Photo by ISIphotos.com
By ADAM SERRANO
The U.S. men's national team opened training camp in California on Tuesday and head coach Bob Bradley started proceedings by downplaying talk of a potential match against Mexico in February.
“There are a number of conversations going on with different teams,” said Bradley after the U.S. national team's practice on Tuesday. “At the moment, I don’t think that (Mexico) is one of the top conversations. You never know, but I don’t think that’s one of those (conversations) that at the moment seems the most likely.”
Rumors had been circulating about a potential fixture in February against Mexico in California, which would fall between the Jan. 23 match against Honduras at Home Depot Center and the March 3 match against the Netherlands in Amsterdam.
Bradley sounded hopeful that a February match could be arranged to give fringe players a chance to play themselves into consideration for the Netherlands match, and improve their overall chances of making the U.S. World Cup roster.
Bradley also acknowledged the possibility for another camp ahead of a February friendly, which could wind up being even more important if MLS winds up in a work stoppage, which could happen given the current negotiations between the league and the player's union.
"We'll need to have something in order to make sure that some of the players that are here are kept in right kind of form and fitness to be considered for that roster if this camp ends and especially then if there's a work stoppage," Bradley said.
"Now, that could change if this camp ends and there is no work stoppage and these guys are in a regular preseason then fair enough, those guys are also players that can be considered. Nonetheless, a game between (the Honduras and Netherlands matches) would be a plus.”
What do you think of Bradley downplaying the chances of a Mexico match? Still holding out hope for a match against Mexico? Who else would you like to see the USMNT face?
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