Five Predictions [11.11.11, at France]

1.  Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Jermaine Jones, and Kyle Beckerman will hold down the  Sorry.  Forgot who was coaching.  Jurgen Klinsmann (obviously influenced by our latest P2010 Index) cools it on Beckerman and gives the nod to Edu and Bradley in central midfield.  The back line will look a bit of a throwback, with Cherundolo, Onyewu, and Bocanegra all starting — Timmy Chandler will hold down left back.  Shea and Williams will play the wings, and Dempsey will play as second striker.  Altidore will get the nod up top.

2.  The German influence will be more prevalent than ever today.  Between the coach and players, at least 1/3 of American participants will be German-born.  40% or more will have played in a German league at some point.

3.  Michael Orozco Fiscal will participate in his fourth “this has to be his last cap ever, right?” match in a row — the longest streak since Frankie Hejduk’s dream run of ’09.

4.  After the US is held scoreless in the first half, “Josh Gatt” will become the #9 trending topic on Twitter.  #givemeabreak

5.  USA 1 – 3 France.  The USA will look in the game for the first 35 minutes or so, before France goes ahead 1-0 and takes the wind out of their sails.  They’ll score their second soon after the break.  Altidore will give the Americans their only goal and a bit of hope in the 61st minute, but France will put the game out of reach in the 80th.  Yet another game where individuals will have nice performances (Shea, Altidore, Dempsey, Chandler), but the team won’t be able to pull it together.  Man of the Match for the Americans will go to Jozy Altidore, for his contribution to the scoresheet.  Impatient fans are going to start asking (if they haven’t already), “When are we going to see some results?”  Maybe we will, too…

Be Sociable, Share!

• 

Tagged as: france