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Thursday, June 6, 2013

USA VS Jamaica Preview: Welcome to the Office

The USMNT traveled a day early to Kingston to get better acquainted with their surroundings in hopes of avoiding another disappointing upset to the Reggae Boyz.  Kickoff is slated for 8:30 pm at Jamaica's home stadium in Kingston, "The Office".  The questions surrounding the game involve whether or not Geoff Cameron might step in for the, currently error-prone, Omar Gonzalez.  Although Omar has been a bit shaky lately I think Klinsman will stick with Gonzalez in the name of continuity.  Also, benching Omar at such a late point in this camp could be quite a confidence blow for such a young player.  Omar appears to be what Klinsmann sees as the future in the back for the yanks and I must agree with him.  The youthful errors will fade as he sees more games.  Hopefully the errors just don't prove too costly in the short term.
It seems likely that Brad Evans will continue his yeoman's work at right back, much to my chagrin.  He did perform admirably against Germany but it just irks me to play someone who isn't even close to considered the best player on their MLS team, out of his natural position! The USMNT will need to mature passed having to play technically deficient players because of their work rate if they are to move to the next level of international soccer.  Surely there is a right back in the US system that works hard and is able to keep possession.
     We will have to wait and see who lines up on the left flank as well.  Fabian Johnson earned the start against Germany but was forced off due to an injury at halftime and was replaced by Brad Davis.  Whomever starts on the wings for the USMNT lets hope they provide Jozy with the same kind of service he enjoyed against the Germans.  The middle of the field should have no problem bossing the Jamaicans as Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones, and Clint Dempsey all seem to be in fine form.
      The Reggae Boyz suffered a tough 1-0 loss to Mexico earlier this week so their backs are now up against the wall in the hex with only two points from four games.  However,  I see the USMNT avenging their previous loss at "The Office" with a 2-1 victory.

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