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The final match of the year is set to kick off today for the U.S. men's national team as the Americans take on Denmark (2:30pm, ESPN Classic/Galavision/ESPN2 after Ukraine-Greece) on the last international matchday of the year.

The United States will be playing its 24th match of the year and this match is an important one as head coach Bob Bradley looks to learn more about the depth of his squad.

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The final match of the year is set to kick off today for the U.S. men's national team as the Americans take on Denmark (2:30pm, ESPN Classic/Galavision/ESPN2 after Ukraine-Greece) on the last international matchday of the year.

The United States will be playing its 24th match of the year and this match is an important one as head coach Bob Bradley looks to learn more about the depth of his squad.

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Until espn2 picks up the game, I'm relying on a sometimes reliable Danish stream, so let's hope we have no problems.As always, you can also follow along at the U.S. Soccer Matchtracker.The USMNT line-up:Guzan; Hejduk, Spector, Bocanegra, Bornstein, Holden, Bradley, Clark, Feilhaber, Altidore, CunninghamBack near kickoff. Click to continue reading...

The USA played the first of its pre-World Cup friendlies against Slovakia on Saturday. With nothing to play for, Bob Bradley utilized the opportunity to test his team's depth. The results? Despite the 0-1 defeat, there were more positives than negatives.

Most promising of the group were the performances of our center backs and central midfield.

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

If the starting lineup the U.S. team fielded in Saturday's loss to Slovakia didn't look far enough away from Bob Bradley's first-choice squad, wait until you see the team we are likely to have take the field in Denmark on Wednesday.

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

If the starting lineup the U.S. team fielded in Saturday's loss to Slovakia didn't look far enough away from Bob Bradley's first-choice squad, wait until you see the team we are likely to have take the field in Denmark on Wednesday.

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A Slovakian team that was (apparently)Â good in European qualifying, but not well ranked by FIFA, Â played a defensive, counter-attacking game against the USA in a partially filled stadium, on a pretty ugly field and won 1-0 on a weak penalty call. Â Â Not what you call must-see-TV, so it is probably good that not many people saw it.

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The U.S. national team returns to action for the first time since qualifying for the 2010 World Cup today when it takes on Slovakia in a friendly in Bratislava (10am, FSC).

The Americans are without Landon Donovan and Tim Howard, as well as the injured Oguchi Onyewu and Jay DeMerit, but there are still plenty of starters who will have chances to show they can play without the team's top players.

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The U.S. men's national team takes on Slovakia on Saturday and the match is one of the last remaining opportunities this year for head coach Bob Bradley to take a look at different players and positional pairings before the end of the year.

With standouts Landon Donovan and Tim Howard not called in, and with key injuries to Oguchi Onyewu and Jay Demerit, the squad Bradley will turn to to face the Slovakians will be a much different-looking group than the ones that helped the team qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

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The Sin: Envy has always been associated with the color green, probably in a large part thanks to the Bard's classic Othello. In that play, the jealousy that accompanies envy is referred to as "the green-eyed monster". Proverbs 23:17 also warns against it, stating that one should "Let not thine heart envy sinners, but be thou in the fear of the Lord.

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BAM!G - Guzan, Howard, PerkinsD - Bocanegra, Marshall*/Califf/Gibbs, Castillo, Cherundolo, Conrad, Goodson, Pearce, SpectorM - Bradley, Beckerman*/Cronin, Cameron*/McCarty, Dempsey, Donovan*/Beasley/Bedoya, Feilhaber, Torres, WhiteF - Altidore, Casey, Cunningham, Findley*/CooperThe players marked with an asterisk may or may not be available, depending on MLS leg two results this week. Click to continue reading...

The U.S. men's national team is set to close out its World Cup qualifying campaign tonight against Costa Rica (8pm, ESPN2/Galavision). The Americans have already qualified, but Costa Rica needs a win tonight to ensure a berth in the 2010 World Cup.

Tonight's match is being played under a bit of a somber cloud as the U.

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No LIVE tonight, but we have a preview look from ESPN and I'll be back in about 30 with the line-ups (as well as the usual wrap bits after).UPDATE:Howard; Cherundolo, Onyewu, Bocanegra, Bornstein, Feilhaber, Bradley, Holden, Donovan, Altidore, CaseyBench: Guzan, Conrad, Torres, Rogers, Cooper, Spector, Clark- Greg Seltzer Click to continue reading...

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                                                                       Photo by ISIphotos.com

With the 2010 World Cup berth already secured, the U.S. national team will head into its final qualifier on Wednesday playing for a chance to top the CONCACAF qualifying group, and a chance to improve its place in the FIFA world rankings (as well as score a measure of revenge for the 3-1 thumping delivered by Costa Rica in June).

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                                                                       Photo by ISIphotos.com

With the 2010 World Cup berth already secured, the U.S. national team will head into its final qualifier on Wednesday playing for a chance to top the CONCACAF qualifying group, and a chance to improve its place in the FIFA world rankings (as well as score a measure of revenge for the 3-1 thumping delivered by Costa Rica in June).

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I'm still sweating whether my feed will hold up all the way through, but it's about 98% that I'll have one.I'll be back around 8.30 PM ET with my thoughts, with the line-ups and a prediction to follow at around 9 PM. This is what I expect will be the line-up:Howard; Cherundolo, Onyewu, Bocanegra, Hejduk, Bradley, Clark, Holden, Donovan, Davies, AltidoreSee ya in a while. Click to continue reading...

By TRAVIS CLARK

It's Davies vs. Bocanegra this afternoon as FC Sochaux-Montbeliard takes on Rennes in the Third Round of the Coupe de la Ligue. No word if both will start, but it's likely as the competition carries some weight, with the winner getting a spot in the Europa League.

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By TRAVIS CLARK

It's Davies vs. Bocanegra this afternoon as FC Sochaux-Montbeliard takes on Rennes in the Third Round of the Coupe de la Ligue. No word if both will start, but it's likely as the competition carries some weight, with the winner getting a spot in the Europa League.

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If you saw Cornell Glen's miss and Rico's wonder strike, you saw the game. In fact, I'm jealous of you if that's all you saw.
Nevertheless, yesterday was as good a day to be an American as it was a lousy day to be Argentine or Northern Irish.* Bottom-lining it, the very worst case scenario is needing a draw at home to Costa Rica to go directly to South Africa. Click to continue reading...

Finally the day is here, USA vs Trinidad. Big game for the USA, they need to win to help them finish in the top three so they won't have to play a play in match vs maybe Argentina. Here is the lineup;
----------------Davies--------Altidore-----------
Donovan--------------------------------Dempsey
-----------------Bradley-----Clark---------------
Bornstein----Bocanegra---Onyewu----Spector
-----------------------Howard--------------------
Big suprises here is Clark partnering Bradley Jr. Click to continue reading...

The U.S. makes two changes from Saturday, bringing in Ricardo Clark and Oguchi Onyewu.Howard; Spector, Onyewu, Bocanegra (c), Bornstein; Dempsey, Clark, Bradley, Donovan; Davies, AltidoreBench - Guzan, Marshall, Torres, Ching, Cherundolo, Feilhaber, Holden--- Greg Seltzer Click to continue reading...

Edgar Castillo (the answer to our prayers at left back?) has been cleared to play for the national team. Too bad we have to wait another month to see him.
In other news on defense, Jay DeMerit has been left off the squad for Wednesday's qualifier against Trinidad & Tobago.
I'm thinking/hoping the USMNT backline could look something like:
Spector---Bocanegra---Onyewu---Cherundolo
What do you think? Click to continue reading...

The U.S. men's national team will face Trinidad & Tobago on Wednesday night in a World Cup qualifier it desperately needs a result from in order to stay in good shape in the super-tight CONCACAF qualifying race.

Who will start in this all-important match? U.S. head coach Bob Bradley has plenty of options to choose from, both in defense and in the midfield.

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                                                                          Photo by ISIphotos.com

The U.S. men's national team will face Trinidad & Tobago on Wednesday night in a World Cup qualifier it desperately needs a result from in order to stay in good shape in the super-tight CONCACAF qualifying race.

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What will the song be? Here are your USMNT performers:Howard; Spector, Marshall, Bocanegra (c), Bornstein; Dempsey, Feilhaber, Bradley, Donovan; Altidore, DaviesAll the post-game material arrives here later. Enjoy the game!- Greg Seltzer Click to continue reading...

The U.S. men's national team is in must-win mode tonight as it faces El Salvador in World Cup qualifying in Sandy, Utah (8pm, ESPN Classic).

The Americans currently sit in third place in CONCACAF qualifying, but a win tonight would go a long way toward helping the USA qualify.

I will be providing commentary throughout the evening so please feel free to follow along here.

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About a month back the STO Commish heard some interesting news. U.S. forward Kenny Cooper signed with German club 1860 Munich. Cooper's signing with the club came a few months after starting U.S. defender Oguchi Onyewu signed with Serie A squad AC Milan. And just a few weeks back Jozy Altidore was transferred to Premier League club, Hull City.

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MAN OF THE MATCH: This was clearly a two-horse race. While Charlie Davies did score the USA's lone goal, he failed to put away his golden opportunity to get the go-ahead in the second half. Overall, a good performance, but we had to give the nod to Oguchi Onyewu.

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An absolute gem of a pass by Landon Donovan that splits the defense and Charlie Davis superb finish. It was just the sort of start the US needed. But it was shortlived. A blistering strike by Ismael Castro levels the score. You can see how much open space was given up by Bocanegra and Onyewu.

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Mexico 2, USA 1.
USA still can't beat Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, even after a one goal lead.
So, who's to blame?
BLAME THE REF
I thought the cards were inconsistently given, although it wouldn't have led to anything substantial. No one deserved a send off. Click to continue reading...

Well, the big day has arrived and the time is nigh. I'll be back in a moment with my view of the impending CONCACAF World Cup qualifier between the U.S. and arch nemesis Mexico in a few. For now, the Red, White & Blue line-up that will try to break the Azteca jinx:Howard; Cherundolo, Demerit, Onyewu, Bocanegra, Bradley, Clark, Dempsey, Donovan, Davies, ChingI'm little surprised to see 'Dolo over Click to continue reading...

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"It's on our list of things to do."

With an uncharacteristic smirk on his face and confidence in his voice, Bob Bradley uttered those words back in February when asked about the U.S. national team winning in Mexico. The Americans had just defeated Mexico in Columbus and Bradley had every reason to feel confident about his team's chances of coming to Mexico and recording the team's first victory on American soil.

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"It's on our list of things to do."

With an uncharacteristic smirk on his face and confidence in his voice, Bob Bradley uttered those words back in February when asked about the U.S. national team winning in Mexico. The Americans had just defeated Mexico in Columbus and Bradley had every reason to feel confident about his team's chances of coming to Mexico and recording the team's first victory on American soil.

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US Soccer released the roster for the August 12 "Attack the Azteca" game today, and THERE ARE NO SHOCKS but a couple of mild surprises.
GK: Guzan, Howard
DEFENSE: Spector, Bocanegra, Onyewu, Marshall, Bornstein, Cherundolo and DeMerit
MIDFIELD: Bradley, Clark, Dempsey, Feilhaber, Holden and Torres
FORWARD: Altidore, Casey, Ching, Davies and Donovan
Looks like DaMarcus Beasley has finally played himself out of the program. Click to continue reading...

PR isn't supposed to matter this much.
Yet, here I sit, utterly mortified by the United States' utter capitulation to Mexico in the Gold Cup final. No matter how much I keep telling myself it doesn't matter or it hardly counted, I just cannot get over the fact those guys embarrassed themselves and the US program as a whole out there. Click to continue reading...