Even though I decided not to write recaps or thoughts to the other two friendlies that the US men’s national team played over the last couple weeks, tonight compelled me to do so. It wasn’t that the other two were disappointing, okay the England game was, but its something about facing the world’s number one and gaining a positive result that really makes you think.

Out of the three friendlies, this was by far the best game. It was like we’ve built this up over the course of the three matches. England, as mentioned before, was disappointing on all levels. Spain was a positive step forward but in the end we showed we ran out of gas. But tonight’s clash with Argentina proved to me and a lot of people that this US side will be able to handle the best sides in the world.

I won’t recap the entire game because I honestly missed a few minutes here and there for work related reasons (blame the schedule for me being on-call this weekend…).

But a few thought on the game itself:

• Tim Howard – Easily the man of the match. So many key saves in big moments of the game. How he isn’t in discussions for one of the world’s best keepers is beyond me. That game tonight proved he is worthy of being in the discussion if he wasn’t already. Good luck to Brad Guzan or Dominic Cervi for beating this guy out for the starting role over the next few years. He has it on lock down.
• Speaking of having a position locked down. Heath Pearce easily has the left back position on lock down now. Damn how he intrigues me. Proves yet again how the MLS fails at signing home grown talent at a good wage. This guy is really improving his game on all ends any more.
• Eddie Johnson, again not bad but nothing great. His bar is still so low that it almost doesn’t matter what he does but his pace can be effective.
• Clint Dempsey actually looked good in this one. After the last two matches he looked practically useless out there but tonight he was effective, making solid runs and really working hard.
• Same goes for Michael Bradley.
• Landon Donovan elevates this club more than we really believe. He wasn’t great tonight but his work ethic out there shows.
• I loved the energy that the US came out with in the second half. Very promising.
• Argentina had the bulk of chances in the game but the US probably came a little closer with a couple post-hitting shots.
• Argentina is a completely different squad without Messi in the line up. As good as they looked all night, without him they lacked a certain element to their game.
• How Julio Cruz missed all of those shots at point blank against Howard is still pretty amazing. I thought he would have at least nailed on in after a while but Howard had his number tonight.
• Weird second yellow to Pablo Mastronei, who had a decent night. The yellow-to-red shouldn’t have been called but at least the US weren’t down a man for too long.
• Nice to see Sasha Kljestan out there tonight, even in a substitute role.
• Great crowd (78,682), too bad it was nasty rain at the end of it though. Still even as big as Giants Stadium is you can deny its a solid venue for soccer when it is full.
• I think the US looks fit and ready for World Cup qualifying now. We should get rosters early this week for the Barbados game this coming weekend.

What else did I miss? Feel free to pipe in your own.

Hope you all are enjoying your Sunday. I’m sitting here during the halftime of Germany and Poland. I noticed an inbox alert from the US national team media services about tonight’s match. A couple late scratches and updates.

Goalkeeper Dominic Cervi, forward Kenny Cooper and defender Drew Moor. Cooper and Moor were called in late Friday just in case any of the original 19 players would not be available because of lingering injuries. Cervi is the wasteful third keeper, I guess they scratch him late just in case Howard or Guzan can’t go, thus finally explaining the three-keeper call-up that I’ve been wondering about.

Carlos Bocanegra and Josh Wolff are not on the roster because of family commitments. Both will be available for next weekend’s World Cup qualifying opener against Barbados at Home Depot Center out in Carson, CA. Bocanegra is certain to be named to the roster, Wolff probably shouldn’t be so lucky from what we saw in the two European friendlies out of him.

The status of the roster for that match could be announced at anytime in the upcoming week. Hopefully that will come earlier in the week so we can discuss it more. Though I fully expect it to be a roster similar to what we’ve seen lately in the three friendlies.

Back to the Euro games and then on to the MLS/US National team games tonight. Lovely weekend of soccer.

Just hours after their 2-1loss to New England, defender Drew Moor and striker Kenny Cooper of FC Dallas have been added to the US national team roster for tomorrow night’s friendly in Giant’s Stadium against Argentina.

Many felt Cooper should have been on the initial 19-man roster yesterday but some change of heart by Bob Bradley as he adds the two Dallas players the day before the match. Its a good inclusion on the part of Cooper considering Bradley only called up three forwards for the match. Cooper should see some playing time then, especially if Landon Donovan isn’t fit to play again. I highly doubt Moor will get any playing time but you never know.

Here is the full 21-man USA roster for Sunday’s friendly at Giants Stadium:

Goalkeepers- Dominic Cervi (out of contract), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Tim Howard (Everton FC)

Defenders- Dan Califf (FC Midtjylland), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock), Drew Moor (FC Dallas).

Midfielders- Freddy Adu (SL Benfica), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Eddie Lewis (Derby County), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids)

Forwards- Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Eddie Johnson (Fulham FC), Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas).

U.S. Soccer has announced the 19-man roster for the Argentina friendly on Sunday and it is missing a few names fans and myself were hoping to see.

Here is the 19-man roster:

Goalkeepers- Dominic Cervi (out of contract), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Tim Howard (Everton FC)

Defenders- Dan Califf (FC Midtjylland), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock)

Midfielders- Freddy Adu (SL Benfica), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Eddie Lewis (Derby County), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids)

Forwards- Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Eddie Johnson (Fulham FC)

No Kenny Cooper, no Robbie Rogers. I know Jozy Altidore was hurt yesterday but he’s not healthy enough for this one? Its all a bit surprising to see some of the same names. Thankfully no Nate Jaqua or Josh Wolff for this one.

I’m still confused about the three keeper call-up here for this game. Do we really need a back-up for the back-up?

Anyways, hopefully Donovan and Adu will be able to go a full 90 or at least the majority of the game. I think the US should be able to play fine with Argentina. Though after the other night when Argentina dominated Mexico, I really wonder how the US can stand up against this team.

What do you all see for this friendly on Sunday? Another loss? If so by how much?