this weekend are Jozy Altidore and Fabian Johnson. Both left Brazil with injuries, but have since recovered and could play in their respective club’s first match of the campaign. Altidore is aiming to quickly get off to a good start for Sunderland as they battle West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, and Johnson will look to make his official Borussia Moenchengladbach debut in the DFB Pokal clash against Homburg.

Here is who the Americans Abroad take on this weekend:

FRIDAY

David Yelldell and Bayer Leverkusen play SV Alemannia Waldalgesheim in DFB Pokal.

Jonathan Bornstein and Queretaro play Veracruz.

Joe Corona, Greg Garza, Paul Arriola, Amando Moreno, Alejandro Guido and Club Tijuana play Gabriel Farfan and Chiapas.

SATURDAY

Tim Howard and Everton play Leicester City.

Geoff Cameron, Brek Shea and Stoke City play Brad Guzan and Aston Villa.

Jozy Altidore and Sunderland play West Bromwich Albion.

Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur play West Ham United.

Jonathan Spector, Will Packwood and Birmingham City play Brighton & Hove Albion.

Tim Ream and Bolton Wanderers play Eric Lichaj and Nottingham Forest.

Duane Holmes and Huddersfield Town play Cardiff City.

Emerson Hyndman and Fulham play Millwall.

Danny Williams and Reading play Ipswich Town. (Williams is out injured.)

Zak Whitbread and Derby County play Sheffield Wednesday.

Fabian Johnson and Borussia Moenchengladbach play FC 08 Homburg in DFB Pokal.

John Brooks and Hertha Berlin play Viktoria Koln in DFB Pokal.

Timmy Chandler and Eintracht Frankfurt play Viktoria Berlin in DFB Pokal.

Alejandro Bedoya and FC Nantes play Metz.

Conor O’Brien and FC Magna Wiener Neustadt play SV Grodig.

Freddy Adu and FK Jagodina play Crvena Zvezda.

Michael Orozco and Puebla play Herculez Gomez, Jose Torres and Tigres UANL. (Orozco is suspended due to the red card he received last week).

Alonso Hernandez and Monterrey play Cruz Azul.

Edgar Castillo and Atlas play Club Universidad de Guadalajara.

Ventura Alvarado and Club America play Morelia.

SUNDAY

Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich play Holstein Kiel in DFB Pokal.

Andrew Wooten and SV Sandhausen play Arminia Bielefeld in DFB Pokal.

Terrence Boyd and RP Leipzig SC Paderborn 07 in DFB Pokal. (Boyd is out injured.)

Aron Johannsson and AZ Alkmaar play Ajax. (Johannsson is out injured.)

Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play KVC Westerlo.

Michael Stephens, Andrew Jacobson and Stabaek IF play Odd.

Mix Diskerud and Rosenborg BK play Brann.

Zarek Valentin and FK Bodo/Glimt play Sandnes Ulf. (Valentin is out injured.)

Josh Gatt, Ethan Horvath and Molde FK play Sarpsborg 08. (Gatt is out injured.)

MONDAY

Alfredo Morales and FC Ingolstadt 04 play OFC Kickers 1901 in DFB Pokal.

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Which of these matches are you most anticipating? Think Howard can carry his World Cup momentum to Everton’s season opener? Expecting Brooks and Altidore to start for their respective clubs

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. “…(Brooks)……is eyeing a place in the lineup…”. Really? I thought he was a starter last season. In fact, didn’t he make the Bundesliga 11 of the week in one of the last games of the season?

    Reply
    • He was in and out of the line up. People really need to stop with the Bundesliga player of the week thing though. He scored a goal so he made the list, for that week.

      Reply
    • It’s a generic description in an attempt to avoid being repetitive. See also “hoping to get off to a good start” or “looking to build momentum” etc etc.

      All players are hoping to get off to a good start, all teams are trying to win. Always strikes me as funny that writers insist on including a half dozen lines per weekend preview to that effect.

      Reply
    • I kind of doubt it, even though he did score 2 in reserve match last week. Hughes has never seemed too interested in giving him a chance. I had hoped he would have made a move by now, to start working into another team.

      Reply
      • I honestly hate that he got a work permit and Juan got denied. Can we just transfer the work permit over to someone who will use it.

      • Maybe he would of had more of a shot because it would be Hughes bringing him in but I kind of doubt he would seen much of the field either. The Eredivisie or maybe Ligue 1 would be a good level for him if he can find a club.

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