Slovakia, Denmark name rosters for U.S. friendlies

Thursday, 05 November 09, 07:57 AM · Comments (0)

We're all still playing the waiting game -- thanks in part to the MLS Playoffs -- for a U.S. roster to emerge for the Nov. 14 and 18 friendlies in Europe. And while the U.S. players who will be available will change after this weekend (ie depending on who gets knocked out) it's time to scout the opposition, as both Denmark and Slovakia have released their respective rosters.

Denmark

Goalkeepers: Stephan Andersen (Brøndby IF), Thomas Sørensen (Stoke City)

Defenders: Daniel Agger (Liverpool), Lars Jacobsen (Blackburn Rovers), Simon Kjær (Palermo), Per Krøldrup (Fiorentina), William Kvist Jørgensen (FC Copenhagen), Michael Lumb (AGF Aarhus)

Midfielders: Thomas Enevoldsen (FC Groningen), Thomas Kahlenberg (Wolfsburg), Christian Poulsen (Juventus FC), Jakob Poulsen (AGF Aarhus), Søren Rieks (Esbjerg), Michael Silberbauer (FC Utrecht)

Forwards: Johan Absalonsen (OB), Jesper Grønkjær (FC Copenhagen), Martin Jørgensen (Fiorentina), Søren Larsen (Duisburg), Morten Rasmussen (Brøndby IF), Dennis Rommedahl (Ajax), Jon Dahl Tomasson (Feyenoord)

Perhaps the biggest Danish name -- Nicklas Bendtner, simply by club association -- is missing, there's plenty of talent that will test whatever squad Bradley assembles for the match. Denmark managed to qualify from one of UEFA's toughest groups, eliminating the Swedes and holding off Portugal to win top spot and the automatic passage to South Africa.

Having watched Denmark on a couple of occasions, they do nothing fancy, but are a very disciplined squad that try to punish mistakes as often as possible. It's going to be difficult for the U.S. to break them down going forward, especially without a quick player like Charlie Davies.

Slovakia

Goalkeepers: John Mucha (Legia Warsaw), Ľuboš Kamenár (FC Nantes), Dušan Kuciak (FC Vaslui), Lubos Stonemason (Nantes)

Defenders: Marek Cech (West Bromwich Albion), Ján Ďurica (Lokomotiv Moscow), Peter Pekárik (VfL Wolfsburg), Martin Petras (AC Cesena), Kornel Saláta (Slovan Bratislava), Martin Skrtel (Liverpool), Radoslav Zabavník (Terek Grozny)

Midfielders: Marek Hamsik (Napoli), Miroslav Karhan (Mainz), Kamil Kopúnek (Spartak Trnava), Jan Kozak (Slovan Bratislava), George Kucka (Sparta Prague), Marek Sapara (Rosenborg), Miroslav Stoch (FC Twente Enschede), Zdeno Štrba (Škoda Xanthi), Dušan Švento (Red Bull Salzburg), Vladimir Weiss (Manchester City)

Forwards: Robert Vittek (Lille) Erik Jendrišek (Kaiserslautern), Stanislav Sestak (VfL Bochum)

Credit must go to U.S. Soccer for organizing these friendlies. They'll be on the road, and with Slovakia first on the docket, against two opponents who topped their UEFA group. The Slovaks held off Slovenia and bested the Czech Republic to punch their ticket, and while they may lack the big names outside of Marek Hamsik, but games against tough European competition will be a great test for the U.S. and give Bob Bradley a better idea of where his squad is.

Who will be in that squad is a story for later today. A development that won't be confirmed until next week.

Slovakia, Denmark name rosters for U.S. friendlies

Leave a comment