UNITED STATES TO HOST ARGENTINA AND PARAGUAY IN MARCH FRIENDLIES

The US Men’s National team has quite a run-up to the 2011 Gold Cup.

Bob Bradley’s crew have added two March friendlies against South American nations, who will be looking to capitalize on successful 2010 World Cup showings, building toward the 2011 Copa America.

On March 26 the US will host two-time World Cup Champion and perennial South American powerhouse Argentina at the new Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey.

Argentina needs no introduction, and their roster is a who’s-who of household names. The match falls on an international window so there is a very real likelihood that the nations standout European based players such as Balon d’Or holder Lionel Messi, Barcelona teammate Javier Mascherano and Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez, will make the trip.  The same goes for the United States who will also be able to pull in European based players.

Three days later the scene will switch to Nashville, where the States will host World Cup quarterfinalists Paraguay at LP Field.  Paraguay and Argentina, along with Chile who the United States will host On January 22, makes three CONMEBOL opponents in the first three months of the year.  All three advanced to the Knockout Round of the 2010 World Cup and two of the three made the quarterfinals.  The US will also travel to Egypt to take on the current African Champions in February.

The United States will make it’s second appearance at the New Meadowlands Stadium  after opening the new facility against Brazil last August.

The Nashville match will be the States third LP Field appearance.  The stadium, home to the Tennessee Titans of the NFL has hosted a 3-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago in a World Cup Qualifier in 2009 and also hosted the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament in 2008.

Both matches will be broadcast on ESPN2. The Argentina match will also be broadcast on Univision, while the Paraguay match will be broadcast on TeleFutura.

US NATIONAL TEAM COMPLETE SCHEDULE

January 22 – 10:00pm – United States v Chile – Home Depot Center, Carson CA – Telefutura / ESPN3.com

February 9 – TBA – United States v Egypt – Cairo International Stadium, Cairo Egypt – TBA

March 26 – 7:00pm – United States v Argentina – New Meadowlands Stadium, East Rutherford NJ – ESPN2 / Univision

March 29 – 8:00pm – United States v Paraguay – LP Field, Nashville TN – ESPN2 / Telefutura

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