The U.S. Men’s National Team has a crucial week ahead. After losing its first two CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers in November, it needs to make up ground in the standings. Its first opportunity comes against Honduras tonight in San Jose. The team will then travel to Panama for a match next Tuesday, March 28th.
Getting called up for international soccer is no easy feat, and getting called up for a FIFA top 30 team is even harder. Kenny Saief is learning that the hard way. The Israeli-Druze footballer was born in Panama City, Florida and wants to represent the United States at the international level. He's made two appearances for Israel but only in friendlies, meaning he's still eligible to switch allegiance to the United States.
Chris Wondolowski has been called up to the United States Men's National Team.
You already knew that, though, like how you knew about gravity and the earth being round and evolution. That statement just exists, in permanancy.
The Portland Timbers made it three wins from three matches to begin their 2017 MLS season, and Darlington Nagbe capped a superb week with an assist so good that your first instinct is to doubt its intention.
Nagbe was recalled to the USMNT last week for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers, and the midfielder’s creativity was on full display in Portland’s 4-2 victory over Houston on Saturday.
Nagbe was frequently overlooked by Jurgen Klinsmann, but his ridiculous assist for David Guzman’s goal should tell you everything you need to know about his quality.
For the United States, injuries to DeAndre Yedlin and Fabian Johnson have severely limited the team’s strength in the wide areas. Meanwhile, Mexico must do without Marco Fabian, Jesus Corona, Giovani dos Santos, Hirving Lozano and Javier Aquino — as well as the continued absence of Paul Aguilar.
But their squad for upcoming qualifiers against Costa Rica and Trinidad and Tobago in the Hex demonstrates their embarrassment of riches when compared to the rest of the region.
USMNT manager Bruce Arena has announced his 24-man squad for vital World Cup qualifiers against Honduras and Panama at the end of March. This represented the first opportunity for Arena to include European-based talent, but it’s clear that he’s also given a fair shake to the MLS players that impressed during January camp.
Hamburger SV claimed a vital three points in their fight to maintain their position as the only German club to have never been relegated from the top division. The catalyst for Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Gladbach was American striker Bobby Wood.
Wood scored his fifth Bundesliga goal, and ninth across all competitions, after cleverly evading his marker by lying motionless on the ground for about five seconds. His marker ultimately ends up handing him the ball, and from there, Wood takes it around a defender and fires it into the net.
Christian Pulisic is very good at soccer. Many of us have known this for quite some time, but the secret was really out when the 18-year-old exploded for a goal and two assists in Borussia Dortmund's 4-0 win against Benfica in the Champions League Wednesday.
There's no hiding Pulisic's talent any more, certainly not from this reporter who was in the press box at the game.