Ahead of Friday's U.S. Men's National Team match against Jamaica, SportingKC.com caught up with ESPN.com's Jeff Carlisle to preview the international friendly in Chattanooga, TN.. Live coverage starts at 6 p.m. CT on FS1, UniMas, and Univion Deportes.
What were your thoughts on the 0-0 draw vs Serbia?
I thought it was a typical preseason game. There was a general lack of sharpness in the final third but defensively the US seemed to hold up pretty well. I also though Darlington Nagbe and Sebastian Lletget were the bright spots in terms of the attack. I wouldn’t read too much into it though. It’s all about building a foundation for the games ahead.
How you assess Graham Zusi’s performance in that match at right back?
I thought he did pretty well. I think defensively he got stronger as the game went on, though I think he would have liked to have contributed a bit more to the attack. I can think of one crossing opportunity that he scuffed a bit, but overall it was definitely a performance to build on.
What are your thoughts on Benny Feilhaber play in Sunday’s match? Could he be in the starting lineup for Friday’s match?
I thought he looked pretty bright when he came on, but I think it was tough to get into the flow of the game at that point. With Kljestan gone to be with his wife ahead of the birth of their second child, I think Feilhaber will get more of a chance to show what he can do, and I would expect him to start.
What are some things you’ll be watching for Friday’s match?
I’ll be looking for improvement in the attacking third, not a ton mind you, but some. I’ll also be looking for the U.S. to do better with the chances they create. There were a few against Serbia where they failed to hit the target.
Overall, which players have stood out during the January camp? Do you see any of these players having an impact in World Cup qualifiers in March?
Lletget is the guy everyone is talking about. If he plays well on Friday, I could see him making the roster for the WC qualifiers in March. I think Nagbe is another one. On the defensive side, I think Birnbaum was pretty solid.
