Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
A new era in U.S. Soccer is soon to begin, and with it comes a clean slate for Americans everywhere.
With a friendly against Mexico looming, the portion of Americans Abroad already in action will want to make a good first impression on their soon-to-be named national team coach in order to earn consideration.
Jose Torres is one player looking to get himself back in the picture, having not played with the U.S. team since last summer's World Cup. Torres is coming off a less-than-stellar season, and he could use a solid outing against DaMarcus Beasley's Puebla this weekend to springboard a comeback year.
More established national team players also aren't free from needing to make a statement. Steve Cherundolo, who has continued to play well despite being on the wrong side of 30, begins his new season with Hannover 96 in a first-round DFB Pokal match against Anker Wismar.
Another fullback likely to play in the German tournament is Timmy Chandler. The versatile 21-year-old and FC Nurnberg play Arminia Bielefeld in a game that could make or break a call-up to the U.S. team for the Mexico match, one that U.S. fans will surely want to see him in given the circumstances that transpired at the Gold Cup.
Here is who the Americans Abroad play this weekend:
FRIDAY
Michael Bradley and Borussia Moenchengladbach play SSV Jahn Regensburg in the first round of the DFB Pokal.
Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich play VfL Osnabruck in the first round of the DFB Pokal.
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play OH Leuven.
SATURDAY
Maurice Edu and Rangers play St Johnstone.
Dominic Cervi and Celtic play Dunfermline Athletic.
Matt Taylor and SC Paderborn 07 play Rot Weiss Ahlen in the first round of the DFB Pokal.
Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg play Arminia Bielefeld in the first round of the DFB Pokal.
David Yelldell and Bayer Leverkusen play Dynamo Dresden in the first round of the DFB Pokal.
Ricardo Clark and Eintracht Frankfurt play Hallescher FC in the first round of the DFB Pokal.
Eugene Starikov and FC Tom Tomsk play Terek Grozny.
Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play FC Copenhagen.
Gale Agbossoumonde and Djurgadens IF play Malmo FF.
Josh Gatt, Sean Cunningham and Molde FK play Valerenga.
Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL play Queretaro.
Joe Corona and Club Tijuana play Monterrey.
Sonny Guadarrama and Atlante play Santos Laguna.
Michael Orozco and San Luis play Herculez Gomez and Estudiantes Tecos.
SUNDAY
Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 play Anker Wismar in the first round of the DFB Pokal.
Edson Buddle and FC Ingolstadt 04 play FC Oberneuland 1948 in the first round of the DFB Pokal.
Luis Robles and Karlsruher SC play Alemannia Aachen in the first round of the DFB Pokal.
Daniel Williams and SC Freiburg play SpVgg Unterhaching in the first round of the DFB Pokal.
Alfredo Morales and Hertha Berlin play ZFC Meuselwitz in the first round of the DFB Pokal.
Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play FC Teningen in the first round of the DFB Pokal.
Clarence Goodson and Brondby IF play AC Horsens.
Alejandro Bedoya and Orebro SK play Gefle IF.
Mix Diskerud and Stabaek IF play IK Start.
DaMarcus Beasley and Puebla play Jose Torres and Pachuca.
Edgar Castillo and America play Toluca.
Adrian Ruelas and Jaguares de Chiapas play Chivas de Guadalajara.
MONDAY
Chris Rolfe, Marcus Tracy and Aalborg BK play FC Midtjylland.
Ryan Miller and Halmstads BK play GAIS.
Samuel Petrone and Mjallby AIF play Kalmar FF.
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Which matches are you most looking forward to? Do you see Torres playing himself back into national team consideration? Expecting another strong season from Cherundolo and Hannover? Eagerly waiting to see more of Chandler?
Share your thoughts below.