3.19.13
ASN Morning Read: Your American Roster Reactions
The opinions are coming! It's the day after Jurgen Klinsmann announced the 23 men who will attempt to ward off Costa Rica and Mexico, which means one thing: It's time for everyone to sound off.
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Everyone has thoughts about Monday's United States roster release. John Godfrey plays the "what we heard" game and plays it well. Grant Wahl goes to town on the decision to leave Carlos Bocanegra off the roster. The boys at MLSSoccer.com chat about everything on their podcast. The big takeaway: Earn three points in Denver and don't get blown off the field in Mexico. (Editorializing for a second here: Anyone think low expectations in Azteca might be the best thing for this U.S. team? No expectations equal results. Perhaps.)
Spotlight dance: Brad Guzan. Jeff Carlisle talks to the former Mr. Anonymity. Your key quote: "I'm one of the older players, and as a goalkeeper, you have to be a leader and a vocal presence because you see the whole field. And I think a big thing was my maturity, taking the good with the bad, and just getting on with it and trying to get better. Specifically, I try to be a dominant force in the back, and try to help the back four relieve pressure in terms of balls in the air, shot-stopping." He better help dominate if the U.S. hopes to get out of the WCQs alive.
Jozy Altidore, meet Brian McBride. Klinsmann, apparently, called the former American striker into camp, not to play but to help train the forwards. I gotta say, I like this move though I worry if McBride will have enough time to prepare for his Fox segments.
Oh hey: Highlights from the U.S. 3-2 victory over Costa Rica at the 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup. (h/t Soccer Over There)
This, courtesy of Jon Arnold, has absolutely nothing to do with American soccer but it's totally wild: There were 16 yellow cards in the Granada-Levante match over the weekend, and not a single red card. Heck, I'm not even mad; that's amazing.
