March 22 Friendly: Germany v. United States

Just another mid-week friendly three months before the start of the World Cup? No chance. This game takes on new meaning with a German team under intense scrutiny from friends and foes alike. Could this be the end for Jurgen Klinsmann? Ahhh, the drama. For the US, this is the last chance before the World Cup to play on German soil and it is an opportunity to show the world that it can live up to its top five world ranking and be a factor in Germany this summer. I’ll be doing a LiveBlog during the match (kickoff is at 20.30 CET, 14.30 EST) so feel free to stop by and add your comments. For now, here’s a preview of the single most important (and only) international friendly being played on Wednesday.

Three Things You Should Know about the United States

1. Guys Named Clint are Tough: In addition to being a bad ass gangsta rapper, midfielder Clint Dempsey is also a bad ass gangsta fighter. Dempsey was not invited to take part in this friendly because he was less than friendly to his own New England Revolution teammate Joey Franchino when he punched him in the face. Also worth noting that if Dempsey makes the team the US will have had a player named Clint in back-to-back World Cups.

2. King of the Castle: Number one keeper Kasey Keller plays for Borussia Mönchengladbach in the German Bundesliga. Keller feels right at home in Germany, especially since he lives in a historic castle near Dusseldorf.

3. The Bruce: Coach Bruce Arena has been at the helm of the United States since October 1998. In addition to being the only coach in the World Cup from Brooklyn, New York, Arena might just be the only one to have earned a cap playing keeper against Israel in 1973. It was his first and only appearance for the US national team. His head looks good on a belly.

Three Things You Should Know about Germany
1. The Baker Bomber: German coach Jurgen Klinsmann has earned a few nicknames over the years. Thanks to his California sun soaked golden locks he has been called the “Golden Bomber.” He also is known as the “Baker’s Son from Botnang” because his family operates a bakery near Stuttgart. Klinsmann is a trained baker so he does have something to fall back upon if he gets fired after this match.

2. A Breath of Fresh Air: Lukas Podolski has been tapped as the next great German player. The 21-year-old forward has been impressive with his club team FC Köln. He also has impressed many with his acting skills. In this commercial you can’t help but think that he must smell really, really good.

3. Klinsmann should Play: The United States and Germany have met seven times since 1993 with Germany winning five times and the United States winning twice. Germany won all three matches in which Jurgen Klinsmann played, with the Golden Bomber Baker’s Son from Botnang scoring two goals against the Yanks.

Where to watch the game online
Video: Germany - United States of America [CCTV5], 20.30 CET
LiveBlog

Little known facts about our Bloggers
USA Blog Daryl has a dog named Owen Hargreaves
Germany Blog Harvey is part of an underground Bavarian separatist movement

Predictions
USA Blog Daryl: I predict a narrow win for the Germans. They’re taking this game very seriously and the US has a pretty severely depleted roster. The defence will miss the man-monster that is Onyewu and while Convey and Klein might offer something down the wings, the central midfielders are a little too defensive minded to create anything. Bruce Arena never takes a heavy beating so I expect a well organized USA to put up a good fight but go down 1-0.

Germany Blog Harvey: Germany 1-0 with Lukas Podolski coming as a sub in the
second half to score the game-winner.

World Cup Blog Bob: 1-1 tie with Germany blowing the lead late in the game. Klinsmann remains on the hot seat but keeps his job. Bakers in California rejoice.

Rosters

GERMANY
Goalkeepers: Oliver Kahn (Bayern Munich), Jens Lehmann (Arsenal), Timo Hildebrand (VfB Stuttgart)

Defenders: Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Robert Huth (Chelsea), Marcell Jansen (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Hanover 96), Patrick Owomoyela (Werder Bremen), Christoph Metzelder (Borussia Dortmund), Manuel Friedrich (FSV Mainz)

Midfielders: Sebastian Kehl (Borussia Dortmund), Michael Ballack (Bayern Munich), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Tim Borowski (Werder Bremen), Fabian Ernst (Schalke 04), Bernd Schneider (Bayer Leverkusen).

Forwards: Gerald Asamoah (Schalke 04), Miroslav Klose (Werder Bremen), Oliver Neuville (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Lukas Podolski (Cologne).

USA
Goalkeepers: Marcus Hahnemann (Reading FC), Kasey Keller (Borussia Moenchengladbach)

Defenders: Gregg Berhalter (Energie Cottbus), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Cory Gibbs (ADO Den Haag), Heath Pearce (FC Nordsjælland), Eddie Pope (Real Salt Lake)

Midfielders: Bobby Convey (Reading FC), Benny Feilhaber (Hamburg SV), Chris Klein (Real Salt Lake), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), Ben Olsen (D.C. United), Kerry Zavagnin (Kansas City Wizards)

Forwards: Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Eddie Johnson (Kansas City Wizards), Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution), Josh Wolff (Kansas City Wizards)

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