Today's Video from Training

The camp got underway today with a training session this morning. We spoke to a few guys, Conor Casey and Sean Franklin included, as well as assistant coach Mike Sorber. Check out the video:

Until We Meet Again...

So that just about puts the finishing touches on our trip to Guatemala, which ended in the best possible way: with a win! The victory marks the first time the U.S. has ever won a World Cup Qualifier in Guatemala and is the first win in the country since 1988.

There's lots of stuff to check out over at ussoccer.com, including a supremely awesome quote sheet and some podcasts from Bob Bradley, Eddie, Tim and Landon, and Carlos and Michael.

As for the other results tonight from CONCACAF:
Group A
Cuba 1 - 3 Trinidad & Tobago

Group B
Canada 1 - 1 Jamaica
Mexico 2 - 1 Honduras

Group C
Haiti 2 - 2 Suriname
Costa Rica 1 - 0 El Salvador

Of course there is still a long way to go, both figuratively and literally since our guys are all going their separate ways tomorrow. A few will head back to MLS to meet up directly with their teams for this weekend's full slate of games. Most guys will head abroad but don't worry! You can follow all their progress at U.S. Soccer Global. Holla at you, Global Blog!

It's going to be a short turnaround and we'll be meeting up again in a little over week as we head towards the historic game against Cuba. Until then, thanks for reading! Keep your comments coming and we look forward to hearing from you again next time.

(Photo by Jose Rojas/ISIphotos.com)

U.S. Lineup vs. Guatemala

Here's how the U.S. will lineup against Guatemala tonight at Estadio Mateo Flores.


---------------------------Howard-------------------------
Cherundolo---------Onyewu------Bocanegra (c)------Pearce
-----------------Bradley--------Mastroeni------------------
----Donovan--------------------------------Lewis-----------
--------------Dempsey------------Ching---------------------

• Two changes from the starting XI that featured in the 8-0 win against Barbados on June 15 in Carson: Tim Howard resumes his place in goal, while Eddie Lewis slots into left midfield


• All six of the USA’s goalscorers in the Barbados series are in the lineup – Michael Bradley, Brian Ching (2), Clint Dempsey (2), Landon Donovan, Eddie Johnson and Eddie Lewis


• The backline of Steve Cherundolo, Oguchi Onyewu, Carlos Bocanegra and Heath Pearce having started together against Poland, England, Spain and Barbados in 2008.


• Four players into tonight's starting lineup have stepped on the field previously in Guatemala for a World Cup qualifier: Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, and Pablo Mastroeni featured in the 0-0 draw on Sept. 7, 2005, here in Guatemala City, while Eddie Lewis was part of the squad that earned a 1-1 draw on July 16, 2000, in Mazatenango in the opening match of the semifinal round of the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
  

Sot it's a 4-4-2 from Bob Bradley as the U.S. will go for it's first win in Guatemala in 20 years and it's first ever World Cup Qualifying victory in the Central American nation. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. MT and can be seen live on ESPN2. You can also follow along with ussoccer.com's matchtracker.

Games Around the World...

It may be quiet on the team floor this afternoon but that doesn't mean that soccer isn't in everybody's thoughts. Games are going on around the globe today and of particular interest are England's game at Wembley against the Czech Republic, and Italy's game against Austria. Both games are on TV here which makes for a nice afternoon of soccer leading up to the pre game meal...

Pre-game Primers

If you're looking for a little tuneup to get yourself prepared for tonight's encounter, we've got a little something for everyone:

• For all the news, facts, figures, trivia, background and history, read up on the Game Notes
• To watch the adventures of the U.S. team during the last three days and hear their thoughts on Guatemala, watch the latest all_access video
• Listen to Brian Ching as he describes his goal in the USA's first match of the semifinal round four years ago, a 1-1 draw against Jamaica that set the tone for the USA's travels through the group. Ching also talks about how that match really launched his international career that led all the way to the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Visit from the Embassy

We'll need all the support we can get at the stadium tonight, so the team was happy to welcome the staff of the U.S. Embassy to the hotel for some autographs and photos. It's always nice to see friendly faces on the road. We'll certainly be looking to spot them later on...

Quiet Time

It's pretty quiet on the players' floor with just under seven hours remaining before kickoff. A survey of the rooms indicates a mix of naps, reading and watching some of the international friendlies going on today around the world. The weather has been nice so far today, but predictions are for rain later this afternoon. As usual on game day, it's the quiet before the storm.

Official U.S. Soccer Bars Getting it Done!

Whether it's been opening the shudders at 5 a.m. or keeping the doors open late at 10 p.m., the Official U.S. Soccer Bars have been stepping up to the plate to provide a gathering place for our own version of soccer's fanaticos. Tonight is no different, when U.S. fans will congregate across the country to watch the national team take their next step towards the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. We'll need all the positive vibes we can get down in here in Guatemala, with the stadium expected to be filled to the brim with supporters of their Chapines. Kickoff is set for 10 p.m. ET, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and Galavision. So sacrifice a couple hours of sleep - its still summertime! - and go watch the boys step into the cauldron of Estadio Mateo Flores to take on Guatemala! Here's a list of Official U.S. Soccer Bars showing the match LIVE:

The Globe Pub
1934 Irving Park Rd.
Chicago, IL 60613
773-871-3757
http://www.theglobepub.com/

Fado Irish Pub
100 W Grand Ave
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 836-0066
http://www.fadoirishpub.com/chicago/

Small Bar
2954 N Albany Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 509-9888
www.thesmallbar.com

Summer's Grill and Sports Bar
1520 B. Court House Rd.
Arlington, VA 22201
703-528-8278
http://www.summers-restaurant.com/

Nevada Smith's
74 Third Ave.New York, NY
212-982-2591
http://www.nevadasmiths.net/

Mulligan’s on First
159 First St.Hoboken, N.J.
201-876-4101
http://www.mulligansonfirst.com/

Adventures on the Road in World Cup Qualifying - A Timeline

As is tradition all over the world, training on the day before the game was supposed to take place at 5:30 pm in the Estadio Mateo Flores. Not so fast:

4:58 p.m. - The Guatemalan Federation says we can't train in the stadium because of inclement weather from earlier in the day. Debate ensues. Meanwhile the whole team and staff is waiting on the bus. Our departure time was supposed to be at 5 p.m.

5:05 p.m. - The debate continues. The players have been ordered to retrieve their runners from their rooms. There's now a chance that we can go to the stadium and do some running and a warmup.

5:08 p.m. - No backup location is offered to us for training so now there is a scramble to find a place to play. The MNT Blog decides to take a power nap on the bus.

5:20 p.m. - The MNT Blog is awake again and Bob Bradley is addressing the team. Thanks to the connections of a Guatemalan national who works for the U.S. Embassy and the generosity of a local club, we're going to train at the training ground of CSD Municipal. Off we go!

5:23 p.m. - We haven't made it far. In fact, we're about 200 feet from the hotel. It's gridlock traffic in Guatemala City - Rush Hour. In fact, at this moment the movie Rush Hour is quoted by a member of the staff.

5:33 p.m. - We're moving a bit and we've turned onto the main street that houses the Estadio Mateo Flores. That's where CSD Municipal plays, so their training ground must be around here, right?

5:43 p.m. - Woohoo! We're here. Time to make the most of the what little daylight we have left. Sunset in Guatemala City is 6:24.


5:52 p.m. - Game on. We make a mad dash down the stadium ramp and onto the field. The boots are on and the team is warming up running around the pitch. Photographers have managed to brave the weather conditions and are snapping away on the side of the field.

6:00 p.m. - It's really dark out. The waning daylight is definitely not augmented by the rain clouds all over the place. A man with a red umbrella looks on from the side of the pitch where his house is. He probably didn't expect anybody training here today...

6:05 p.m. - The guys are stretched and the balls are out now. The coaches are leading some short passing drills and ball movement exercises.
6:15 p.m. - Players are splitting up now and doing their own things - The goalkeepers are still working on their drills in one waterlogged part of the pitch, while Sacha and Mo are juggling with Coach Peter Nowak. Michael and Heath knock a few long balls that skid across the ground.

6: 20 p.m. - A finishing drill is starting up. At this point, the only person that the Blog can distinctly point out is Frankie. He skips into the box and taps in a cross from, um...somebody who kicks with their right foot?

6:28 p.m. - That's about all she wrote and the mosquitos agree. They're out having a go at our staff and players, sending a few people scurrying towards the bus.
6:35 p.m. - We manage to stop Eddie Lewis outside the bus before he can get on. Pablo is doing Spanish language interviews with the rest of the press and we ask Eddie and Heath a few questions...



7 p.m. - We're back in the hotel and the guys are showering before dinner. Welcome to World Cup Qualifying ....

Brian Ching on Qualifying Then and Now

We sat down with Brian Ching to get his thoughts on the U.S. beginning the semifinal round of World Cup Qualifying. Four years ago, Brian came of the bench at this same stage to score the equalizer against Jamaica in the U.S.' opening game of the semifinal round in 2004. We asked him about that moment and also about the U.S.' and his own preparations going in to tomorrow's game. Listen to the whole podcast here.

(Photo by John Todd/ISIphotos.com)

Snatching Away Points

Several players have mentioned in interviews the value of denying home teams the full three points during World Cup qualifying. The one point you earn in a draw is almost as valuable as the two points you take away from them, for example. It's particularly advantageous during the semifinal round, with only six games and little margin for error. With that in mind, we looked at the USA's results during the last qualifying cycle beginning in the semifinal phase to see the 'points taken'.

The U.S. posted a 3-2-3 record on the road, earning 12 points, which means 'denying' the home team 15 points. It's particularly advantageous during the semifinal round, with only six games and little margin for error. Scoring 10 goals during that span also proved beneficial, since the U.S. finished one better than Mexico in goal differential to claim the top spot in the final round hexagonal. And where did that one goal come from? Eddie Lewis, who scored against Mexico in Mexico City.

Set Day

As usual, ESPN set up shop in the team hotel this afternoon for a series of pre-game interviews. We normally incorporate these sessions either right before or after team meals to give the players a seamless schedule. Most of what they record will hit the editing room floor - or the recycle bin, as it were - but what they do use can be seen during the broadcasts either pre-game, at halftime, or as one of those fun little picture-in-picture shots during the action. They can also be posted on ESPN's website. So there's your behind-the-scenes tip for the day.

Also on hand is Washington Post reporter Steve Goff, who traveled to Guatemala and was rewarded with a set of one-on-one interviews. We're sure the Soccer Insider will have the goodies posted shortly.

Passport Check

Before every World Cup Qualifier there's a passport check conducted by the Match Commissioner and a FIFA Official, verifying that you are who you say you are (no Abe Froman's on this team!).

It's pretty much what you'd expect. Names are called. You have to smile. The Match Commissioner marks your name off the list. Nonetheless, the MNT Blog is all about hard hitting journalism so it was natural that we made our way down to the Passport Check with camera in hand. Here are some pictures...Eddie demonstrates the perfect form for the passport check. Hands in pockets. Facing forward. Calm but composed...Frankie had to make a face similar to the silly one on his passport so that the match was easier to make...This one required further inspection from the officials...

Front Page Material

Guatemala is gearing up for tomorrow's big game. We already told you about how the match has been sold out, and the press are making sure that everybody is aware of the magnitude of the game. Today we were on the front page (and the inside sheet) of Guatemala's Prensa Libre...
We were also on the cover of sigloXXI and in an article that can be read here.

The Man in the Middle

The referee for Wednesday night's game is Enrico Wijngaarde from Suriname. Mr. Wijngaarde ran the center for the hotly-contested second round qualifying match between El Salvador and Panama, and also served as the referee for the T&T-England friendly on June 2 in Port-of-Spain. Fans of the Superliga would have seen him officiate group games between New England and Santos on July 12, and Houston v. Chivas on July 15.

Sold Out Estadio

Wednesday's match at the Estadio Mateo Flores will be standing room only as tickets for the qualifier against the United States were snapped up in less than 48 hours when they went on sale last week. Capacity for the game is just under 25,000, and will include about 300 U.S. supporters who were set aside a place in the stands in what will surely be a sea of blue-and-white clad fanaticos.

Brief Podcast with DaMarcus Beasley

After training we caught up with DaMarcus Beasley and recorded this quick podcast with the Rangers' winger. We asked him about playing in Guatemala and what a satisfying result would be in Wednesday's game (hint: he said "a win"). Listen to the full podcast here...

Pictures from Today's Post-Travel Training

After landing in Guatemala and taking a few hours off, the team hit the field for the first training session ahead of Wednesday's game. We trained at Estadio La Pedrera which was short bus ride away from our hotel. The guys started off with a lengthy warmup to work off heavy legs from the day's travel. Then they moved into some passing drills and technique work before finishing off with a small sided game. Here are a few pictures from today's session...

A Few More Pictures from our Travel Day...

...are located at ussoccer.com!

TT - International Connections

So we're throwing you a little curve ball here for the start of the semifinal round. Gotta keep you on your toes, right?

Instead of a U.S. team trivia question, today's topic focuses on our opponents. The current 20-man roster for Guatemala has six players with current or previous experience in MLS. Who, where and when?

Here's a little hint to start you off: one guy currently plays club ball with a U.S. national team player outside of the United States.

Oh, and you didn't think we were going to GIVE you Guatemala's roster, did you?