United States vs. Colombia | International Friendly Match Preview

USA vs. Colombia
International Friendly
Nov. 14 | 2:45 pm ET | Craven Cottage, London, England
TV: ESPN/UniMas

The US national team meet one of the world's top teams in London on Friday, the first of two international friendlies in five days that will conclude a marathon 2014 for Jurgen Klinsmann and his men.

Fearsome Colombia will visit the USMNT at Craven Cottage, home of Fulham FC and the Yanks' home away from home – both this week and over a long history of American connections ranging from iconic US striker Brian McBride to the Cottagers' current owner, Pakistani-American businessman Shahid Khan.

The darlings of the World Cup, Los Cafeteros boast a dynamic attack and stout defense and will test Klinsmann's side as severely as any they've faced since their group-stage meeting with eventual world champions Germany in Recife, Brazil in June.

HISTORY

United States vs. Colombia | International Friendly Match Preview -

Colombia own a clear historical advantage in this matchup, carrying an all-time record of 9-3-4 into their latest meeting with the US.

But the Yanks can claim a famous victory in their most prominent match, a 2-1 upset win at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California in the group stage of the 1994 World Cup. That stunning result pushed the host nation into the knockout stages – and dealt a devastating blow to Los Cafeteros, who'd been pegged as dark-horse championship contenders by none other than Pele, only to crash out in the opening round.

The two sides fought to a stalemate in their last meeting, a 0-0 draw at PPL Park in Chester, Pennsylvania four years ago. Before that, one has to go all the way back to the 2007 Copa America to find their previous match, where Colombia beat a USMNT squad comprised mainly of fringe players as coach Bob Bradley elected to use his “A team” in the Gold Cup.

USA OUTLOOK

With a new World Cup cycle dawning, Klinsmann continues the regeneration process by calling a range of young players to his current roster. But this time he's injected a notable wrinkle: including several grizzled veterans who have been selected with the explicit directive to mentor their junior counterparts.

That senior contingent includes Houston Dynamo fullback DaMarcus Beasley, San Jose hitman Chris Wondolowski, New England's Jermaine Jones – who seems set for more experimentation at center back – Sporting KC mainstay Matt Besler and the Real Salt Lake duo of Nick Rimando and Kyle Beckerman.

Conversely, the youth movement features Seattle starlet DeAndre Yedlin, NCAA star and Sounders academy product Jordan Morris, Eredivisie newcomer Rubio Rubin, German-based targetman Bobby Wood and Miguel Ibarra, the shifty winger from NASL club Minnesota United whose first callup last month set tongues wagging across the US soccer scene.

COLOMBIA OUTLOOK

Currently placed third in the FIFA World Rankings, Colombia represent a daunting challenge for the USMNT, even with marquee striker Radamel Falcao missing out on this occasion due to injury. As one of the most entertaining teams at the World Cup, they won plaudits and admirers around the globe over the summer and now look to kick on to even greater heights.

Playmaker James Rodriguez became the hottest commodity on the global transfer market thanks to his sterling displays in Brazil (Real Madrid eventually won his services, reportedly paying AS Monaco more than $100 million for the privilege). He's surrounded by a tigerish assortment of skill, speed and savvy on a team which has matured into a well-drilled unit under manager Jose Pekerman.

Los Cafeteros look likely to be trophy contenders at next year's Copa América in Chile. Looking further ahead, they'll be a major attraction when that tournament's Centenario edition – which will include six teams from CONCACAF – hits North American shores in 2016, and will feel quietly optimistic of making noise when Russia 2018 rolls around, too.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
USA – Lee Nguyen

A product of the US youth national team system who hasn't worn his country's colors in seven long years, the 28-year-old New England Revolution playmaker falls into neither of the aforementioned categories in Klinsmann's current group. His globetrotting career took him from Dallas-area youth phenom status to the University of Indiana to PSV Eindhoven to Vietnamese league superstardom before he finally arrived in MLS in 2012 – and now that he's finally shown just what he's capable of in this scintillating season for the Revs, he will now try to weave similar magic on the international level.

Colombia – Juan Cuadrado

The all-action winger was another breakout performer at the World Cup and had Spanish giants FC Barcelona in hot pursuit, only for his Italian club Fiorentina to fend off suitors by reportedly slapping a $63 million valuation on him. His slick dribbling ability and explosive speed could pose real problems for whoever lines up at the USMNT's fullback slots on Friday.
ROSTERS
USA

GOALKEEPERS (4): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS (9): DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Greg Garza (Club Tijuana), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Julian Green (Hamburg), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt), Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution)

FORWARDS (6): Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Miguel Ibarra (Minnesota United FC), Jordan Morris (Stanford), Rubio Rubin (Utrecht), Bobby Wood (1860 Munich), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

COLOMBIA

GOALKEEPERS (3): Camilo Vargas (Independiente Santa Fe), Jose Fernando Cuadrado (Once Caldas), Leandro Castellanos (Independiente Medellin)

DEFENDERS (8): Pablo Armero (AC Milan), Cristiano Zapata (AC Milan), Santiago Arias (PSV), Eder Alvarez (River Plate), Murillo, Pedro Franco (Besiktas), Brayan Angulo (Ludogorets), Daniel Bocanegra (Atletico Nacional)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Abel Aguilar (Toulouse), Carlos Sanchez (Aston Villa), Juan Cuadrado (Fiorentina), James Rodriguez (Real Madrid), Alexander Mejia (Atletico Nacional), Juan Fernando Quintero (Porto), Carlos Carbonero (Cesena), Edwin Cardona (Atletico Nacional)

FORWARDS (5): Teofilo Gutierrez (River Plate), Jackson Martinez (Porto), Adrian Ramos (Borussia Dortmund), Carlos Bacca (Sevilla), Yimmi Chara (Tolima)

Prematch Content