United States Squad Report: Major injury news out of the Belgian camp
The team trained yesterday at their FC Sao Paulo facility, and this morning they will fly to Salvador where they’ll train again later this afternoon.
Despite the exhausting travel schedule, FOX contributor Leander Schaerlaeckens referred to the mood in the camp as “light and breezy,” echoed in the player Tweets and instragrams complete with selfies and clandestinely filmed ping pong matches. It’s clear nobody hates each other too much.
That mood may be further lightened by news from the Belgian camp. Not only is one of the world’s best centrebacks in Vincent Kompany doubtful for the round of 16 clash this Tuesday, but he could be joined on the sidelines by Thomas Vermaelen. Meanwhile Anderlecht defender Anthony Vanden Borre is a definite scratch.
The irony now is that after the United States’ Ghana match in which Jozy Altidore picked up his hamstring injury and Matt Besler had to be subbed off for a similar strain, many called into question coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s training methods.
Now, not only is the U.S. camp relatively injury free (save for Altidore), but they haven’t lost any players to suspension for picking up too many yellow cards. Klinsmann has his best players available ahead of their biggest World Cup match to date.
It also mean the team won’t have any excuses should they put in a poor performance against the favoured Belgian side.
Fixtures/Results
Group G — June 16 — Ghana 1-2 United States
Group G — June 22 — United States 2-2 Portugal
Group G — June 26 — United States 0-1 Germany
Round of 16 — July 1 — Belgium vs. United States
Squad News/Rumors/Injury Report
FW Jozy Altidore’s status still uncertain ahead of Belgium round of 16 match, but Klinsmann is hopeful.
Four Quick Notes
1. Tim Howard talks a bit about Everton and Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku.
2. Sporting Kansas City coach Peter Vermes says he hasn’t spoken to USMNT midfielder Jermaine Jones.
3. The USSF website with a good feature on the wet game in Recife.
4. Random stat: the U.S. and Belgium have the biggest population disparity of any two teams in the round of 16.