By FRANCO PANIZO
Before John Anthony Brooks takes part in his first U.S. Men’s National Team camp, the young centerback will be focused on a different type of challenge: his first Bundesliga game.
Brooks looks set for a start in Hertha Berlin’s season opener on Saturday, as the club returns to Germany’s top flight after one year in the 2. Bundesliga with a home game against Eintracht Frankfurt. The match will be big for Brooks as it should provide him an opportunity to show he can perform at a higher level and also give him a chance to impress U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann before next week’s friendly against Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Terrence Boyd and Rapid Vienna’s season may already be underway, but that will not take away from the importance of their game on Sunday. The Green-Whites host Austria Vienna in the first Vienna derby of the new campaign, and Boyd will be aiming to continue his strong run of form in order to help his club pick up three more points in league play a mere three days after securing advancement in the qualifying rounds of the Europa League.
Wondering what other match is worth watching? Look no further than Club Tijuana’s clash with Pumas UNAM on Friday, a game in which several Americans are likely to see the field. Joe Corona, Edgar Castillo and Paul Arriola are among the Americans the Xolos can choose to start, and it’s a safe bet that the majority of them receive minutes as Tijuana try to win their second game of the Apertura campaign.
Here is who the Americans Abroad face off against this weekend:
FRIDAY
Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich play Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Herculez Gomez, Joe Corona, Edgar Castillo, Greg Garza, Paul Arriola and Club Tijuana play Pumas UNAM. (Gomez is out injured.)
SATURDAY
Eric Lichaj and Nottingham Forest play Blackburn Rovers.
Tim Ream, Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Danny Williams and Reading. (Holden is out injured.)
Jonathan Spector, Will Packwood and Birmingham City play Yeovil Town. (Spector and Packwood are out injured.)
Michael Parkhurst and FC Augsburg play Borussia Dortmund.
Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 play VfL Wolfsburg. (Cherundolo is out injured.)
John Anthony Brooks and Hertha Berlin play Eintracht Frankfurt.
Fabian Johnson, Joe Gyau and TSG Hoffenheim play Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg.
Alfredo Morales and FC Ingolstadt 04 play Karlsruhe.
Alejandro Bedoya and FC Nantes play Bastia.
Brian Span and Djurgarden IF play Brommapojkarna.
Josh Gatt and Molde FK play Sogndal. (Gatt is out injured.)
Jose Torres, Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL play Alonso Hernandez and Monterrey.
SUNDAY
Zak Whitbread and Leicester City play Leeds United.
Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play Hamburg SV.
Aron Johannsson and AZ Alkmaar play Ajax.
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlect play KAA Gent.
Conor O’Brien and FC Nordsjaelland play FC Copenhagen.
Terrence Boyd and Rapid Vienna play Austria Vienna.
Mix Diskerud and Rosenborg BK play Stromsgodset.
Steve Clark and Honefoss BK play Haugesund.
DaMarcus Beasley, Michael Orozco and Puebla play Veracruz.
Freddy Adu and Bahia play Gremio.
MONDAY
Andrew Wooten and Kaiserslautern play SpVgg Greuther Furth.
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Which of these matches are you most looking forward to? How do you see Brooks faring against Eintracht Frankfurt? Think Boyd and Rapid Vienna claim three points on Saturday?
Share your thoughts below.