Earlier today, I interviewed former USA international and current soccer analyst Marcelo Balboa to preview the USA at Antigua & Barbuda on Friday. Balboa will be calling the game with Phil Schoen on beIN Sport (6 PM CT) with Sporting KC's Graham Zusi is expected to play and possibly start.
On Graham Zusi
"Every year he's gotten better and better and better. There's players that when they step up to that next level fit in nicely. If you watch the last game, Zusi did a nice job in the Jamaica home game. He was effective. He worked well and he showed the composure and the creativity that you want in a player. Knowing what his role will be this week on Friday, who knows. Jurgen Kilnsmann is going to decide. Does he have a good chance of playing and starting? Yeah, I would say he's got a good chance just because of the performance he had against Jamaica in Columbus. He's a good player. There's no doubt about it. He works hard. He's got good vision. He's technically good and he's a guy who will work for 90 minutes for you so that's something that US could use especially when you're missing a Landon Donovan. Looking over the last few years at MLS, he's a kid you didn't really know much about but now you know who he is."
On keys for USA on Friday
"I think the starting lineup will be interesting to see. I think that's always a key to see what formation they come out in and what players are selected."
"It's how they start that will be key. How they come out and also I'll be looking at the midfield. I think last time when they played away from home that was their big struggle was in the midfield. They got beat twice in the midfield for the goals. That's going to be key how they buckle down and how they work as a team. And where's Bradley going to fit into that midfield, where does Dempsey play; is he up top or is he on the right hand side. A lot of little things like that but also can they control the momentum of the game. Possession away from home is always important."
On expectations for Friday's match
"I expect a tough game but I expect the US to control it. I expect them to have quite a few chances and at the end of the day we all expect the US to walk out of there with a victory."
"Is it going to be easy? No it's never easy away from home but again you look at the team we're putting out on that field, except for Landon Donovan, you pretty much have a full squad."
On playing away matches in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying
"It's not always easy. You look at the time difference, food, sleeping patterns."
"Driving to the stadium, people outside the bus screaming and yelling at you telling you you're going to lose. The environment inside the stadium is always crazy so there's a lot of things that go on before a game. Once the game starts, then you're in heaven because you're back somewhere that you can control. You can control your destiny. Outside of it, you've got to live with the environment. You don't know if the power is going to go out. You don't know what the food is going to be like."
"Once you get there and you're on the field, that's where you feel safe. That's where you're in control and that's where you're comfortable."
