6.14.13
ASN Morning Read: Jozy Altidore Isn't Sitting Down
The United States national team striker isn't talking to the media but he's tearing it up on the field; Landon Donovan's future will shake out in the near future; you ready to buy a ticket to Brazil?
BY
Jesse Yomtov
Posted
June 14, 2013
9:12 AM
More Jozy Altidore hype! Leander Schaerlaeckens takes a look at Altidore’s terrific run of form over the last few weeks and how his silence speaks volumes. He hasn’t spoken to the media directly since joining camp at the end of May, focusing on soccer. “When we’re playing this well, whoever is playing forward is going to have success and fortunately that’s me,” Altidore said in a recorded statement after Tuesday’s match vs. Panama. As Schaerlaeckans says, “[Altidore] at just 23, has a solid decade of football ahead of him.”
It’s looking unlikely that September’s qualifier at Costa Rica will be played at the Saprissa. The stadium isn’t good enough for FIFA, who inspected the field because Costa Rica is hosting the 2014 Women’s U-17 World Cup. We’re probably looking at the match being played at the National Stadium in San Jose. Payback for the snow game appears to have failed. Sorry, bros.
Jonah Freedman gives gives three reasons we can start booking our flights to Brazil next summer. The first-choice lineup is finally taking shape, the team is getting better with the ball, and the crisis game is long over. There have been plenty of moments of doubt in the last year, but we’re indeed nearing the point where the U.S. can feel confident in qualification.
You didn’t think we could go a few weeks without talking about Landon Donovan, did you? Kyle McCarthy says says Donovan’s future path has to take shape sooner or later. If he indeed makes the Gold Cup roster, Jurgen Klinsmann will likely lean heavily on Donvoan without guys like Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley. “The confidence is there. The comfort is there. I'm ready to break out,” Donovan said recently. Time will tell if that comes with the national team.
Nottingham Forest seems to be lining up a bid for Eric Lichaj. The 24-year-old’s national team career has stalled out since the 2011 Gold Cup and as Sky Sports so brilliantly points out, Lichaj “will want to enjoy a positive 2013/14 to boost his World Cup ambitions ahead of next summer.” Expert analysis.
Even though we’re all having a good laugh at Mexico’s Hex performance thus far, ESPN’s Rafael Ramos Villagrana thinks El Tri will find success in the Confederations Cup. It’s a solid argument that the Mexicans won’t have to fight to grind out every single inch like they do in CONCACAF. “Does anyone believe that Italy and Brazil's superstars will take the field with the same motivation, hunger, conviction, passion, and unwavering commitment as Jamaica, Panama, and Costa Rica will, ready to give it their all in every slide tackle?” Good question. A bit self-deprecating, but a valid point indeed.
