The next two days are rather crucial for a number of Americans abroad, as their quests to reach the UEFA Europa League knockout stage come down to the final game of group play.
Clint Dempsey and Fulham control their own destiny and can advance as the second-place team from Group K with a win over Odense BK on Wednesday (3 p.m., GOLTV). The rest of the Americans whose teams are in action today are already through, with Jermaine Jones' Schalke (which takes on Maccabi Haifa, 3 p.m., DirecTV) and Oguchi Onyewu's Sporting Lisbon (which faces Lazio, 1 p.m., DirecTV) already clinching first place in their respective groups.
Sacha Kljestan's Anderlecht is also through but can improve its chances for the next round by getting at least a point from today's contest with Lokomotiv Moscow (3 p.m., DirecTV) to clinch its group.
With high-powered clubs like Manchester United, Manchester City, Ajax and Porto dropping down from the UEFA Champions League, this year's Europa League knockout field will provide as stiff a competition as the tournament has seen in recent years, giving any Americans whose teams advance an even better opportunity to showcase themselves on the European stage.
Here's a breakdown of where Americans and their teams stand heading into the final Europa League matchday:
ALREADY THROUGH
Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96, clinched second place in Group B; plays FC Vorskla Poltava on Thursday)
Jermaine Jones (Schalke, clinched first in Group J; plays Maccabi Haifa on Wednesday)
Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht, clinched knockout berth from Group L; plays Lokomotiv Moscow with first place on the line on Wednesday)
Oguchi Onyewu (Sporting Lisbon, clinched first in Group D; plays Lazio on Wednesday)
WORK TO DO
Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar, needs win over Metalist Kharkiv on Thursday or Austria Wien loss to finish second in Group G; can advance with draw and Austria Wien win as long as it doesn't blow +6 goal differential)
Clint Dempsey (Fulham, needs win over Odense BK on Wednesday or Wisla Krakow loss or draw to advance from Group K)
Jonathan Spector (Birmingham, needs win over Maribor on Thursday and Club Brugge loss to advance from Group H)
Brad Friedel (Tottenham, needs win over Shamrock Rovers on Thursday and Rubin Kazan loss while making up a -5 goal differential to advance from Group A)
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Which Americans do you see going through to the knockout stage? How do you see Dempsey and Fulham faring today?
Share your thoughts below.
I’m liking this Fulham lineup without murphy. They are more inventive & dangerous. Frei looks particularly quick and dangerous
Dempsey scores – beautiful cross to zimora – lays off to charging dempsey top of the box who slams it home
Dempsey in the middle of what’s good in the Fulham offense so far – just had 1v1 with keeper but saved. Fulham should score this first half.
Got kljestan & Dempsey games going side by side – both pretty good streams
i’ve noticed it too. it was at first annoying but now sort of bizarre and interesting. it could just be a pumped up fan. but to make the same wrong prediction over and over makes it seem like something else is going on. a stubborn tebow like faith in the deuce? irony? minor mental illness?
so glad the Fulham game is on tv, Dempsey is in the starting lineup
Fun match – open & fast. Onyewu with a last man tackle to save a goal. Sporting now on front foot looking fast and inventive
Onyewu playing now v Lazio. Lazio looking dangerous..clear link –
http://www.firstrowsports.tv/webmaster/Links2football/97794/1/watch-lazio-vs-sporting-cp.html
A*
How many times during a running commentary does someone always says Dempsey for hattrick……………. It’s getting old
Love it! Good luck Yanks!
Dempsey for the win. Hattrick today
Well the Spurs can certainly pack their Europa bags. I’m not expecting a Lyon redux
That’s a good list of Yanks playing in UEFA Europa League knockout stage. Fulham will pull it off today and get the win.