photo by Florian Eisele/ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
If you came away from the U.S. men's national team friendlies wanting to see more of Fabian Johnson, you'll likely get your chance on Sunday.
Johnson should make his way back into TSG 1899 Hoffenheim's lineup when it takes on relegation-threatened Hamburg SV. Johnson has yet to score in his eight appearances this season, but he'll look to change that as Hoffenheim attempts to climb up from its ninth-place standing. Fellow U.S. international Danny Williams could also take to the field for Hoffenheim in the match.
Edson Buddle is another player to keep an eye on. Coming off a strong, goal-scoring performance against Slovenia, Buddle should be full of confidence as FC Ingolstadt 04 goes up against TSV 1860 Munich. Having failed to win a game since mid-September, Ingolstadt is in desperate need of a win as it currently sits in last place in Germany's second division.
One match-up of U.S. national team players worth watching features Jermaine Jones and Schalke taking on Timmy Chandler's FC Nurnberg. Jones didn't get much time with the United States in its recent friendlies, but he has become an integral part of Schalke's strong squad, while Chandler will look to improve on some less than stellar national team performances.
Here is who the Americans Abroad play this weekend:
David Yelldell and Bayer Leverkusen play Kaiserslautern.
Edson Buddle and FC Ingolstadt 04 play Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich.
Matt Taylor and SC Paderborn 07 play Luis Robles and Karlsruher SC.
SATURDAY
Zak Whitbread and Norwich City play Arsenal. (Whitbread is out injured.)
Tim Howard, Marcus Hahnemann and Everton play Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Clint Dempsey and Fulham play Sunderland.
Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play West Bromwich Albion. (Holden is out injured.)
Jonathan Spector and Birmingham City play Peterborough United.
Daniel Potts and West Ham United play Coventry City.
Conor Doyle and Derby County play Hull City.
Robbie Findley and Nottingham Forest play Ipswich Town.
Mike Grella and Brentford play Charlton Athletic.
Frank Simek and Carlisle United play Sheffield United. (Simek is out injured.)
Anton Peterlin and Walsall play Bury.
Maurice Edu, Alejandro Bedoya, Carlos Bocanegra and Rangers play St Johnstone.
Dominic Cervi and Greenock Morton play Deveronvale in the third round of the William Hill Scottish Cup.
Alfredo Morales and Hertha Berlin play SC Freiburg.
Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg.
Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 play VfL Wolfsburg.
Terrence Boyd and Borussia Dortmund play Bayern Munich.
Quentin Westberg and Evian Thonon Gaillard play Lorient.
Diego Restrepo and America de Cali play Millonarios.
SUNDAY
Michael Bradley and Chievo Verona play Catania.
Fabian Johnson, Danny Williams and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim play Hamburg SV.
Ricardo Clark and Eintracht Frankfurt play Alemannia Aachen.
Jozy Altidore and AZ Alkmaar play Excelsior.
Oguchi Onyewu and Sporting CP play Sporting Braga in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal.
Eugene Starikov and FK Tom' Tomsk play FK Rostov-Na-Donu.
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play St. Truiden.
Clarence Goodson and Brondby IF play FC Copenhagen.
Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play Conor O'Brien and SonderjyskE.
Brad Rusin and HB Koge play Lyngby.
Chris Rolfe and Aalborg BK play FC Midtjylland.
Josh Gatt, Sean Cunningham and Molde FK play Sarpsborg 08.
Mix Diskerud and Stabaek IF play Haugesund.
Jose Torres and Pachuca play Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Mexico Apertura Liguilla. (Torres is out injured.)
Adrian Ruelas and Jaguares de Chiapas play Santos Laguna in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Mexico Apertura Liguilla.
MONDAY
Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur play Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa. (Lichaj is out injured.)
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Which matches are you most looking forward to? Expecting Johnson to have a big game against Hamburg? Do you see Buddle finding the back of the net against TSV 1860 Munich?
Share your thoughts below.