AMSTERDAM – It's league and cup kickoff weekend for a laundry list of Americans playing club ball in Europe, with Tim Howard aiming to keep both his and Everton's perfect home records intact against Premier League opening day guests Watford.
All times listed in ET.
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Geoff Cameron – Stoke City vs. Liverpool (Sunday, 11 am on NBCSN)
The conventional wisdom would suggest that Cameron's Gold Cup delay in arriving for preseason will lead him to being a bench option when the Potters open their season against nearby rivals Liverpool. However, center back Ryan Shawcross is out and tandem partner Marc Wilson is in doubt, meaning the American could be drafted into defense somewhere. It may not be the worst turn of fate; Stoke have won two of the three home games that the sturdy handyman has started against the Reds.
Brad Guzan – Aston Villa at Bournemouth (Saturday, 10 am on NBCSN)
Back in the saddle again, Guzan will try to start the season off right when the Villans invade promoted Championship winners Bournemouth in league play for the first time in 27 years. Villa are 3-1-1 against the Cherries, including January's FA Cup win. The US 'keeper will enjoy the debut of new captain/backline boss Micah Richards, but speedy counter threat Gabriel Agbonlahor likely will miss out with a sore ankle.
Tim Howard – Everton vs. Watford (Saturday, 10 am on USA)
The two sides have not met since Howard allowed just one goal in helping Everton sweep the season series against Jay DeMerit and the Hornets back in 2006-07. Those have been the American's only meetings with Watford to date, but the Toffees have won six in a row in their series with the promoted club and all eight at Goodison Park.
DeAndre Yedlin – Tottenham at Manchester United (Saturday, 7:45 am on NBCSN)
It is certainly not a sure bet that Yedlin will dress for Spurs' season bow at Old Trafford, but with winger Andros Townsend in doubt, the US right-sider has been named to their provisional squad. Tottenham, who will also hand a late fitness test to netminder Hugo Lloris, have bucked tradition by winning two of the last three games away to United.
FRENCH LIGUE 1
Alejandro Bedoya – Nantes vs. Guingamp (Saturday, 3 pm)
It's unclear how he will be utilized, but Bedoya is in the squad for Nantes' season opener against a nearby rival. After being on the losing side in their first clash, Bedoya has celebrated consecutive wins over Guingamp. The trends tell us to expect either a tight, low-scoring affair, as these teams have played four 1-0 contests in a row.
DUTCH EREDIVISIE
Rubio Rubin – FC Utrecht at Feyenoord (Saturday, 2:45 pm on NGSN)
Squad improvements and a system change mean that Rubin's strong preseason is only good enough to have him fighting for a start at De Kuip this weekend. The ace up his sleeve is the kid can work from anywhere in midfield or up top in the new 5-3-2 set. The Portland native missed out on both their home draw and road win (their first of any kind in the series since 2006) against Feyenoord last season, so he will have his first up-close and personal look at the Rotterdamers in the country's most intimidating setting.
BEST OF THE REST
Germany (DfB-Pokal):
John Anthony Brooks – Hertha Berlin at Arminia Bielefeld, Mon. 12:30 pm
Timothy Chandler – Bremer SV vs Eintracht Frankfurt, Sat. 9:30 am
Fabian Johnson – Borussia Mönchengladbach at St. Pauli, Mon. 2:30 pm on ESPN3
Jerome Kiesewetter – Stuttgart at Holstein Kiel, Sat. 2:30 pm
Alfredo Morales – Ingolstadt at Unterhaching, Sun. 10 am
Bobby Wood – Union Berlin at Viktoria Köln, Sat. 9:30 am
Andrew Wooten – Sandhausen at Bahlinger SC, Sun. 8:30 am
England (Championship):
Emerson Hyndman – Fulham at Cardiff City, Sat. 7 am
Tim Ream – Bolton vs. Derby County, Sat. 10 am
Jonathan Spector – Birmingham City vs. Daniel Williams – Reading, Sat. 10 am
Norway:
Coach Bob Bradley, Cole Grossman – Stabæk at Strømsgodset, Sun. noon
Danny Cruz, Zarek Valentin – Bodø/Glimt vs. Alex DeJohn – IK Start, Sun. noon
Josh Gatt, Ethan Horvath – Molde FK at Odds BK, Sun. 2 pm
