Amidst all the drama with the Ireland vs France match and earlier the Egypt vs Algeria showdown, the USA played a friendly with Denmark. Bob Bradley started Jeff Cunningham and I am happy to say, it turned out well because he scored his first international goal and nearly set up Altidore with another.

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Carlos Bocanegra and Rennes look to break out of their slump when they host Le Mans on Saturday at Route de Lorient in Rennes. Click to continue reading...

2 - Jonathan Spector 3 - Carlos Bocanegra 4 - Michael Bradley 5 - Benny Feilhaber 7 - Stuart Holden 12 - Jonathan Bornstein 13 - Ricardo Clark 15 - Jimmy Conrad 17 - Jozy Altidore 18 - Brad Guzan 19 - Robbie Rogers 22 - Frankie Hejduk 25 - Clarence Goodson 28 - Dax McCarty 32 - Jeff Cunningham 33 - Edgar Castillo 35 - Marcus Hahnemann 36 - Eddie Johnson Click to continue reading...

Edgar Castillo fue convocado de nuevo por Bradley, técnico de los Estados Unidos para el partido de éste miércoles ante Dinamarca, en Aarhus.

Edgar debió de haberse presentado ayer lunes en Dinamarca junto con Stuart Holden y Ricardo Clark jugadores del Dynamo para unirse el grupo que ya está en aquel país.

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With the Houston Dynamo knocked out of the MLS playoffs, Ricardo Clark and Stuart Holden were called in for the friendly against Denmark on Wednesday. Neither are a surprise, having forced their way into the national team setup at this stage in their career. The other two call ups, Jose Francisco Torres and Edgar Castillo were a welcome sight -- though news also came out that Torres declined for personal reasons.

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An injury-riddled, star-lacking USMNT team lost 1-0 to Slovakia over the weekend. I didn't watch, so I don't have much to add.
Seems like a fair result on the road. Here's the tweaked lineup for the upcoming Denmark friendly:

GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan, Marcus Hahnemann, Troy Perkins.

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There were no surprises on Saturday while watching the U.S. men's team struggle in Bratislavia. No Landon Donovan and no Charlie Davies removes the two fastest, most dangerous attacking players. Watching Clint Dempsey lumber up and down the pitch, hoping for something a bit extra, wasn't enough.

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Bob Bradley added four players over the weekend to his roster for the upcoming friendly in Denmark. Ricardo Clark, Stuart Holden, and Edgar Castillo.

José Francisco Torres was initially called into the camp for Denmark and has since been excused for personal reasons.

Steve Cherundolo, Clint Dempsey and Chad Marshall have been released back to their clubs after the USA's 1-0 loss to Slovakia on Nov.

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Edgar Castillo, Stuart Holden, Jose Francisco Torres, and Ricardo Clark were called in. Clint Dempsey, Steve Cherundolo and Chad Marshall have been sent home.

The full squad:

GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton), Troy Perkins (Valerenga)

DEFENDERS: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Edgar Castillo (Tigres), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Jonathan Spector (West Ham)

MIDFIELDERS: Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Dax McCarty (FC Dallas), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca)

FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore (Hull City), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas), Eddie Johnson (Fulham)

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Edgar Castillo has been called into his first U.S. national team camp.

The New Mexico native and former Mexican national team player was one of four new players called into the U.S. men's national team camp ahead of Wednesday's friendly against Denmark.

Midfielders Stuart Holden and Jose Francisco Torres were also called in, as was Ricardo Clark.

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Edgar Castillo has been called into his first U.S. national team camp.

The New Mexico native and former Mexican national team player was one of four new players called into the U.S. men's national team camp ahead of Wednesday's friendly against Denmark. He will be joining the U.S. team for the first time since the new FIFA rule that allowed him to change national team affiliations from Mexico to the United States.

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The USMNT list for the Aarhus party:G: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton), Troy Perkins (VÃ¥lerenga )D: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Edgar Castillo (Tigres), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)M: Michael Bradley (Borussia Click to continue reading...

Positives:

A) The USA with their below full strength team played patient ball control. They took their time to build up their attack. Having no Donovan and Davies meant that the US had to give up their fast counterattacking edge. But the tactical switch was achieved quite effectively showing that the US is capable of this approach.

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Dont forget: We'll find out who the Galaxy play next Sunday at MLS Cup in Seattle - Real Salt Lake or Chicago Fire - at 5 p.m. on Fox Soccer Channel.

(AP Photo)

A below-strength U.S. team lost 1-0 to Slovakia today in Bratislava, Chivas USA's Jonathan Bornstein being called for what was a very harsh penalty decision in the 26th minute (I think this is the moment, above, he 'brought down" Vladimir Weiss).

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With the World Cup inching ever closer, it's just about time to stop nibbling around the edges of the U.S. depth chart conversations and start biting into the chewy center of that little candy bunny.

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Marcus Hahnemann is back in the US MNT roster with his new ride (hint: it's his bike don't get you hopes up for a pimped out 1970s army tank or something), but first, the best news of the week from The AP:

U.S. forward Charlie Davies was released from a Washington hospital on Tuesday nearly a month after a car accident killed a fellow passenger.

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Bob Bradley didn't call up those guys with league commitments in the MLS playoffs, which explains why a few familiar names aren't included.

GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Troy Perkins (Valerenga)
DEFENDERS: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus), Chad Marshall (Columbus), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Jonathan Spector (West Ham)
MIDFIELDERS: Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Dax McCarty (FC Dallas), Robbie Rogers (Columbus)
FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore (Hull), Conor Casey (Colorado), Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas), Eddie Johnson (Fulham)

How about that EJ/Cunningham forward pairing. Click to continue reading...

Several Americans were in action in the European leagues on Sunday, November 10, 2009. Clint Dempsey, Jonathan Spector, and Tim Howard were playing in the English Premier League while Carlos Bocanegra was with Stade Rennais in France. Kenny Cooper continues to play for Bundesliga 2 side 1860 Munich and Steve Cherundolo is a regular starter for Hannover 96.

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The United States has already qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Finals in South Africa. They will be playing two friendly matches in Europe in the upcoming international break. The first will be at Slovakia on Saturday, November 14, 2009 and on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 against Denmark. Manager Bob Bradley has called up 22 players for the Slovakia match.

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Wizards defender and captain, Jimmy Conrad has been called up by the US national team for their upcoming game against Slovakia. Conrad is one of 22 players that were called up by Bob Bradley for the first of two friendlies next week in Europe. While the US will play Dennmark only a few days after playing Slovakia, Bradley has said he's going to consider making changes to the roster before the game in Denmark. Click to continue reading...

Chivas USA's Jonathan Bornstein and Sacha Kljestan, as well as former Goat Brad Guzan, were named to the 22-player U.S. squad today for games Saturday against Slovakia (10 a.m. Fox Soccer Channel and Galavision) and Denmark four days later (no TV by the sound of it).

From U.S. Soccer::

The U.

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Yes, that is no typo. Thanks to a striker pool as thin as a wafer due to both injuries and MLS playoffs reaching their peak, Bob Bradley has his hands tied when it comes to available players for Saturday's friendly against Slovakia. Landon Donovan is unavailable because of the Los Angeles Galaxy's playoff triumph, while a fringe player such as Robbie Findley also misses out thanks to success.

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US Soccer has announced the roster for the upcoming friendlies vs. Slovakia (11/14) and Denmark (11/18).

GK: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton), Troy Perkins (Valerenga).
DEF: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Clarence Goodson (Start), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Jonathan Spector (West Ham).

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The USA plays 2 international friendly matches in the next 10 days.
Matches & Scores:
-Sat Nov 14
Slovakia v USA
-Wed Nov 18
Denmark v USA
Here is the roster:
G:
Brad Guzan - Aston Villa
Marcus Hahnemann - Wolverhampton
Troy Perkins - Valerenga
D:
Carlos Bocanegra - Rennes
Jonathan Bornstein - Chivas USA
Steve Cherundolo - Hannover
Jimmy Conrad - Kansas City Wizards
Clarence Goodson - Start
Frankie Hejduk - Columbus Crew
Chad Marshall - Columbus Crew
Heath Pearce - FC Dallas
Jonathan Spector - West Ham
M:
Michael Bradley - Monchengladbach
Clint Dempsey - Fulham
Benny Feilhaber - AGF Aarhus
Sacha Kljestan - Chivas USA
Dax McCarty - FC Dallas
Robbie Rogers - Columbus Crew
F:
Jozy Altidore - Hull City
Conor Casey - Colorado Rapids
Jeff Cunningham - FC Dallas
Eddie Johnson - Fulham
So much for Edgar Castillo's call up. Click to continue reading...

I guess the late season run for FC Dallas helped cash things in for a couple guys as Bob Bradley named a handful of FC Dallas players to his 22-man roster for the Slovakia friendly later this month.

Also the loss of Columbus in the playoffs meant callups for a few Crew players as well.

To me though the big news may be the re-call of Eddie Johnson, someone we haven't seen called into action in a very long time.

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MLS Golden Boot winner Jeff Cunningham, veteran goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann and Fulham striker Eddie Johnson are three of the 22 players called up by Bob Bradley for Saturday's friendly against Slovakia.

Bradley called in a mostly full-strength squad of available players, with Tim Howard and Landon Donovan among those not called in for this match.

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MLS Golden Boot winner Jeff Cunningham, veteran goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann and Fulham striker Eddie Johnson are three of the 22 players called up by Bob Bradley for Saturday's friendly against Slovakia (10am, Fox Soccer Channel).

Bradley called in a mostly full-strength squad of available players, with Tim Howard and Landon Donovan among those not called in for this match.

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Carlos Bocanegra and Rennes slipped up on the road, while Charlie Davies' Lions fared no better at home in weekend Ligue 1 action. Click to continue reading...

For the second straight season, the Columbus Crew's Chad Marshall was selected as the league's best defender. Marshall was named as the MLS 2009 Defender of the Year Thursday, joining Carlos Bocanegra and Robin Fraser as the award's only two-time winners.

2009 has been a tremendous success for Marshall, named in July as an All-Star, and earning five caps with the U.

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For the second straight season, the Columbus Crew's Chad Marshall was selected as the league's best defender. Marshall was named as the MLS 2009 Defender of the Year Thursday, joining Carlos Bocanegra and Robin Fraser as the award's only two-time winners.

2009 has been a tremendous success for Marshall, named in July as an All-Star, and earning five caps with the U.

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For the second season in a row, the Columbus Crew's Chad Marshall was named the best defender in Major League Soccer. Marshall joins Carlos Bocanegra as the only other player to win consecutive MLS Defender of the Year awards. Also on Thursday, MLS announced Alex Prus as the Referee of the Year and Greg Barkey as Assistant Referee of the Year. Click to continue reading...

1) I've updated the home/away records for each MLS team in each season through 2009:
Check them out here.
2) If Omar Gonzalez wins the Rookie of the Year award, he'll be the youngest winner ever. He was 20.72 years of age as of July 1st. The current record-holder is Carlos Bocanegra in 2000, at 21. Click to continue reading...

Now that we have officially qualified for the World Cup, it is time for the first installment of Bradley's Babes: 23 for 2010 our attempt to answer the question, "Who should we take along?"Â Â But instead of taking the standard approach doing our best to guess who Bob will take to South Africa we decided to focus on who we would like him to take.

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On my ESPNChicago.com Chicago Fire blog, I take a quick look at some international soccer news involving a couple of former Fire players. Most noteworthy was Rennes defender Carlos Bocanegra, who returned from his one-game suspension.
• From red to green: Former Fire defender helps Rennes blank Montpellier Click to continue reading...

by FRANCO PANIZO

If you were looking for battles between Americans then this weekend is perfect for you.

Up to five different matches pit Americans against each other, including Edgar Castillo and Tigres UANL's tilt against Michael Orozco's San Luis.

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