Denmark vs. USA
Wednesday, March 25, 2015, 3 pm ET
NRGI Park, Aarhus, Denmark
Watch on ESPN, WatchESPN, UniMas, UDN
The US national team have gathered in Zurich, Switzerland ahead of two strenuous friendlies against European competition over the next week, as Jurgen Klinsmann and his men seek to kick-start the 2018 World Cup cycle by challenging themselves against top competition.
While a meeting with the Swiss awaits on March 31, Denmark is the first stop. Coach Morton Olsen's side are presently in the midst of Euro 2016 qualifying, and have taken seven points from their first four matches in UEFA Group I.
The Danish federation just resolved a long-running contract dispute with their players' union over the weekend, ensuring that a first-choice roster will feature against the Yanks on Wednesday.
PREMATCH CONTENT
- Running list of MLS international callups for March FIFA dates
- American Exports: Fabian Johnson starts as Monchengladbach pulls off stunner at Bayern Munich
- American Exports: Red card, PKs, defeat define tough day at the office for Yanks across the pond
- With Under-20 World Cup on the horizon, five MLS youngsters called to US U-20 camp in England
- Seven MLS up-and-coming stars named to US Olympic camp in Bosnia & Herzegovina, including two rookies
HISTORY
The U.S. and Denmark have met six times in their history, with the Danes holding a 2-1-3 advantage in terms of win-loss records. Their last meeting – and their first on Danish soil – took place in November 2009 at the same venue as this week's clash.
A first-half goal from Jeff Cunningham earned the USMNT a lead going into the break, but the hosts stormed to a 3-1 victory with three goals (scored by Johan Absalonsen, Søren Rieks and Martin Bernburg) in an eight-minute span at the start of the second stanza. The US won by the same scoreline at StubHub Center on Jan. 20, 2007, the Yanks' first match under former head coach Bob Bradley.
USA OUTLOOK
Klinsmann has spoken for months of calling in his top-strength squad for these two games, but a still managed to spring a few surprises when his roster was officially announced on Sunday. European-based regular Geoff Cameron was left off, as were World Cup veterans Matt Besler, Graham Zusi and Kyle Beckerman, while youngsters Julian Green, John Brooks and Rubio Rubin were called to the senior team despite being eligible for the U-23 group simultaneously convening under assistant coach Andi Herzog.
Mexican-based newcomers Ventura Alvarado and William Yarbrough will draw plenty of attention, while MLS watchers will be keen to see if LA Galaxy starlet Gyasi Zardes can maintain his rapid progress at international level. Orlando City's Brek Shea will be in the mix for a starting role at left back, while MLS-based vets Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore will take up leadership roles as captain Clint Dempsey was sent home following a hamstring strain suffered in training.
DENMARK OUTLOOK
The Danes ended months of uncertainty over the weekend when the DBU, the country's football federation, clinched a labor deal with the national teams' players union. The deal reportedly includes a significant pay cut sought by the DBU, but in exchange the players can look forward to larger performance bonuses as rewards for qualification to major tournaments. Now the focus returns to Euro 2016 – Group I rivals Portugal have already stolen a 2-1 win in Copenhagen, and tricky home matches against Montenegro and Serbia await in June.
“We applaud all and look forward to being able to concentrate on what it is really about – namely to play and talk football, and not conflict and money,” said Olsen. “I am sure that the players feel the same way, and believe that they are very satisfied, and quite like everyone else is looking forward to being able to concentrate 100 percent on playing football again.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
USA – Ventura Alvarado
Klinsmann's experimentation with a 3-5-2 formation in January underlined the unique challenges that system poses for defenders. And if the USMNT boss is looking for versatility as well as playing time at high-level club, Alvarado is a perfect choice, given his regular minutes and range of assignments at Liga MX giants Club América. Will the Arizona native impress quickly enough to see the field in Aarhus?
DENMARK – Christian Eriksen
Those who watch him regularly excel in the English Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur will be keenly aware of the dangers Eriksen poses. A mobile modern playmaker who can both deliver and finish the final pass, Eriksen will wreak havoc between the lines on Wednesday if the USMNT are not prepared for him.
ROSTERS
USA
GOALKEEPERS: Cody Cropper (Southampton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), William Yarbrough (Club Leon)
DEFENDERS: Ventura Alvarado (Club America), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Greg Garza (Club Tijuana), Michael Orozco (Puebla), Tim Ream (Bolton Wanderers), Brek Shea (Orlando City SC), DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham Hotspur)
MIDFIELDERS: Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Julian Green (Hamburg), Miguel Ibarra (Minnesota United FC), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt), Danny Williams (Reading), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Rubio Rubin (Utrecht)
DENMARK
GOALKEEPERS: Jonas Lössl (Guingamp), Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City) Stephan Andersen (FC Copenhagen)
DEFENDERS: Daniel Wass (Evian), Erik Sviatchenko (FC Midtjylland), Jores Okore (Aston Villa), Kian H. Hansen (FC Nantes), Lars Jacobsen (Guingamp), Mathias Jørgensen (FC Copenhagen), Nicolai Boilesen (Ajax), Simon Kjær (OSC Lille), Simon Busk Poulsen (AZ Alkmaar)
MIDFIELDERS: Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur), Jakob Poulsen (FC Midtjylland), Lasse Schöne (Ajax), Lasse Vibe (IFK Göteborg), Pierre Emile Højbjerg (FC Augsburg), Thomas Delaney (FC Copenhagen), William Kvist Jørgensen (Wigan Athletic)
FORWARDS: Anders Christiansen (Chievo Verona), Martin C. Braithwaite (Toulouse), Michael Krohn-Dehli (Celta de Vigo), Nicklas Bendtner (VfL Wolfsburg), Nicolai Jørgensen (FC Copenhagen)
