By FRANCO PANIZO
Herculez Gomez and Jose Torres achieved their dreams of playing in a World Cup earlier this year, and now they'll get a chance to play in a different one.
Gomez, Torres and fellow American Marco Vidal all aim to get playing time on Friday as Pachuca begins its quest for the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. Pachuca faces African champ TP Mazembe in the quarterfinals, with the winner being pitted against Brazilian club Internacional just four days later.
Stuart Holden won't be playing in the Club World Cup, but he should make his return to Bolton Wanderers' starting lineup after recovering from a thigh injury. Holden is expected to resume his central midfield position when Bolton faces Blackburn.
Jonathan Spector isn't assured to start for West Ham United, but given his recent performances as a defensive midfielder, he is likely to see the field at some point when the club squares off against Manchester City. West Ham is currently in last place in the Premier League, but a win would serve the Hammers greatly in their attempt to escape the relegation zone.
Here is a rundown of who the Americans Abroad play this weekend:
FRIDAY
Jose Torres, Herculez Gomez, Marco Vidal and Pachuca play TP Mazembe in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Steve Cherundolo, DaMarcus Beasley and Hannover 96 play VfB Stuttgart.
Luis Robles and Karlsruhe play Arminia Bielefeld.
SATURDAY
Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa play West Bromwich Albion.
Tim Howard and Everton play Wigan Athletic.
Clint Dempsey, Eddie Johnson and Fulham play Sunderland.
Jonathan Spector and West Ham United play Manchester City.
Conor Doyle and Derby County play Bristol City.
Zak Whitbread and Norwich City play Portsmouth. (Whitbread is out injured.)
Frank Simek, Mike Grella and Carlisle United play Dagenham & Redbridge.
Jemal Johnson and Milton Keynes Dons play Notts County.
Anton Peterlin and Plymouth Argyle play Exeter City.
Maurice Edu and Rangers play Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Dominic Cervi and Celtic's match against Kilmarnock has been postponed due to weather.
Jozy Altidore and Villarreal play Getafe.
Ricardo Clark and Eintracht Frankfurt play FC Cologne.
David Yeldell and MSV Duisburg play SC Paderborn 07.
Charlie Davies and Sochaux play AS Nancy Lorraine.
SUNDAY
Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Blackburn Rovers.
Marcus Hahnemann and Wolverhampton Wanderers play Birmingham.
Oguchi Onyewu and AC Milan play Bologna.
Daniel Williams and SC Freiburg play Michael Bradley and Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play Mainz.
Amaechi Igwe and FC Ingolstadt 04 play Kenny Cooper and TSV 1860 Munich. (Igwe and Cooper are out injured.)
Carlos Bocanegra and St Etienne play AS Monaco.
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play KSC Lokeren.
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Do you see Pachuca and the trio of Americans defeating Mazembe in the Club World Cup? Expecting Spector to get another start at defensive mid for West Ham? How do you see Holden and Bolton faring against Blackburn?
Share your thoughts below.
Rossi is out for Villareal so perhaps Jozy gets some action.
I don’t see Spector not getting a starting position. He was great last weekend as well, and if he plays like that again, I don’t see WH getting a much better performance out of anyone else who might take his position.
Now the fact that they’re playing Man City, on the other hand. Well that’s going to be ugly.
Not sure – just tuned into BL radio and caught the tail end–only noted that he went off injured.
…..on Saturday
Quentin Westberg and Evian play amateur club US Semmoz Vieugy in the Coupe de France.
Do you have any idea how bad the injury is? Like did he make it off under his own power etc?
I only just tuned in.
Beasley did not make the bench.
Darn…Cherundelo is injured..off in the first half.
torres didnt look bad but went off early with a couple knocks. gomez was a spark and looked good, should have been put on earlier. overall pachuca did not look good at all
Is it true Gomez pulls in a million a year with Pachuca? Is that why he left little old Pueblo?
ATDHE.NET
great feed for you guys okay.
remember Bundesliga matches start 9:30 eastern and PL matches start 10:00 eastern
I pray Fernando Torres scores a hat trick this weekend. Liverpool really need a win and he needs to start scoring ASAP.
$15 says Dempsey scores this weekend. $50 says he scores a brace.
rumors are he might be leaving end of the season? Thoughts on this. should he or shouldn’t he? and where to?
sure we discussed this millions of times but Dempsey’s stock has definitely risen over the past year and Fulham may cash in once Zamora is healthy again.
Not really. But like everyone else, we will watch to see fellow Yanks succeed. Hope Gomez scores.
Rumors are that Aris want to re-gain him for January. Also other Greek clubs in the chase. I wouldn’t be suprised if Turkish clubs or Championship clubs chase him too.
Of course its possible that he’ll move, but he hasn’t been awful, and he is one of few healthy attacking options that Fulham have. Personally, I like him playing over Kamara. Johnson has been dangerous and has created several late game opportunities with his well timed runs. He was an inch away from putting one through the wickets for an injury time game winner a couple weeks back. I see progress in his overall game and hope he can stay with Fulham through the season. He would have a very difficult time finding another club of Fulham’s caliber with such a need at forward.
Does anyone really care about the FIFA Club World Cup? I have little interest in it, but have wondered about everyone else on this site.
didn’t dc united play in a club world cup a while ago?
Rumor has it that Cooper has finally recovered from his broken ankle and will be available this weekend.
anyone have a feed for the Pachuca match.
He’s been awful and he’ll be sold for a very low price in the window
Sorry sir that would have been 2008 with J.F. Torres and Pachuca.
Yeah, I saw that on MAFIA.com…er, MAFIFA.com…no wait, FIFA.com.
Gee, wonder why Spain supported Qatar’s bid?
Paco gets the start, Gomez and Vidal on the bench.
First American to play in CWC?
Really?
Qatar’s got a lotta dough huh.
OT:
Barcelona sign world-record shirt sponsorship deal with Qatar Foundation worth 30 million a season for 6 years.
Eddie Johnson at Fulham is a strange situation, he is getting some playing time but is he getting enough for them to keep him.