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Americans Abroad: A Look Ahead

Donovan Dempsey (Reuters)

By FRANCO PANIZO

Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey have shared plenty of moments throughout their careers as the top two attacking threats of the U.S. men's national team, but they will not be celebrating together on Friday.

The two American stars are set to face off for the first time since 2006 when Everton and Fulham do battle in the fourth round of the FA Cup (3pm, Fox Soccer Channel). Dempsey is in red-hot form while Donovan has played well since joining Everton on loan earlier this month. Combine that with Tim Howard starting in goal for Everton, and this do-or-die match is must-see TV for any American soccer fan.

Another match of intrigue will be when Michael Bradley and Chievo Verona square off against Lazio. Chievo Verona are not the favorites heading into the match but with it being played in their stadium, and Lazio coming off two days rest, an upset is as probable as ever.

This weekend could also mark the first-team TSG 1899 Hoffenheim debut for Joe Gyau. The U.S. U-23 national team winger was set to make his first appearance for the club last week, but the referee ended that game before Gyau could enter. If Gyau does play this weekend, he would see time against Borussia Dortmund, the reigning Bundesliga champions.

Here is who the Americans Abroad face this weekend:

FRIDAY

Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur play Watford in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Tim Howard, Landon Donovan, Marcus Hahnemann and Everton play Clint Dempsey and Fulham in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 play Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg. (Chandler is out injured.)

SATURDAY

Stuart Holden, Tim Ream and Bolton Wanderers play Swansea City in the fourth round of the FA Cup. (Holden is out injured.)

Conor Doyle and Derby County play Stoke City in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Jonathan Spector and Birmingham City play Sheffield United in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Zak Whitbread and Norwich City play West Bromwich Albion in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Mike Grella and Brentford play Wycombe Wanderers.

Frank Simek and Carlisle United play Hartlepool United.

Maurice Edu, Alejandro Bedoya, Carlos Bocanegra and Rangers play Hibernian.

Terrence Boyd and Borussia Dortmund play Fabian Johnson, Danny Williams, Joe Gyau and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.

Alfredo Morales and Hertha Berlin play Hamburg SV.

Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play FC Cologne. (Jones is serving an eight-week suspension.)

Charlie Davies and Sochaux play Lorient.

Jozy Altidore and AZ Alkmaar play Roda JC Kerkrade.

Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play Germinal Beerschot.

DaMarcus Beasley and Puebla play Adrian Ruelas and Jaguares de Chiapas.

Jose Torres and Pachuca play Queretaro.

Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL play Estudiantes Tecos U.A. de G.

Michael Orozco Fiscal and San Luis play America.

Sonny Guadarrama and Atlante play Cruz Azul.

SUNDAY

Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa play Arsenal in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Dominic Cervi and Celtic play Falkirk.

Michael Bradley and Chievo Verona play Lazio.

Quentin Westberg and Evian Thonon Gaillard play Bordeaux.

Oguchi Onyewu and Sporting CP play Beira Mar.

Joe Corona, Edgar Castillo, Greg Garza and Club Tijuana play Herculez Gomez and Santos Laguna.

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Which matches are you most looking forward to? Who do you think will win, Donovan and Everton or Dempsey and Fulham? Expecting Bradley to have a big game against Lazio? Do you see Gyau making his debut this weekend?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Tim Howard is getting lost in all this Clint vs. Landon talk. Our three best players the US has probably ever produced will be on the field all at once. Couldn’t be better!

    Reply
  2. Dude before this month I would say Clint was worth 7-8 million but after his 2 hat-tricks in 3 games, it’s fair to say he’s arguably worth 14-15 million right now. A CL will pick him up by summer. Put money on it.

    but when will US SOCCER start marketing him as the Man for soccer in the USA?

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  3. Great article by Ives about Dempsey v Donovan on FoxSoccer.com

    Everybody natuarally wants to compare them and choose sides. I say just enjoy them both for what they bring. In playing style and career paths they’re completely different. But the pride they give and bring to the U.S. National team for what they have done and will continue to do has always made me love them both.

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  4. Probs ready by qualifying in June. The timeline I’ve heard is his operation that revealed scar tissue would take a further 6 months to recover from (performed in September). Assuming he is ready to train by the end of March, he’ll have April and May to play reserve games and train at a high level with Bolton. I’ve read that he is lost for the EPL season (which runs through mid-May), so it is possible he’ll only be training and working up his fitness. I doubt Klinsmann utilizes him for the June qualifiers although I would love if he still got called in to go through the grueling fitness tests the Nats do. It’d def help on getting him ready for next season and further qualifying games.

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  5. Yeah, I just looked and Seltzer (I had to do an Internet search to find out who you meant) is saying only a rumor. But Yanks Abroad had a very detailed story quoting the coach of KVC Westerlo saying he is dying to have Buddle. Can I link YA here?

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  6. Oops. My wrong. Chandler sat out the second game of his suspension last week and would be eligible this week. As the link above to the pre-game report in Kicker states (was that link there yesterday?), Chandler is indeed injured.

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  7. Out of curiosity where in SoCal do you go to watch games? I wouldn’t mind finding a good pub to go to, live in LA myself.

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  8. LD: “only 60 minutes left with Bradley as our coach!”

    CD: “and we’ll never play on the national team together again!”

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  9. I don’t think Chandler is injured, I think he still has one more game to sit out from the 2-game suspension for the red card he received in the last game before Christmas break.

    Any more news on Buddle possibly going to the team in Belgium? The coach is dying to have him, sounds like it could be an ideal situation for Buddle to get back in the flow.

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  10. If he does it, it would be his third hat trick in as many games. Things like this would make you an attractive transfer target for the big clubs.

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  11. got my dvr set to record “The Magic of the FA Cup – Manchester City: Ultimate Goal Collection” … an hour early in case they have a pregame and two hours late … wish TWC would update the guide already…

    Reply
  12. This game between Donovan, Howard Everton vs. Dempsey and FulhAmerican Hahaha remember when fulhan had so many American players. Anyway this game is the one that Fox Sport should of put National better with two of the American best player so far, Squaring against each other and the Enigma who is better Donovan or Dempsey? ummmm “LET’S GET IT ON” “GET READY TO RUMMMMBLEEE”.

    Reply
  13. It seems kind of dangerous to be running and holding each other’s heads so closely. If their strides got even a little off, they could collide heads. It would leave a nice bump on their noggins.

    Reply

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