Thanks to CONCACAF's scheduling stupidity, their 2017 Confederations Cup representative will be decided on the same day as their 2 2016 olympic representatives since nobody was smart enough to realize that a potential US-Mexico CONCACAF Cup could conflict with Olympic qualifying. The olympics is a U23 Tournament but some US Senior Internationals like DeAndre Yedlin could have helped the U23's qualify if the events didnt conflict. Oh, CONCACAF, never change!
Anyway, the U23's face Honduras at 3:00 with a berth in Rio on the line (though they could back in if they lose by beating Canada and Colombia). FWIW, the game isn't televised in English but it is on Telemundo. They have looked dominant in the group stage and I'm really excited this group can do some damage in Rio like Mexico did in 2012. The olympics is not a big soccer event for FIFA so a lot of times you dont get the best teams and best U23's, especially since they directly conflict with the beginnings of the Euoropean club season. However, the average American doesn't know this so if he turns on the olympics and sees the US team winning games, it could turn some heads. And I think this team can do it. They could call on Yedlin, John Brooks, and Julian Green for Rio and you get 3 overage players. If the US boycots or isnt allowed to play in Copa America Centenario in June because of the corruption scandal involving that tournament (hard to see the USDOJ allowing the US to participate at this point), that means you could get guys like Bradley, Dempsey, and Altidore to come to the olympics as overage players and at that point, the US would probably be one of the favorites as most teams don't send first-choice overage players.
As for the senior MNT, its do or die for Klinsmann, I firmly believe he's gone with a loss. I dont think he's done a bad job but it hasnt been good enough and he's alienated too many people with his disdain for MLS and his off-the-wall player selections. His Julian Green for Landon Donovan World Cup picks looks worse everyday as Green couldn't even make the US U23 qualifying team and is still stuck in the German 4th Division.
That said, I dont think Mexico is very good right now and the US can beat them. This would be lineup:
FW: Dempsey
FW: Altidore (Johansson)
CAM: Bradley
RW: Zardes (Yedlin)
LW: Bedoya
CDM: Jones (Beckerman if it looks like its going to extra time, dont know if Jones has the legs for 120)
RB: Beasley
CM: Besler
CM: Cameron
LB: Johnson
GW: Howard though I know they are going with Guzan which I disagree with a million percent. Howard is a better goalkeper than Guzan. Anybody will tell you that (except for Alexi Lalas).
Anyway, the U23's face Honduras at 3:00 with a berth in Rio on the line (though they could back in if they lose by beating Canada and Colombia). FWIW, the game isn't televised in English but it is on Telemundo. They have looked dominant in the group stage and I'm really excited this group can do some damage in Rio like Mexico did in 2012. The olympics is not a big soccer event for FIFA so a lot of times you dont get the best teams and best U23's, especially since they directly conflict with the beginnings of the Euoropean club season. However, the average American doesn't know this so if he turns on the olympics and sees the US team winning games, it could turn some heads. And I think this team can do it. They could call on Yedlin, John Brooks, and Julian Green for Rio and you get 3 overage players. If the US boycots or isnt allowed to play in Copa America Centenario in June because of the corruption scandal involving that tournament (hard to see the USDOJ allowing the US to participate at this point), that means you could get guys like Bradley, Dempsey, and Altidore to come to the olympics as overage players and at that point, the US would probably be one of the favorites as most teams don't send first-choice overage players.
As for the senior MNT, its do or die for Klinsmann, I firmly believe he's gone with a loss. I dont think he's done a bad job but it hasnt been good enough and he's alienated too many people with his disdain for MLS and his off-the-wall player selections. His Julian Green for Landon Donovan World Cup picks looks worse everyday as Green couldn't even make the US U23 qualifying team and is still stuck in the German 4th Division.
That said, I dont think Mexico is very good right now and the US can beat them. This would be lineup:
FW: Dempsey
FW: Altidore (Johansson)
CAM: Bradley
RW: Zardes (Yedlin)
LW: Bedoya
CDM: Jones (Beckerman if it looks like its going to extra time, dont know if Jones has the legs for 120)
RB: Beasley
CM: Besler
CM: Cameron
LB: Johnson
GW: Howard though I know they are going with Guzan which I disagree with a million percent. Howard is a better goalkeper than Guzan. Anybody will tell you that (except for Alexi Lalas).