Photo by Matt West/ISIPhotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
The U.S. Men’s National Team had plenty of heroes at the World Cup, and this weekend will mark the first time since their tournament ended in Brazil that we’ll get to see many of them in action.
Author of the most impressive U.S. performance this summer, Tim Howard will play in his first match since masterfully delivering a record 15 saves in the Americans’ Round of 16 defeat to Belgium when he leads Everton to battle on Saturday. The Toffees open up their Premiership season by visiting Leicester City, and Howard will be hoping to carry the momentum gained from his World Cup outing en route to helping his club start the campaign with three points.
John Brooks – who scored the late winner against Ghana in the U.S.’s World Cup opener – will also attempt to make an impact on Saturday. Brooks and Hertha Berlin are set to go on the road to face fourth-division club Viktoria Koln in a DFB Pokal match, and the young centerback is eyeing a place in the lineup so as to partake in his first match since the Americans picked up a dramatic 2-1 win over Ghana back in June.
Two other players who saw time down in Brazil that might feature this weekend are Jozy Altidore and Fabian Johnson. Both left Brazil with injuries, but have since recovered and could play in their respective club’s first match of the campaign. Altidore is aiming to quickly get off to a good start for Sunderland as they battle West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, and Johnson will look to make his official Borussia Moenchengladbach debut in the DFB Pokal clash against Homburg.
Here is who the Americans Abroad take on this weekend:
FRIDAY
David Yelldell and Bayer Leverkusen play SV Alemannia Waldalgesheim in DFB Pokal.
Jonathan Bornstein and Queretaro play Veracruz.
Joe Corona, Greg Garza, Paul Arriola, Amando Moreno, Alejandro Guido and Club Tijuana play Gabriel Farfan and Chiapas.
SATURDAY
Tim Howard and Everton play Leicester City.
Geoff Cameron, Brek Shea and Stoke City play Brad Guzan and Aston Villa.
Jozy Altidore and Sunderland play West Bromwich Albion.
Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur play West Ham United.
Jonathan Spector, Will Packwood and Birmingham City play Brighton & Hove Albion.
Tim Ream and Bolton Wanderers play Eric Lichaj and Nottingham Forest.
Duane Holmes and Huddersfield Town play Cardiff City.
Emerson Hyndman and Fulham play Millwall.
Danny Williams and Reading play Ipswich Town. (Williams is out injured.)
Zak Whitbread and Derby County play Sheffield Wednesday.
Fabian Johnson and Borussia Moenchengladbach play FC 08 Homburg in DFB Pokal.
John Brooks and Hertha Berlin play Viktoria Koln in DFB Pokal.
Timmy Chandler and Eintracht Frankfurt play Viktoria Berlin in DFB Pokal.
Alejandro Bedoya and FC Nantes play Metz.
Conor O’Brien and FC Magna Wiener Neustadt play SV Grodig.
Freddy Adu and FK Jagodina play Crvena Zvezda.
Michael Orozco and Puebla play Herculez Gomez, Jose Torres and Tigres UANL. (Orozco is suspended due to the red card he received last week).
Alonso Hernandez and Monterrey play Cruz Azul.
Edgar Castillo and Atlas play Club Universidad de Guadalajara.
Ventura Alvarado and Club America play Morelia.
SUNDAY
Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich play Holstein Kiel in DFB Pokal.
Andrew Wooten and SV Sandhausen play Arminia Bielefeld in DFB Pokal.
Terrence Boyd and RP Leipzig SC Paderborn 07 in DFB Pokal. (Boyd is out injured.)
Aron Johannsson and AZ Alkmaar play Ajax. (Johannsson is out injured.)
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play KVC Westerlo.
Michael Stephens, Andrew Jacobson and Stabaek IF play Odd.
Mix Diskerud and Rosenborg BK play Brann.
Zarek Valentin and FK Bodo/Glimt play Sandnes Ulf. (Valentin is out injured.)
Josh Gatt, Ethan Horvath and Molde FK play Sarpsborg 08. (Gatt is out injured.)
MONDAY
Alfredo Morales and FC Ingolstadt 04 play OFC Kickers 1901 in DFB Pokal.
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Which of these matches are you most anticipating? Think Howard can carry his World Cup momentum to Everton’s season opener? Expecting Brooks and Altidore to start for their respective clubs
Share your thoughts below.