I gotta say, not a bad showing for the US last night in Nashville. A cool 3-zip win over Trinidad and Tobago keeps the US at the top of the standings in the CONCACAF hexagonal. Most will still say that three games in the US should have nine points but seven isn’t too bad either, especially when you see the result with Mexico last night.

Anyways, I don’t have a whole lot to say about the game. I thought the crowd was much better than expected. Nashville proved to me that it was a decent location for a game like this. The more I thought about it last night the more I totally got why the USSF placed the game there. Sure the venue was too big but it worked out fine I think.

As for the game itself, Landon Donovan tore up the pitch and Jozy Altidore proved that he should be getting more playing time with his club in Europe.

The US is in the drivers seat folks but some big games are coming up this summer.

CONCACAF announced a list of 13 different cities that will play host to CONCACAF Gold Cup matches this summer. Giants Stadium will host the final on July 26th while Soldier Field in Chicago will host the semifinals on July 23rd.

I’m excited because the tournament will come to Dallas (okay, Arlington,TX) at the new Cowboys Stadium (which is massive by the way).

First Round

3 July – The Home Depot Center (Los Angeles)

4 July – Qwest Field (Seattle)

5 July – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum (Oakland)

7 July – Crew Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)

8 July – Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium (Washington)

9 July – Reliant Stadium (Houston)

10 July – Florida International University Stadium (Miami)

11 July – Gillette Stadium (Boston)

12 July – University of Phoenix Stadium (Phoenix)

Quarterfinals

18 July – Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)

19 July – Dallas Cowboys New Stadium (Dallas)

Semifinals

23 July – Soldier Field (Chicago)

Final

26 July – Giants Stadium (New York)

Groups and match schedules have yet to be released.

Just a quick post on tonight’s game. I won’t go too in-depth with it or do any live blogging (work is keeping me from doing such a thing). But since it is the start of the final round it is time to watch and hope the US does well enough to qualify for next year’s World Cup in South Africia.

It all starts and ends with Mexico. Getting on the right foot tonight is huge for both sides. I like the US in a close, physical battle that may be a bit sloppy due to the nasty weather that is in the Columbus area right now.

What are your predictions for tonight? Let’s hear them.

WVH Prediction: US 1, Mexico 0

A few surprises really for the 20-man roster called in for Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier against Guatemala at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

We finally get to see Kenny Cooper…at least on the bench.

GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan, Troy Perkins, Matt Pickens

DEFENDERS: Jonathan Bornstein, Sean Franklin, Cory Gibbs, Clarence Goodson, Drew Moor, Michael Parkhurst

MIDFIELDERS: Freddy Adu, Davy Arnaud, Ricardo Clark, Sacha Kljestan, Pablo Mastroeni, John Thorrington

FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore, Conor Casey, Brian Ching, Kenny Cooper, Chris Rolfe

A lot of Colorado Rapids players called in for this one as it is played in their home stadium. Not a real shocker there if you ask me. Sure it is a B or even C squad by some people’s standards but it was much needed for most of these guys to get called in for this game.

Any thoughts on who will start?

Shortly after the 6-1 win over Cuba on Saturday US National team head coach Bob Bradley named his roster for the US’s next World Cup qualifier.

Goalkeepers: Troy Perkins, Brad Guzan.

Defenders: Jonathan Bornstein, Danny Califf, Frankie Hejduk, Michael Orozco, Heath Pearce, Marvell Wynne.

Midfielders: Freddy Adu, DaMarcus Beasley, Maurice Edu, Sacha Kljestan, Pablo Mastroeni, Danny Szetela, Jose Francisco Torres.

Forwards: Jozy Altidore, Charlie Davies, Robbie Rogers.

Players that were released include: Carlos Bocanegra, Michael Bradley, Steve Cherundolo, Brian Ching, Jay DeMerit, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Tim Howard and Oguchi Onyewu.

The bigger news however isn’t the fact that Bradley called in more players now that the US is through to the final round of qualifying. Its the fact that typically not-called-up striker Kenny Cooper rejected the call-up from Bradley and the National team.

Over at the FCD Blog Cooper released this comment over turning down the call-up:

“I feel so fortunate and honored to have been invited to join up with the U.S. Men’s National team in Trinidad and Tobago. I made the difficult decision to pass on this opportunity because I had picked up a virus and have been playing with a sprained ankle. Considering the importance of my club’s game versus Real Salt Lake this week, and that the National Team has already clinched a berth in the next round of qualifying, I felt it was the right thing to do to stay in Dallas and make sure I get well, and hopefully there will be other opportunities down the line.”

Interesting, all this time that people have complained about him not getting called into camp he actually turns down the chance when he finally does. He takes his club over his country here. Maybe all this time that he hasn’t been called up finally got to him and he decided he just didn’t want to do it right now. I think had the US not clinched a birth into the next round he would have considered it a bit more.

What do you all make of this? Is it bitter-sweet that Cooper finally got called up though he turned it down?

The cries are already pouring in about this roster for next week’s World Cup qualifier against Cuba. RFK is the venue for next Saturday’s contest that should see the US through to the final stages of qualifying.

Here’s the roster, go ahead, complain about no Kenny Cooper.

The roster:
Keepers:
Brad Guzan – Aston Villa
Tim Howard – Everton
Troy Perkins – Valerenga

Defenders:
Carlos Bocanegra – Rennes
Dan Califf – Midtjylland
Steve Cherundolo – Hannover
Jay DeMerit – Watford
Frankie Hejduk – Columbus Crew
Oguchi Onyewu – Standard Liege
Michael Orozco – San Luis
Heath Pearce – Hansa Rostock

Midfielders:
Freddy Adu – Monaco
DaMarcus Beasley – Rangers
Michael Bradley – Monchengladbach
Maurice Edu – Rangers
Sacha Kljestan – Chivas USA
Danny Szetela – Brescia
Jose Francisco Torres – Pachuca

Fowards:
Jozy Altidore – Villarreal
Brian Ching – Houston Dynamo
Charlie Davies – Hammarby
Clint Dempsey – Fulham
Landon Donovan – Los Angeles Galaxy

I like the additions of Davies and Altidore. Yes Brian Ching is getting a bit old but I will take that over Bradley calling in Eddie Johnson for the 100th time. Big news is also surrounding the call-up of Jose Francisco Torres. Some felt Torres would end up calling Mexico as his home instead of the US (he holds a duel citizenship). I like that Bradley is giving him a chance to show his stuff and it’s great he decided on the US instead of Mexico too!

What do you all make of this roster? Predictable? Better than before?

One thing I do enjoy is an international fixture date. Loads of games and lots of interesting storylines. Today is just that day around the world as countries from all over take part in another round of World Cup qualifying matches.

Aside from the CONCACAF fun there are some great matches across the pond, particularly one in Croatia. That’s right its England-Croatia, round two. England surely hasn’t forgotten how the Croats eliminated them from Euro 2008 qualifying and now the Croatians stand between them and an automatic berth in the World Cup.

So if you got the day off, look at this menu of games that you may be able to see if your TV package has these channels.

• 8 a.m.- FSC- North Korea vs. South Korea (in Shanghai)
• 11a.m.- FSC- Russia vs. Wales
• 2 p.m.- Setanta USA- Turkey vs. Belgium
• 2:30 p.m.- FSC- Macedonia vs. Holland
• 2:45 p.m.- GolTV- Italy vs. Georgia
• 4 p.m.- Setanta USA- Portugal vs. Denmark
• 4:50 p.m.- GolTV- Spain vs. Armenia
• 5 p.m.- FSC- Slovenia vs. Slovakia
• 6:45 p.m.- Setanta USA- France vs. Serbia
• 8 p.m.- ESPN2/Galavision- USA vs. Trinidad & Tobago
• 8 p.m.- FSC- Uzbekistan vs. Australia
• 8:45 p.m.- Setanta USA- Finland vs. Germany
• 9 p.m.- Telemundo- Mexico vs. Canada

Some games to keep an eye out for:

• Croatia vs. England -  England will look for revenge after Croatia kept them out of Euro 2008.
• Mexico vs. Canada – Mexico is nearly impossible to beat at home and Canada is probably already in desperation mode.
• North Korea vs. South Korea -  Could this one be any bigger due to the  politically-charged background? This one is being played at a neutral site (Shanghai).
• Uruguay vs Ecuador -  Ecuador needs a win to pull back in serious contention in CONMEBOL.
• Honduras vs. Jamaica -  Honduras can start to pull away from the pack in its group with a win here. Jamaica needs a win here, just simple as that.
• USA vs. Trinidad and Tobago – Oh yeah the US plays tonight. Better believe that Toyota Park is going to be a great venue for it too!