5/28 USA vs. Latvia Friendly Game Thread

Don't know if I'll stick around for the whole friendly, but I hope more people comment on these friendlies as they are the "dress rehersals" prior to the "big show" that is the World Cup.

LIVE on ESPN2 at 7 PM Eastern Standard Time
AT Rentschler Field in Hartford, Connecticut
USA vs. Latvia

Goal.com with a preview here. (http://goal.com/en-US/articolo.aspx?contenutoid=59547) Apparantly, we will not see Reyna (resting the hamstring), O'Brian (he somehow injured his achilles, but it's minor and I still don't like it), Bocanegra (suspended for the red card against Venezeula), or Berhalter (still needs to regain fitness, should be ready next week) play tonight.

Goal.com article notes that Latvia is going to throw their "A" squad on the field and they generally are better defensively than Venezeula. That makes tonight's game an important test for the USMNT tonight.

This article states that Kasey Keller will start tonight. Sorry Marcus Hahnemann. (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=369207&cc=5901)

Tonight's also a big night for DaMarcus Beasley. A poor showing tonight could mean not starting in Germany for Beasley. If he runs his heart out and is aggressive going for the ball, he'll likely keep is role. In other words, play a bit like Eddie Johnson in the Venezeula friendly.

Expected Line Up:
GK: Keller
Defense: Lewis-Oneywu-Pope-Cherundolo
Midfield: Beasley-Donovan (AMC)-Mastroeni (DMC)-Dempsey
Forward: McBride-Johnson

I hope the USA solves the Latvian defense and puts on a good showing. Most importantly, I hope there no injuries tonight!

GO USA!

I love Latvia. Their names are fun to say and spell.


Flipped in for a few minutes, USA generating a lot of pressure on the Latvian D

I only caught about 60 minutes of the game, but that included the be-yoo-tiful header by McBride (who earlier got a giant knot on his head from a Latvian player inadvertantly headbutting him) for the game's only goal. Here are my thoughts:

-The US just kept booging in on Latvia's territory in the first half and from what I saw of the second half. Just what I wanted to see. Hopefully the USA is capable of keeping up such an attack for a full 90 against more quality teams. The diamond 4-4-2 formation was great tonight, I think we may see that for the US in the WCs.

-Eddie Johnson, I think, secured his spot at the second forward to play with McBride. He was just unlucky in terms of scoring and constantly mugged by Latvia at times. If he runs around like that and goes for balls like he did against Latvia, the Czech, Italian, and Ghanan defenders are going to have a LOT to worry about. Ditto for Brian McBride and Landon Donovan.

-Eddie Lewis looked average at left back, I think Bocanegra will start there now. Steve Cherundolo looked very good, nothing much to write home about Eddie Pope or Jimmy Conrad, though. At least Conrad will sit for Oguchi Oneywu.

-DaMarcus Beasley didn't look all that great playing on the right midfield, but I don't know about Convey from what little I saw of him when he was substituted into the game for John O'Brian. Who knows who starts on the left-side there. I don't think it'll be O'Brian, but if you want him on the field with Claudio Reyna or Pablo Mastroeni (who also looked very good tonight) that may be the only way.

-A whole lot of fouling going on. And yet, some of the most clear cut calls against either side (i.e. Latvia just MUGGING Eddie Johnson a number of times in the box) were not called. 12 against the US, 24 against Latvia. I have a sinking feeling the reffing is going to be bad in the World Cup...

-Man of the Match: Brian McBride.

-Last thought: I soooo wish I could get one of those red jerseys...but ussoccerstore.com is out of stock right now. Boo.