Having already qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the United States’ last two qualifiers, against Jamaica and at Panama, have little important meaning. However, head coach Jürgen Klinsmann will likely use the opportunity to begin figuring out who will be on his squad next summer.
Due to injuries, the coach has delayed announcing his roster until after the weekend games. He can wait to see who is still in form and if anybody unexpectedly plays his way onto the team for a couple games.
(MORE: Americans Abroad – Full Archive)
Klinsmann has a vast number of Americans playing in other countries at his disposal. Here are a few whom fans on this side of the pond can watch this weekend:
ENGLAND
• Tim Howard and Everton take on Manchester City in the early Saturday Premier League match (7:45 a.m. ET, NBCSN and NBC Sports Live Extra). The American No. 1 will look to stay sharp before what will likely be two more starts for his country.
• Stoke City, with Geoff Cameron likely in the back, travels to West London to play Fulham (Saturday, 9:45 a.m., NBCSN and NBC Sports Live Extra). With the injuries in defense and midfield for the U.S., Cameron could play an important role against Jamaica and Panama.
• Aston Villa plays Hull City in a match that could see Brad Guzan be the least busy American goalkeeper in the league (Saturday, 9:45 a.m., NBC Sports Live Extra). His performances so far have reminded fans (and Klinsmann and Howard) that the U.S. has more than one capable goalkeeper at its disposal.
• Jozy Altidore faces a reeling Manchester United side when Sunderland hosts the defending champion (Saturday, 12:30 p.m., NBCSN and NBC Sports Live Extra). A goal against one of the best clubs in the world would boost his confidence just in time to do it again on the international stage.
MEXICO
• Club Tijuana and its American contingent — Edgar Castillo, Greg Garza, Joe Corona, Herculez Gómez and Paul Arriola — host Querétaro on Friday night (10:25 p.m., ESPN Deportes). Gómez finally made his return from injury in league play, finding the field for 72 minutes and 31 minutes, respectively, against Club América and Puebla in the last week.
GERMANY
• Schalke 04 and Jermaine Jones host Augsburg on Saturday, with Schalke needing points to move up the table. It’s been a disappointing early season in the Bundesliga for the club, but a 1-0 Champions League win at FC Basel on Tuesday provided some optimism.
• Hoffenheim, with Fabian Johnson in tow, travels to Mainz to face a side that has lost its previous four league matches after winning its first three. Both Johnson and Jones played the majority of Hoffenheim and Schalke’s 3-3 draw last week.
FRANCE
• Alejandro Bedoya (pictured) and Nantes host Evian TG on Saturday, and another good game could see him earning some minutes for the national team next week. Bedoya came on in the 23rd minute on the left wing last week, after Vincent Bessat picked up a thigh injury, and he looks to be the likeliest candidate for a start at the position this time around.
