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| Photo Credit: espn.go.com |
First the Women:
GOALKEEPERS:
Nicole Barnhart - The 30 year old Barnhart received her 42nd CAP earlier this month in the friendly versus New Zealand. While she allowed the only goal that the U.S. Women have conceded this year, she also got the win thanks to Alex Morgan's late game heroics. Barnhart started all 4 of the U.S.'s games in last year's Algarve Cup defeating Japan, Norway, Finland and Iceland.
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| Photo Credit: zimbio.com |
Ashlyn Harris - Harris, 26, was the 2011 WPS Goalkeeper of the Year while playing with the Western New York Flash. Though she has never appeared in a match with the senior National Team, she has experience with the U.S. Youth National Teams at the U-19 and U-21 levels.
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| Photo Credit: totalfootblog.com |
Hope Solo - Solo has started all six of the U.S.'s games this season and has not allowed a goal in 495 minutes of play. The winner of the "Golden Glove" award for best goalkeeper, and the "Bronze Ball" award for her overall performance at last year's World Cup, Solo has 109 CAPs and 60 career shutouts for the U.S.
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| Photo Credit: usatoday.com |
DEFENDERS:
Rachel Buehler - The 26 year old Buehler started 5 games during the 2011 World Cup scoring a goal against the North Koreans, but getting sent off against Brazil in the quarterfinals. Buehler was tied for the team lead in appearances in 2011 with 19 and she's made 4 more starts in 2012. She's scored 3 career goals in 72 international appearances.
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| Photo Credit: allvoices.com |
Stephanie Cox - Cox hasn't appeared in a game for the U.S. in 2012 after making 14 appearances in 2011. A member of the 2011 World Cup squad, Cox appeared as a substitute against Colombia and again against Sweden in group play. She's appeared in 78 games for the U.S. dating back to 2005.
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| Photo Credit: equalizersoccer.com |
Whitney Engen - Engen made her international debut in last year's Algave Cup appearing in games against Norway and Finland. The 4th overall pick in the 2010 WPS Draft turned 24 in November.
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| Photo Credit: accessathletes.com |
Meghan Klingenberg - Klingenberg, 23, made her National Team debut last year during the Four Nations Cup coming on as a late sub against Canada and again against China. A four-year starter at the University of North Carolina, Klingenberg was selected in the first round of the 2011 WPS draft.
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| Photo Credit: pitchsidereport.com |
Amy LePeilbet - LePeilbet didn't appear in last year's Algarve Cup, but started all six of the U.S.'s games in the 2011 World Cup. She's appeared in 60 games for the Senior National Team in her international career, but is still looking for her first goal.
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| Photo Credit: bleacherreport.com |
Heather Mitts - Mitts, 33, was on the World Cup roster last year, but didn't see the field. She's already made a pair of starts this year and picked up an assist in the U.S.'s 13-0 win over Guatemala. In her career, she's made 121 appearances for the U.S. and won gold at the Olympics in 2004 and again in 2008.
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| Photo Credit: mssl.org |
Kelley O’Hara - O'Hara won the 2009 Hermann Trophy (awarded to the top collegiate soccer player) in her senior year at Stanford. She debuted with the National Team in 2010, but 2012 has been by far her most productive year. Already this year, she's made 4 starts and tallied 3 assists.
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| Photo Credit: zimbio.com |
Christie Rampone - One of just four players to start all six of the U.S.'s games in 2012, the U.S. captain earned her 250th CAP in the friendly against New Zealand. Rampone trails only Kristine Lilly (352), Mia Hamm (275) and Julie Foudy (271) on the all-time U.S.A. appearances list.
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| Photo Credit: zimbio.com |
Becky Sauerbrunn - Sauerbrunn made just one appearance in the 2011 World Cup, starting in place of Rachel Buehler in the semifinals after Buehler was suspended following the red card she earned against Brazil. Sauerbrunn, 26, debuted with the Senior National Team in 2008 and has 18 CAPs including 3 in 2012.
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| Photo Credit: theshinguardian.com |
MIDFIELDERS:
Shannon Boxx - Boxx, 34, has appeared in 158 games for the U.S. in her international career dating back to 2003. The veteran midfielder scored in last year's Algarve Cup against Finland, her 22nd goal for the National Team. Boxx has appeared 5 times for the U.S. in 2012 and tallied an assist against Costa Rica in the semifinals of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
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| Photo Credit: zimbio.com |
Tobin Heath - The 23 year old Heath has scored in each of her two starts in 2012 tallying goals against the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica during the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Heath made 4 appearances as a substitute during the 2011 World Cup and has 5 goals in 36 career appearances dating back to 2008.
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| Photo Credit: equalizersoccer.com |
Lori Lindsey - Lindsey scored her first international goal against Guatemala last month. The 31 year old from Indianapolis has 28 career appearances for the U.S. including a start against Colombia during the 2011 World Cup.
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| Photo Credit: zimbio.com |
Carli Lloyd - Lloyd, 29, is tied for the team lead with 6 goals in 2012 highlighted by a hat trick against Mexico. She led the team with 19 starts in 2011 including all 6 games at the World Cup where she had an assist against Korea and then scored against Colombia. Lloyd is tied for second among active U.S. players with 34 goals trailing only Abby Wambach.
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| Photo Credit: fifa.com |
Heather O’Reilly - O'Reilly has 4 goals and 3 assists in 4 starts in 2012 including a hat trick against the Dominican Republic. Tied with Lloyd with 34 career goals, O'Reilly already has 156 CAPs at the age of 27. O'Reilly started 5 games at the 2011 World Cup scoring against Colombia and earning an assist in the semifinal against France.
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| Photo Credit: equalizersoccer.com |
Megan Rapinoe - Rapinoe was tied for the team lead in assists in 2011, but none were more memorable than her cross to Abby Wambach in the closing seconds of the World Cup Quarterfinal against Brazil. Despite being used primarily as a substitute, Rapinoe had a team high 3 assists during the tournament and added a goal against Colombia. Rapinoe scored her 12th career goal for the U.S. against Guatemala during Olympic Qualifying.
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| Photo Credit: zimbio.com |
Amy Rodriguez - Rodriguez tied a U.S. record with five goals despite only playing one half against the Dominican Republic last month. She's tied for the team scoring lead in 2012 with 6 goals to go along with 3 assists while appearing in all 6 of the U.S.'s matches this year. Rodriguez was held scoreless during the 2011 World Cup in 5 starts, but did score in both the Four Nations Cup and the Algarve Cup. In her career she has 23 goals in 79 appearances.
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| Photo Credit: zimbio.com |
FORWARDS:
Lauren Cheney - The 24 year old striker leads the U.S. with 7 assists in 2012 to go along with a pair of goals. Cheney was tied for the team lead in appearances in 2011 with 19 and her 5 assists matched Megan Rapinoe for the team lead. Three of those assists came during the World cup and she also added goals against Korea and France. In her career Cheney has 18 goals in 57 games.
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| Photo Credit: zimbio.com |
Sydney Leroux - The number one pick in the 2012 WPS Draft scored 5 goals after coming on as a sub at the half against Guatemala in what was only her second appearance with the National Team. The former UCLA striker will turn 22 in May.
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| Photo Credit: sports.yahoo.com |
Alex Morgan - The first overall pick in the 2011 WPS Draft, Morgan is tied for the team lead in goals in 2012 with 6, and tied for second with 6 assists. The 22 year old speedster recently tallied both goals in the U.S.'s come-from-behind win against New Zealand, and now has 16 goals in just 32 games for the U.S. Despite coming on as a substitute in 17 of her 19 appearances in 2011, Morgan still finished second on the U.S. in scoring with 6 goals including 3 in the Algarve Cup, and one each in the World Cup Semifinals against France and the World Cup Final against Japan.
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| Photo Credit: usatoday.com |
Abby Wambach - All you need to know about Wambach, now 31, is that she needs just 27 goals to tie Mia Hamm's record of 158. Already in 2012 Wambach has 6 goals and 6 assists. She led the team in scoring in 2011 with 8 goals including 4 during the World Cup.
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| Photo Credit: yanksarecoming.com |
SYNOPSIS:
Overall, it's about what you'd expect to see from the U.S. Women. 19 of the 20 players on the roster were on the Olympic Qualifying Team last month with only Ali Krieger, out with a torn ACL, missing. New additions Ashlynn Harris, Stephanie Cox, Whitney Engen and Meghan Klingenberg all place an emphasis on defense which makes sense considering the U.S. has scored 40 goals through their first six matches in 2012. Here's a look at the U.S. schedule for the Algarve Cup:
2/29/12 vs Denmark
3/02/12 vs Norway
3/05/12 vs Japan
Now the Men:
GOALKEEPERS:
Brad Guzan (Aston Villa) - The 27 year old Guzan finally got some significant time with Aston Villa this season following an injury to starting keeper Shay Given. Guzan made 6 starts in Premier League play picking up wins over Bolton Wanderers and Chelsea, while also delivering a victory over Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup. Guzan has not appeared in a game for the U.S. since he captained them to a 1-0 victory over South Africa in November of 2010.
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| Photo Credit: birminghammail.net |
Tim Howard (Everton) - Howard, 32, started 15 of the U.S.'s 17 games last year posting a record of 6-7-2 with 5 shutouts. Howard has started all 25 of Everton's Premier League matches this year and currently has them in 10th place despite their only scoring 26 goals, 3rd fewest in the league. Howard has 72 career appearances for the U.S. dating back to 2002.
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| Photo Credit: yanksarecoming.com |
Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake) - Rimando recently got the start in the U.S.'s 1-0 win over Panama. The 2009 MLS Cup MVP has made only 6 appearances for the National Team.
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| Photo Credit: deseretnews.com |
DEFENDERS:
Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers) - The U.S. Captain has three goals for Rangers in his first season in Scotland. Bocanegra tied Tim Howard with a team high 15 appearances in 2011 giving him an even 100 in his career, tying him for the 10th most in U.S. Men's history. Bocanegra had one assist for the U.S. in 2011, that coming in a friendly against Argentina. He has 12 career goals for the U.S. National Team, his last coming in a friendly against the Netherlands in 2010.
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| Photo Credit: football365.com |
Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo) - Cameron is back in camp after making a pair of starts in January against Venezuela and Panama. While he was sent off against Panama, his overall play was good as the U.S. defense didn't allow a goal in either match. Cameron was an MLS All-Star in 2011.
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| Photo Credit: chron.com |
Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg) - Chandler, 21, debuted for the U.S. last year making 8 appearances including 7 starts. A regular for Nürnberg, Chandler has started 18 of their 22 matches and scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Kaiserslautern in November.
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| Photo Credit: bleacherreport.com |
Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96) - The Hannover 96 team captain is now 33 years old, but the steady right back continues to be solid when he plays. His injury in the Gold Cup Final against Mexico last year arguably swung the game in Mexico's favor as the U.S. defense allowed 4 goals following his exit. Cherundolo has 78 career appearances with two goals for the U.S.
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| Photo Credit: bundesliga.de |
Clarence Goodson (Brøndby) - The 6'4" center back is in his second season with Danish club Brøndby. He made 10 appearances for the U.S. in 2011 featuring largely during the U.S.'s run to the Gold Cup Final and scored a goal in the U.S.'s 2-1 loss to Panama. Goodson also scored in the 2009 Gold Cup against Honduras and has 3 career international goals in 27 appearances.
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| Photo Credit: mlssoccer.com |
Michael Parkhurst (F.C. Nordsjælland) - The 28 year old former New England Revolution defender is in his fourth year in Denmark anchoring a defense that has allowed just 13 goals in 18 matches. Parkhurst started both of the U.S.'s friendlies in January working well starting play out of the back. Parkhurst now has 11 CAPs for the U.S.
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| Photo Credit: fcn.dk |
Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City) - The former Manchester United product currently has Birmingham City closing in on a return to the English Premier League. Spector has started 27 of the club's 31 games this season and has them in 3rd place in the English League Championship. Spector made just 5 appearances for the U.S. in 2011 giving him 33 in his career.
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| Photo Credit: soccerbyives.net |
MIDFIELDERS:
Michael Bradley (Chievo Verona) - Bradley led the U.S. with 3 assists in 2011 and also scored in the Gold Cup Final against Mexico. Bradley joined Italian Serie A club Chievo Verona this past August and has made 23 appearances for them while tallying an assist in their 2-1 win over Genoa. Bradley has appeared in 63 games for the U.S. tallying 9 goals.
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| Photo Credit: stamfordadvocate.com |
Maurice Edu (Rangers) - Edu has three goals in this, his fourth year with Rangers. The 25 year old center midfielder made 12 appearances for the U.S. in 2011 giving him 31 in his career. He scored in a friendly against the Czech Republic in 2010 for his only international goal although he did have a goal called back against Slovenia during the 2010 World Cup on what was a questionable call to say the least.
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| Photo Credit: dailymail.co.uk |
Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim) - The 24 year old Munich-born defender debuted with the U.S. in 2011 appearing in friendlies against France and Slovenia last November after spending parts of 5 years with the German youth National teams. Johnson has made 18 appearances this year for Hoffenheim tallying a goal and a team high four assists.
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| Photo Credit: sportsillustrated.cnn.com |
Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04) - The 30 year old Jones was arguably the best player on the field for the U.S. during their two friendlies last month. Jones assisted on Ricardo Clark's game winning goal against Venezuela, and was all over the field. An extremely physical player, Jones was carded in both matches for the U.S. this year, to go along with three more yellows in last summer's Gold Cup, and then 7 yellows and a red card for Schalke in addition to an 8-match suspension he received for stomping on a player's foot.
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| Photo Credit: phillysoccerpage.net |
Jose Torres (Pachuca) - Despite making the 2010 World Cup roster, Torres appeared just 3 times for the U.S. in 2011. The 24 year old Pachuca midfielder has been with his Mexican club since 2006, and has made 14 career appearances for the U.S including a start against Slovenia in the 2010 World Cup.
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| Photo Credit: bleacherreport.com |
Danny Williams (Hoffenheim) - Another German born American soccer player playing in Hoffenheim, Williams has an assist in 16 appearances for the 10th place Bundesliga club. Like Johnson, Williams debuted for the U.S. in 2011 making his first appearance in the U.S.'s 1-0 win over Honduras in October.
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| Photo Credit: soccerbyives.net |
FORWARDS:
Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar) - Relegated to a reserve role since mid December, Altidore's scoring pace has slowed somewhat for his Dutch club, but he still has 11 goals in 35 matches most recently tallying a brace against ADO Den Haag despite not entering the match until the 76th minute. Altidore scored 3 times for the U.S. in 2011 including twice at the Gold Cup before injuring his hamstring. He most recently found the back of the net against Slovenia when he converted a penalty in the U.S.'s 3-2 win.
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| Photo Credit: nj.com |
Terrence Boyd (Borussia Dortmund) - Yet another German born player that Klinsmann has added, Boyd currently features on the Borussia Dortmund reserve squad. Just 21 years old, Boyd hasn't yet appeared for the Senior National Team, but has been involved with the U.S. U-20s and U-23s.
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| Photo Credit: forum.soccermanager.com |
Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy) - Buddle makes his return to Major League Soccer this year after two seasons in Germany with FC Ingolstadt 04. Buddle made just 4 appearances for the U.S. in 2011, but scored his 3rd international goal in the win over Slovenia. Buddle scored 17 goals for the Galaxy in 2010 before leaving to play overseas at the end of the season.
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| Photo Credit: prostamerika.com |
Clint Dempsey (Fulham) - The U.S.'s leading scorer in 2011 is having his best professional season yet amassing 16 goals for Fulham across all competitions, including 10 in the Premier League. Dempsey currently ranks 4th among all U.S. players with 24 goals and needs just 6 more to tie Brian McBride at number three.
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| Photo Credit: betting.betfair.com |
Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy) - Donovan had a goal and two assists for the U.S. in 10 appearances in 2011, but he helped lead the Galaxy to the MLS Cup Championship. Donovan recently wrapped up a loan with Everton in which he notched 6 assists in 9 games.
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| Photo Credit: soccerjones.com |
SYNOPSIS:
This will be the first time that Klinsmann has had his two stars, Dempsey and Donovan, on the field together since taking over for Bob Bradley. With both players playing at an extremely high level right now, there's reason to be excited if you're a U.S. fan. The rest of the roster doesn't feature a ton of surprises with the exception of Terrence Boyd's inclusion. The 21 year old was training with the U-23s in preparation for their match with Mexico, but instead got the call to join the Senior Squad. The one glaring omission in my opinion is Anderlecht midfielder Sacha Kljestan who has been playing extremely well in Belgium, but even if he had made the trip, it's hard to say that he would've played, especially with Donovan, Dempsey, Bradley, Jones and Torres all making the trip.
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