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Today, the U.S. Men’s National Team faces Denmark for the first of four tough road friendlies in advance of the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The match kicks off at 12 p.m. PT, and you can follow the action on ESPN and UniMas.
DeAndre Yedlin is among the 22-man roster, but the team will be without Clint Dempsey, who returned to Seattle after straining his hamstring. USMNT coach Jurgen Kilnsmann noted that Dempsey's absence leaves the door open for some of the younger players to get the opportunity to play and impress.
The U.S. is 1-2-3 all-time against Denmark, with its only win and two of the draws coming from games played in the United States. However, this record should be taken with a grain of salt, as the U.S. hasn't faced Denmark since 2009.
On March 31, the U.S. will meet 12th-ranked Switzerland in Zurich. In June, the USMNT will be up against fifth-ranked Netherlands and World Cup champion Germany.
Lineup
#USMNT Starters for #USAvDEN: Rimando; Chandler, Orozco, Brooks, Garza; Zardes, Bedoya, Bradley (c), Johnson; Altidore, Johannsson
— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) March 25, 2015
Yedlin does not earn a start, which means we should basically all turn off our TVs/streams, right? Klinsmann opted for a more traditional 4-4-2 lineup today, instead of the 3-5-2 he has experimented with in the past.
What to Watch
- A team on the rise: Denmark didn’t qualify for the World Cup, but the team now sits at the top of its 2016 European Championship qualifying group, ahead of Portugal. With stars like Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Christian Eriksen and Leicester City keeper Kasper Schmeichel, they offer tough competition.
- Christian Eriksen: Yedlin recently called Eriksen the most technically gifted player for the Spurs, and that's no surprise. Once Denmark gets possession, expect them to use Eriksen to build the attack. He is a creative playmaker, and is also dangerous on set pieces.
- Can anyone replace Dempsey? Dempsey's absence leaves Jozy Altidore without his usual partner up top. Dempsey typically drops into the midfield to gain possession and link up with Altidore. There is no obvious like-for-like replacement, but Aron Jóhannsson — returning to the USMNT for the first time since the World Cup — earned the start. This match is a homecoming of sorts for Jóhannsson, who spent four years with Danish Superliga club AGF Aarhus.
How to Watch
Match Date/Time: Wednesday, March 25, 12:00 PM Pacific
Venue: NRGi Park, Aarhus, Denmark
TV: ESPN or UniMas
Online: Streaming through WatchESPN or univisiondeportes.com