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It’s the USA vs. Italy today in Genoa at Stadium Luigi Ferraris. Kickoff is at 11:30am PT on ESPN 2, 3, 4 and 37 and in Spanish on Galavision.

Jurgen Klinsmann used to man the attack for Sampdoria in the same stadium today that the US battles Italy...

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USA line-up - *official

Genoa's Stadia Luigi Ferraris

Stadium history//Video (worth a watch)

Jurgen Klinsmann’s men saunter onto the Stadio Luigi Ferraris pitch Wednesday in Genoa looking to ignite some offensive fireworks (pun intended) that were on display last time they were in Europe–a 3-2 win over Slovenia last November.

The States will also looking to tighten the defense; something they did against France that trip quite well.

With Klinsmann only having a two-day camp and one game evaluation and with a roster that seems to be continually morphing–Landon Donovan and Timmy Chandler were ruled out late Sunday night while Sacha Kljestan and Brek Shea were shuttled in–the Americans will likely have yet another new starting eleven. Oguchi Onyewu and Jose Torres join the scratches along with the aforementioned Donovan and Chandler.

The Klinsmann mantra of preaching consistency among player development–that is getting reps together–seems to be facing some challenges in the wake of mounting player injuries and solid play of some of the youngsters.

Boyd: "But, hey, I'm ready..."

On the latter note, the roster addition of the Borussia Dortmund reservist Terrence Boyd was described Monday to reporter Brian Sciaretti in Genoa. Said Klinsmman on Boyd:

“[Terrence Boyd] brings an energy to the group. He’s a high-pressure player. He goes at defenders, he goes at people. That’s what he loves to do. From there he wants to go in the box and finishes things off. I wanted to personally see him. I wanted to get a sense for him.”

On the former, the injury to Chandler in particular may create a positive shuffling of the depth chart as well.

And in particular, both the midfield and the defense will see turnover and re-jiggered player positioning among those already in camp.

The Italians enter to the game with much more team cohesion than the States and could boast as many as five players in the starting eleven who regularly start together at Serie A club Juventus. The US–who has struggled to develop any sort of an offensive attack against above-average opponents–save Slovenia–will be hard-pressed to score against the Italian unit as well.

(Note: The over-under line on tired Catenaccio references during the broaddcast and on Twitter Wednesday already has moved from 279 to 361.)

Let’s get to our customary preview. Per usual it goes:

TSG: What We’re Looking For

About The Opponent: Italy

11 At The Whistle

Gotta be better that 7-1, right? The US "forces" marching to their destruction by Italy in the 1934 World Cup in Italy....

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TSG What We’re Looking For

Leftback Chain Reaction:

The Timothy Chandler injury–while a pain in the butt–might be a blessing in disguise here for the US.

Where wil Fabian roll on Wednesday?

Pairing Chandler’s absence with: a) the original roster’s top-heavy forward focus, b) the lack of leftback prospect in camp currently beyond perhaps Jonathan Spector and c) the late addition of Shea, it seems highly likely that  TSG (no relation) 1899 Hoffenheim man Fabian Johnson will man the leftback spot for the Yanks.

Johnson represents perhaps the Yanks best option at leftback if only because he’s: a) left-footed has a left-foot and b) he’s seen some time there. Remember  Chandler does not play at leftback for Nurnberg and has been prone to positioning hiccups when deployed there for the States.

With Johnson at leftback and with Carlos Bocanegra likely to start in his customary captain’s spot, the US will have a pairing at leftback not seen since Klinsmann tested out Edgar Castillo at the spot a few months ago. Two left-foot dominant player comfortable playing the ball to the outside instead of in-cutting or relying exclusively on the holder to bail them out.

Despite Bocanegra’s obvious distribution flaws–and you should look for them on Wednesday and see how they impact the attack–the US should actually be able to move the ball up the left flank more effectively than any other time in Klinsmann’s tenure–if in fact Johnson is Wednesday’s solution.

Continually, should Johnson’s impress against the Italians, it may pave the way for Chandler to compete for more time on the right flank where–in this writer’s opinion–he naturally belongs and isn’t robbed from the offensive swashbuckling that his left peg handicaps him from on the opposite side.

Continue reading »

Jay Bell is excited for the new campaign. Are you?

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Our USA-Italy preview up later today…..

Shea, back in effect...

U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has added midfielder Sacha Kljestan and forward Brek Shea to the training camp roster ahead of the match against Italy on Feb. 29 in Genoa. Timmy Chandler (left hamstring strain), Landon Donovan (bronchitis), and Jose Torres (right hamstring strain) have all been forced to withdraw from the squad.

Further roster additions may be made Monday afternoon.Interesting….

Will the Deuce get loose?

Jordanesque

The US roster to face Italy next week.

Cameron...moving up in the world...outta my way!

GOALKEEPERS (3) :Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS (7) :Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Michael Parkhurst (FC Nordsjaelland), Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City)

MIDFIELDERS (6) : Michael Bradley (Chievo Verona), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Jose Torres (Pachuca), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim)

FORWARDS (5) :Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Terrence Boyd (Borussia Dortmund), Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)