The US national team learned on Wednesday the makeup of the two European powers they will face in the coming weeks, as Belgium and Germany revealed the rosters for their friendlies against the USMNT on May 29 and June 2, respectively.
Germany coach Joachim Löw called up a group mixed with Mannschaft veterans and relative newcomers, headlined by Lazio striker Miroslav Klose, Arsenal attacker Lukas Podolski and Borussia Dortmund midfielders Kevin Großkreutz and Sven Bender.
But as expected, many of Löw's most trusted stars are not available for their trip to Washington, D.C., due to the DFB Pokal (German Cup) final between Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart that will take place the day before the meeting with the US at RFK Stadium (2:30 pm ET, ESPN2, WatchESPN, UniMas). The occasion commemorates U.S. Soccer's 100th anniversary and also marks the reunion of Löw and US coach Jurgen Klinsmann (above), the duo who led Germany to within one game of the 2006 World Cup championship.
Landon Donovan on USMNT hopes: “I’ll just keep going and I'll get my way back in”
Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Müller, Mario Gomez and the rest of Bayern's large, distinguished German contingent will also be taking part in the UEFA Champions League final against Dortmund the week beforehand.
Meanwhile, Belgium are bringing their stars to Cleveland.
Marouane Fellaini, Vincent Kompany, Eden Hazard, Moussa Dembélé and Christian Benteke are a few of the leading lights who many US fans – not to mention the US players who are their club teammates – will recognize from the English Premier League. Coached by Marc Wilmots, the Red Devils will take on the US at FirstEnergy Stadium on May 29 (8 pm ET, ESPN2, WatchESPN, UniMas).
American Exports: Joe Corona, Edgar Castillo & Tijuana make history, reach Libertadores quarters
Belgium defeated the USMNT 1-0 in Brussels on Sep. 6, 2011, Klinsman's third game in charge of the Yanks.
Both matches are intended to help the USA prepare for three important CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers in June.
Belgium
GOALKEEPERS: Koen Casteels (TSG Hoffenheim), Thibaut Courtois (Atlético de Madrid), Jean-François Gillet (FC Torino), Simon Mignolet (Sunderland AFC)
DEFENDERS: Toby Alderweireld (Ajax Amsterdam), Laurent Ciman (R. Standard CL), Guillaume Gillet (RSC Anderlecht), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Nicolas Lombaerts (Zenit St. Petersburg), Sébastien Pocognoli (Hannover), Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal FC), Daniel Van Buyten (Bayern München), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham)
MIDFIELDERS: Nacer Chadli (FC Twente), Steven Defour (FC Porto), Moussa Dembélé (Tottenham), Marouane Fellaini (Everton FC), Thorgan Hazard (SV Zulte-Waregem), Timmy Simons (FC Nürnberg), Axel Witsel (Zenit St. Petersburg)
FORWARDS: Christian Benteke (Aston Villa FC), Kevin De Bruyne (Werder Bremen), Eden Hazard (Chelsea FC), Maxime Lestienne (Club Brugge KV), Romelu Lukaku (West Bromwich Albion), Dries Mertens (PSV Eindhoven), Kevin Mirallas (Everton FC), Jelle Vossen (KRC Genk)
Germany
GOALKEEPERS: Rene Adler (Hamburger SV), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover 96), Marc Andre ter-Stegen (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
DEFENDERS: Dennis Aogo (Hamburger SV), Marcell Jansen (Hamburger SV), Heiko Westermann (Hamburger SV), Andreas Beck (1899 Hoffenheim), Benedikt Höwedes (Schalke 04), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal), Philipp Wollscheid (Bayer Leverkusen)
MIDFIELDERS: Sven Bender (Borussia Dortmund), Julian Draxler (Schalke 04), Roman Neustädter (Schalke 04), Kevin Großkreutz (Borussia Dortmund), Aaron Hunt (Werder Bremen), Nicolai Müller (Mainz 05), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal), Stefan Reinartz (Bayer Leverkusen), Sidney Sam (Bayer Leverkusen), Andre Schürrle (Bayer Leverkusen), Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen), Max Kruse (SC Freiburg)
FORWARDS: Miroslav Klose (Lazio)
