The USMNT heads back to Europe to take on four-time World Cup champions Italy in a friendly match on Wednesday, Feb 29. American fans can watch USA vs Italy live at 2:30 pm ET on ESPN2, ESPN3 and Galavision.
Coach Jurgen Klinsmann released the 21-man roster yesterday. Notably, though not surprisingly, missing from the lineup are Oguchi Onyewu and Kyle Beckerman, both sidelined by injury, and Brek Shea and Juan Agudelo, who are busy with U-23 Olympic Qualifying duties. However, leaving out Anderlecht’s Sacha Kljestan was a surprise, especially given the roster’s heavily European slant. The midfielder has had a great season with the leading Belgian side.
Other stray thoughts on the lineup
* Landon Donovan plays to the level of his opponents, which is why watching him play in the English Premier League is such a treat. His second loan spell with Everton just ended; hopefully his form hasn’t slipped back into mediocre MLS autopilot yet and he’ll give us all something to cheer for. Donovan will be playing with Clint Dempsey for the first time since Klinsmann took over the team last summer. Figuring out just how to use our two best offensive players will be a key outcome of this match.
* If I never see Jonathan Spector’s name on a USMNT roster again, it will be too soon. Given our lack of defensive depth, his inclusion on the bench, while disappointing, makes sense. So I’ll focus on the positives – at least he’s not Jonathan Bornstein.
* Jermaine Jones’ attitude is a problem (see his recent eight-game suspension), and I don’t particularly enjoy watching his performances. Clearly, he’s technically superior in many ways, but he’s also shown a fondness for cheap play and underhanded tactics that really bother me. He didn’t come by his ‘nastiest player’ nickname by accident.
Here’s the full roster
GOALKEEPERS (3) – Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (7) – Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Timmy Chandler (Nurnberg), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Michael Parkhurst (FC Nordsjaelland), Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City)
MIDFIELDERS (6) – Michael Bradley (Chievo Verona), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Fabian Johnson (1899 Hoffenheim), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Jose Francisco Torres (Pachuca), Danny Williams (1899 Hoffenheim)
FORWARDS (5) – Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Terrence Boyd (Borussia Dortmund), Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)
Update Feb. 27 – Last-minute roster shakeup! Sacha Kljestan and Brek Shea to replace Landon Donovan (bronchitis), Timmy Chandler, Jose Torres and Jermaine Jones (injured).
And here are some more upcoming games for you rabid footy fans
Where to watch the best soccer games on US television networks, including ESPN, Fox Soccer and Telefutura. All times Eastern.
FRIDAY, FEB. 24
| Time | League or Competition | Teams | Network | Live or Replay? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00a | Carling Cup: Semifinal, 2nd Leg | Cardiff City vs. Crystal Palace | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 3:00a | FA Cup: 5th Round | Sunderland vs. Arsenal | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 3:00a | Spanish La Liga | Sporting Gijon vs. Atletico Madrid | GolTV | Replay |
| 4:00a | Italian Serie A | Lazio vs. Udinese | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 9:00a | Carling Cup Soccer | Stoke City vs. Liverpool | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 11:00a | Carling Cup: Quarterfinal | Manchester United vs. Crystal Palace | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 1:00p | Italian Serie A | Palermo vs. Lazio | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 2:30p | German Bundesliga | Borussia M’gladbach vs. Hamburg SV | GolTV | Live |
| 3:00p | FA Cup: 5th Round | Stevenage vs. Tottenham Hotspurs | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 5:00p | Football Rivalries | Arsenal vs. Tottenham and Dinamo Zagreb vs. Hajduk Split | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 5:00p | UEFA Europa League | Manchester United vs. Ajax Amsterdam | GolTV | Replay |
| 8:00p | UEFA Champions League | FC Basel vs. Bayern Munich | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 9:30p | Mexican Soccer | Correcaminos UAT vs. Cruz Azul Hidalgo | GolTV | Live |
| 11:00p | UEFA Champions League | NapoliITA vs. ChelseaING | Fox Soccer | Replay |
SATURDAY, FEB. 25
| Time | League or Competition | Teams | Network | Live or Replay? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00a | Carling Cup: Semifinal, 2nd Leg | Liverpool vs. Manchester City | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 3:00a | UEFA Champions League | Olympique de Marseille vs. Inter Milan | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 4:00a | Italian Serie A | Napoli vs. Bologna | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 7:40a | English npower Championship | West Ham United vs. Crystal Palace | Fox Soccer Plus | Live |
| 9:30a | German Bundesliga | Cologne vs. Bayer Leverkusen | GolTV | Live |
| 9:53a | English Premier League | Queens Park Rangers vs. Fulham | Fox Soccer Plus | Live |
| 10:00a | English Premier League | Chelsea vs. Bolton Wanderers | Fox Soccer | Live |
| 11:55a | Italian Serie A | Genoa vs. Parma | Fox Soccer Plus, ESPN3 | Live |
| 12:00p | Spanish La Liga | Betis vs. Getafe | GolTV | Live |
| 12:25p | German Bundesliga | Werder Bremen vs. Nurnberg | ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 | Live |
| 12:30p | English Premier League | Manchester City vs. Blackburn | Fox Soccer | Live |
| 2:00p | English Premier League | West Bromwich Albion vs. Sunderland | Fox Soccer Plus | Taped |
| 2:30p | Italian Serie A | AC Milan vs. Juventus | Fox Soccer, ESPN3 | Live |
| 3:15p | Portuguese Liga | Academica de Coimbra vs. Benfica | ESPN3 | Live |
| 3:30p | Brazilian Soccer | Corinthians vs. Botafogo | GolTV | Live |
| 3:50p | Spanish La Liga | Espanyol vs. Levante | ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 | Live |
| 4:00p | English Premier League | Wigan Athletic vs. Aston Villa | Fox Soccer Plus | Taped |
| 5:00p | English Premier League | Newcastle United vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers | Fox Soccer | Taped |
| 5:55p | Mexican Primera Division | Jaguares de Chiapas vs. U.A. de G. | ESPN Deportes | Live |
| 5:55p | Mexican Primera Division | Monterrey vs. Puebla | Galavision | Live |
| 6:00p | English npower Championship | Middlesbrough vs. Reading | Fox Soccer Plus | Taped |
| 7:55p | Mexican Primera Division | San Luis vs. Atlas | Galavision | Live |
| 8:00p | English Premier League | Chelsea vs. Bolton Wanderers | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 8:00p | Mexican Primera Division | Pachuca vs. Tigres | Telefutura, ESPN Deportes | Live |
| 9:00p | Spanish La Liga | Espanyol vs. Levante | ESPN Deportes | Replay |
| 10:00p | Mexican Primera Division | Atlanta vs. America | Telefutura | Live |
| 11:00p | Italian Serie A | AC Milan vs. Juventus | Fox Soccer | Replay |
SUNDAY, FEB. 26
| Time | League or Competition | Teams | Network | Live or Replay? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00a | English Premier League | Queens Park Rangers vs. Fulham | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 1:00a | Australian A-League | Melbourne Heart vs. Central Coast Mariners | Fox Soccer | Live |
| 3:00a | Italian Serie A | Genoa vs. Parma | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 6:30a | Dutch Eredivisie | Excelsior vs. Ajax Amsterdam | ESPN3 | Live |
| 8:23a | English Premier League | Norwich City vs. Manchester United | Fox Soccer Plus | Live |
| 8:25a | English Premier League | Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur | Fox Soccer | Live |
| 8:30a | Dutch Eredivisie | PSV Eindhoven vs. Feyenoord Rotterdam | ESPN3 | Live |
| 9:30a | German Bundesliga | Bayern Munich vs. Schalke 04 | ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 | Live |
| 9:50a | Spanish La Liga | Rayo Vallecano vs. Real Madrid | ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 | Live |
| 10:30a | English Premier League | Stoke City vs. Swansea City | Fox Soccer Plus | Taped |
| 11:00a | Carling Cup: Final | Liverpool vs. Cardiff City | Fox Soccer | Live |
| 11:50a | Spanish La Liga | Valencia vs. Sevilla FC | ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 | Live |
| 12:00p | Spanish La Liga | Real Sociedad vs. Mallorca | GolTV | Live |
| 1:00p | Mexican Primera Division | Pumas U.N.A.M. vs. Queretaro | Univision | Live |
| 2:30p | Italian Serie A | Napoli vs. Inter Milan | Fox Soccer, ESPN3 | Live |
| 2:45p | Italian Serie A | Lazio vs. Fiorentina | ESPN3 | Live |
| 3:00p | French Ligue 1 | Stade Rennais FC vs. LOSC Lille Metrople | Fox Soccer Plus | Live |
| 3:30p | Spanish La Liga | Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona | GolTV | Live |
| 5:00p | Italian Serie A | AC Milan vs. Juventus | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 5:00p | Carling Cup: Final | Liverpool vs. Cardiff City | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 5:00p | Mexican Primera Division | Chivas de Guadalajara vs. Santos | Telemundo | Replay |
| 5:30p | Argentinian Soccer | Boca Juniors vs. Newell’s Old Boys | GolTV | Live |
| 7:00p | English Premier League | Norwich City vs. Manchester United | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 7:30p | Argentinian Soccer | Sp. Desamparados vs. River Plate | GolTV | Live |
| 9:00p | Football Rivalries | Arsenal vs. Tottenham and Dinamo Zagreb vs. Hajduk Split | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 9:00p | Spanish La Liga | Rayo Vallecano vs. Real Madrid | ESPN Deportes | Replay |
| 11:00p | English Premier League | Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur | Fox Soccer | Replay |
MONDAY, FEB. 27
| Time | League or Competition | Teams | Network | Live or Replay? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00a | English Premier League | Stoke City vs. Swansea City | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 3:00a | Italian Serie A | Napoli vs. Inter Milan | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 4:00a | English npower Championship | Middlesbrough vs. Reading | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 4:00a | Spanish La Liga | Espanyol vs. Levante | ESPN Deportes | Replay |
| 9:00a | French Ligue 1 | Stade Rennais FC vs. LOSC Lille Metrople | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 11:00a | Carling Cup: Final | Liverpool vs. Cardiff City | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 1:00p | Italian Serie A | AC Milan vs. Juventus | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 5:00p | International Friendly | England vs. France | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 5:00p | Australian A-League | Melbourne Heart vs. Central Coast Mariners | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 7:00p | Premier League Archives | Tottenham Hotspur vs. Arsenal | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 8:00p | Italian Serie A | Roma vs. Lazio | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 9:00p | English Premier League | Queens Park Rangers vs. Fulham | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 11:00p | English Premier League: 2010/11 | Arsenal vs. Liverpool | Fox Soccer | Replay |
TUESDAY, FEB. 28
| Time | League or Competition | Teams | Network | Live or Replay? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3:00a | English Premier League | Newcastle United vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 4:00a | English npower Championship | Middlesbrough vs. Reading | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 9:00a | English npower Championship | West Ham United vs. Crystal Palace | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 11:00a | English Premier League | Wigan Athletic vs. Aston Villa | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 1:00p | Italian Serie A | AC Milan vs. Inter Milan | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 2:00p | International Friendly | Brazil vs. Bosnia Herzegovina | GolTV | Live |
| 3:00p | FA Archives: International Friendly | England vs. Brazil | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 5:00p | Carling Cup: Final | Liverpool vs. Cardiff City | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 5:00p | French Ligue 1 | Stade Rennais FC vs. LOSC Lille Metrople | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 7:30p | The FA Classic Collection: 2003/04 | Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester City | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 8:00p | English Premier League | Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 9:00p | English Premier League | Norwich City vs. Manchester United | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 11:00p | FA Archives: International Friendly | England vs. Argentina | Fox Soccer | Replay |
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 29
| Time | League or Competition | Teams | Network | Live or Replay? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3:00a | English Premier League | Manchester City vs. Blackburn | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 4:00a | English Premier League | Sunderland vs. Arsenal | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 9:00a | English Premier League | West Bromwich Albion vs. Sunderland | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 11:00a | English npower Championship | Middlesbrough vs. Reading | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 11:55a | International Friendly | Montenegro vs. Iceland | ESPN Deportes | Live |
| 1:00p | UEFA U-21 Euro Qualifier | England vs. Belgium | Fox Soccer | Live |
| 2:30p | International Friendly | Italy vs. United States | ESPN2, ESPN3, Galavision | Live |
| 2:00p | International Friendly | Switzerland vs. Argentina | GolTV | Live |
| 3:00p | International Friendly | England vs. Netherlands | Fox Soccer | Live |
| 3:25p | International Friendly | Spain vs. Venezuela | ESPN Deportes | Live |
| 5:00p | English Premier League | Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 5:00p | Italian Serie A | Genoa vs. Parma | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 6:00p | International Friendly | Germany vs. France | ESPN Deportes | Taped |
| 8:00p | International Friendly | England vs. Netherlands | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 8:00p | International Friendly | Mexico vs. Colombia | Univision | Live |
| 8:00p | Brazilian Soccer | Corinthians vs. Catundevense | GolTV | Live |
| 9:00p | English Premier League | Stoke City vs. Swansea City | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 10:00p | U-23 Soccer | United States vs. Mexico | Univision | Live |
| 11:00p | UEFA U-21 Euro Qualifier | England vs. Belgium | Fox Soccer | Replay |
THURSDAY, MARCH 1
| Time | League or Competition | Teams | Network | Live or Replay? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3:00a | English Premier League | Chelsea vs. Bolton Wanderers | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 4:00a | French Ligue 1 | Stade Rennais FC vs. LOSC Lille Metrople | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 9:00a | Italian Serie A | Genoa vs. Parma | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 11:00a | English Premier League | Queens Park Rangers vs. Fulham | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 1:00p | Italian Serie A | Inter Milan vs. AC Milan | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 3:00p | English Premier League | Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 5:00p | Italian Serie A | AC Milan vs. Juventus | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 5:00p | English Premier League | Swansea City vs. Norwich City | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 7:00p | The FA Classic Collection | Liverpool vs. Arsenal | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 8:00p | Carling Cup: Final | Liverpool vs. Cardiff City | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 8:30p | The FA Classic Collection | Leicester City vs. Tottenham Hotspur | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 9:00p | English npower Championship | West Ham United vs. Crystal Palace | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 11:00p | International Friendly | England vs. Netherlands | Fox Soccer | Replay |
