Join Now  | 
Home About Contact Us Privacy & Security Advertise
Soccer America Daily Special Edition Around The Net Soccer Business Insider College Soccer Reporter Youth Soccer Reporter Soccer on TV Soccer America Classifieds
Paul Gardner: SoccerTalk Soccer America Confidential Youth Soccer Insider World Cup Watch
RSS Feeds Archives Manage Subscriptions Subscribe
Order Current Issue Subscribe Manage My Subscription Renew My Subscription Gift Subscription
My Account Join Now
Tournament Calendar Camps & Academies Soccer Glossary Classifieds
2. USA-GUATEMALA: Last chance for Eddie Johnson?
March 28th, 2007 2:07AM
Subscribe to Soccer America Daily


MOST READ


By Ridge Mahoney

Will this be the final, last, drop-dead chance that Eddie Johnson gets to get back on the beam for the national team?

He has a good track record against Guatemala, against which he scored last year in a 4-0 rout as well as in a World Cup qualifier in 2005. The match is being played at Pizza Hut Park in Dallas, where he played a few productive, if unsettled, seasons before being shipped off to Kansas City.

(TV: USA-Guatemala, Wednesday, 9 pm ET, live on ESPN2 and Galavision.)

Yet Johnson, who played inconsistently but not horribly in his 45 minutes against Ecuador, may be left on the bench in favor of Kenny Cooper, who banged in 11 goals for FC Dallas last year and scored on his U.S. debut against Denmark.

There will be a large Cooper contingent at the match, headed by his father, former Dallas Tornado goalkeeper Ken Cooper Sr.

With Brian Ching having rejoined Houston displaying a slightly dented nose, Coach Bob Bradley faces the same dilemma he does every game, the same conundrum: Does he need Donovan more in midfield or as a forward? The pairing of Benny Feilhaber and Michael Bradley clicked nicely in the second half against the tiring Ecuadorians, and pairing Donovan with Cooper would give Bradley a long look at that combination.

Or Donovan could start in midfield, as he did against Ecuador, to give Taylor Twellman a start at forward. A reshuffled back line - Oguchi Oneywu and Carlos Bocanegra were released to their English teams - opens up opportunities for Jonathan Spector, Frank Simek and Jay DeMerit to join Jimmy Conrad. Tim Howard is also back in England, so veteran Kasey Keller has first call in goal since the 2006 World Cup.

Guatemala isn't expected to present stiff opposition, and the U.S. will face Guatemala again at the Gold Cup in June, so this game might turn out to be more of a high-paced scrimmage. Yet it's vitally important to the players, especially those without caps or a very few, to show well for Bradley.

If he retains the head coaching position, Bradley has a slew of decisions to make regarding the Gold Cup and Copa America tournaments in June and July. Approximately 40 players could be called in, and those decisions will likely be made long before the training camp in late May and June 2 friendly against China that leads into a very busy four weeks.


No comments yet.

Sign in to leave a comment. Don't have an account? Join Now


AUTHORS

ARCHIVES
FOLLOW SOCCERAMERICA

Recent Soccer America Daily
What They're Saying    
"It's easy to enjoy your vacation and enjoy some cold beers and swimming pools on a ...
Gotta keep your eye on the ball, keeper!    
[VIDEO PICK: Off the Post] This own goal, which turned out to be a Finnish First ...
Mexico hopes to continue mastery of Brazil    
[CONFEDERATIONS CUP] Mexico may be slumping, but Brazil considers it a thorn in its side -- ...
Jozy and Johnson move USA closer to Brazil    
[USA-HONDURAS] Jozy Altidore has paved a smooth path to Brazil for the USA. The red-hot striker ...
Thorns FC lands Weimer from Fortuna Hjorring    
[NWSL] Portland Thorns FC, tied for first place with Sky Blue FC, signed forward Tiffany Weimer ...
Several scenarios possible for U.S. clincher on Day 7    
[HEXAGONAL] The USA clinched a berth in the World Cup 2006 finals when its 2-0 win ...
Bombazos keep Ticos in second place    
[HEXAGONAL] Costa Rica remained in second place two points behind the USA in the Hexagonal with ...
Altidore does it again to move Yanks closer to World Cup    
[USA-HONDURAS] The USA beat Honduras, 1-0, on Jozy Altidore's goal in the 73rd minute -- his ...
Important games on tap for Montreal and Portland    
[MLS SCHEDULE: Week 17] The surprise teams of the season so far face tough tests Wednesday ...
The 'Special 1' as you've never seen him before     
[VIDEO PICK: Special 1] Jose Mourinho opens up for a heartfelt chat where the coach talks ...
>> Soccer America Daily Archives