USMNT Friendlies against Belgium and Germany

Major European Opponents Provide Major Opportunities

Two friendlies this week against Belgium and Germany will prove to be very tough tests for the United States ahead of their World Cup qualifiers in June.  Belgium is an up and coming power in Europe that has loads of talent in their squad, most of which is very young.  Eden Hazard, Vincent Kompany, and Marouane Fellaini are just a few of the big names you will see on the field for the Belgians tonight.  Then on Sunday, traditional powerhouse Germany awaits.  Even though the Germans will be without many of their best players when they go up against the Americans on Sunday night, their squad will still be filled with quality.  You need to look no further than their 4-2 drubbing of Ecuador earlier today, where Germany lead 4-0 after just twenty-four minutes.  While the U.S. will be underdogs in both matches, Klinsmann's players have played their best when the lights have shined brightest.  No one can forget the win in Italy last year, or the Yankees being undefeated in their last two matches against Mexico in Azteca.  Winning these games would be great for boosting the team's confidence level before qualifiers resume, but the important thing is figuring out which eleven will be the ones to take the field when World Cup qualification is on the line.  That being said, here's what I'm looking to see in these two matches.

1. The return of Stu Holden.
   
   This is what I'm most excited to see happen in these two matches.  Holden was having the best year of his career in the 2010-11 season, and was running the show for Bolton before suffering a horrific leg injury against Manchester United.  He faced a long road of recovery, and is now finally healthy and back with the national squad.  Since he only made four appearances for Bolton in the Championship this season, these two friendlies will be crucial to gauge what type of player Holden is right now.  If he can show the form he exhibited in the 2010-11 season, there is no doubt that he will be playing serious minutes in the upcoming qualifiers, as his fitness will only get better with more training.  Holden can be a big difference-maker when he's at his best, it's just a matter of seeing whether he's regained that form.
2. Can Gonzales and Besler repeat their strong performance from Azteca?
   
   After keeping a clean sheet at Azteca in March, you have to think that this is who Klinsmann will go with as his two central defenders.  Allowing no goals on the road in Mexico City is incredible feat, but these two will be put to the test by both the Belgian and German attackers.  Solid performances from these two would go a long way to solidifying their spots for the upcoming qualifiers, but for Brazil as well.  The last thing the Yanks want are more questions about the back line heading into the next round of qualifiers.  
3. Will someone step up and claim the open spot at left back for the USMNT?
   
   Damarcus Beasley filled the void well at the position in the game at Azteca.  However, Beasley is really a left winger, so Klinsmann would probably like to see a defender step up and claim the spot.  The most likely to do that is Fabian Johnson, but he will be arriving late to camp due to club requirements in the Bundesliga. Beasley will probably get the start tonight against Belgium with Johnson absent, and if he can have another strong performance, the spot may be his to lose even when Johnson does come back.
4. Can Altidore find the net for the Yanks?
   
   Jozy had a career year for his club AZ Alkmaar, becoming the first American player to score 30 goals in a European league.  The man was an absolute beast in the Eredivisie.  Yet Altidore hasn't found found the back of the net for his country since 2011, and the U.S. has only managed two goals in three qualifiers so far.  If Jozy can replicate his club form for the national team, the Yanks shouldn't have any problem in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.  All he needs is just one to get him going, so the distributors in the midfield should be looking to get Altidore as many chances as possible in these two friendlies. 
5. The absence of the greatest American player to ever lace them up.
   
   Landon Donovan has come back from his soccer sabbatical, and has been performing fairly well for the Los Angeles Galaxy.  Despite his return to the game, Klinsmann did not include him in his roster for this round of friendlies of qualifiers.  If the U.S. doesn't perform well this week, fans and the media will be clamoring for the return of Donovan, which could be possible in the form of an injury replacement.  There is no doubt that Donovan can be moody at times, as evidenced by his sabbatical which included a trip to Cambodia.  At the same time though, you can't deny that Donovan makes an impact for the team any time he puts on the national kit.  Defenses have to be aware of where he is on the pitch at all times, and our offense is more likely to put the ball in the back of the net when he is on the field.  I know that I will be wondering what kind of difference he could make over these next 180 minutes.

Predictions: I think we'll see a scoring draw tonight, with each team finding the back of the net once.  Germany will be too much for the Yanks, and will get a win despite not having their biggest names here.  I do expect Altidore to get a goal in one of the games though.