[USA-BELGIUM] If it’s true that one learns more from failure than from success, Jurgen Klinsmann‘s men got educated real well against Belgiumon Wednesday, when in their fifth game of the year they failed once again to show any signs of an ability to play impressive attacking soccer. After the 4-2 loss to the Belgians inCleveland, […]
belgium
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
U.S. Report Card: Dempsey, Johnson are only bright spots
By Ridge Mahoney Few players will get off the hook after the USA conceded a 4-2 defeat to Belgium, albeit one of Europe’s most talented teams.The errors that cost the four goals were both individual (turnovers, inattention, poor positioning) as well as collective (lack of communication). Starters: RATING PLAYER (TEAM) GP/G 5 TIM HOWARD (Everton/ENG) […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Stinker exposes all that's worrying about the USA
By Paul Kennedy It would be easy to say that one team came to play and the other did not, but the USA’s 4-2 loss to Belgium Wednesday night atCleveland’s FirstEnergy Stadium once again exposed all that is worrying about the U.S. national team on the eve of its busiest stretch of the year. The […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Benteke's stock rises quickly — perhaps too quickly
[USA-BELGIUM] A survey of national teams last year ranked Belgium’s national team lineup as the third most expensive in the world at $231 million, behind onlyBrazil and Portugal, and that was before Russian club Zenit St. Petersburg paid the ridiculous sum of $56 million to Benfica for midfielder Axel Witsel. Noplayer has seen his stock […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
New U.S. midfield pairing gets test
[USA-BELGIUM] With Michael Bradley just arriving in camp following the conclusion of his first season at Roma and Maurice Edu injured, Jurgen Klinsmann will go with a new tandem in central midfield — Jermaine Jones and Sacha Kljestan — for Wednesday’s friendly against Belgium in Cleveland (TV: ESPN, UniMas, 8 pm ET). Otherwise, the U.S. […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Edu, Ashe and Shea out
[USA-BELGIUM] The USA will be short-handed for Wednesday’s friendly against Belgium in Cleveland. Maurice Edu and Corey Ashe withdrew because of injuries, while Brek Shea headed to Dallas for treatment on his right calf strain. Five otherplayers are unavailable because of recent or ongoing club commitments, leaving Jurgen Klinsmann with just 18 field players for […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Red Devils loaded for Cleveland match
[BELGIUM] Belgium is bringing a star-studded team, including a host of English Premier League stars and young keeper ThibautCourtois, who won Spain’s Copa del Rey with Atletico Madrid on Friday, for its friendly against the USA on May 29 in Cleveland. Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen and Chelsea winger Eden Hazard were named to the 2013 […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Kljestan goal helps Anderlecht move closer to title
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Sacha Kljestan, who was called up to the U.S. national team on Thursday, celebrated with the firstgoal in Anderlecht’s 4-2 win at Lokeren that moved it closer to clinching its second straight Belgian Jupiler League title. Hercules Gomez‘s Santos fell at hometo Cruz Azul, 3-0, in the first leg of their Torneo Clausura […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Kljestan scores in Anderlecht playoff win
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Sacha Kljestan scored defending champion Anderlecht’s third goal in 37th minute as it beat Lokeren,3-0, for its first win in four games in the Belgium’s Jupiler League playoffs. Anderlecht, which was first in the regular season with a four-point lead, is four points ahead ofsecond-place Standard Liege after four games in the 10-game […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Hazard Thanks EPL for Consistency
In an interview with French publication L’Equipe, Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard reflects on the lessons he’s learned in his first season in the EnglishPremier League. The Belgium international, who scored in each of his country’s two victories in World Cup qualifying during the international break, feels the most important improvement to hisgame has been consistency. […]