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Jurgen Klinsmann says ‘we have problems’ with USMNT striker development
Jordan Morris and the young players behind him really need to come good.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The United States plays Brazil on Tuesday, in their final warm-up game for October’s Confederations Cup playoff against Mexico. Jozy Altidore scored twice in the Americans’ last match, but Jurgen Klinsmann is worried about his team’s long-term prospects at striker.
“What I’m worried in the longer run is to find strikers that on a international level give you a goal every second game at least,” Klinsmann told Taylor Twellman. “This is something where we have problems. We have problems to develop a young generation of strikers consistently scoring -- in their club teams and then coming into the national team, in the national team environment.”
He’ll be hoping that one of those players is Jordan Morris, who was called up for the Brazil game due to Clint Dempsey struggling for fitness. The 20-year-old striker scored his first senior international goal in April, but has opted to keep playing for Stanford instead of turning professional. Rubio Rubin of Utrecht and Maki Tall of Sion are the young star forwards of the USMNT Olympic qualifying team, while New York Cosmos’ striker Haji Wright is one of the most prolific strikers the USMNT has seen recently at Under-17 level.
Goal of the weekend
This volley by Blaise Matuidi, who is having an amazing start to the season.
In the news
Mario Balotelli has had his driver’s license revoked for speeding. (AC Milan Offside)
Bayern Munich has started work on a new €60 million youth academy. (Bild)
16 members of Luxembourg’s national team got food poisoning and might have to postpone their game. (BBC)
Scotland fans are pretty mad after wheelchair users had their views blocked by advertising boards. (Guardian)
Claudio Pizarro has re-signed for Werder Bremen. (Bundesliga)
Porto’s president suggested Champions League teams donate a Euro per ticket for refugees. Borussia Mönchengladbach have announced they’re on board. (AS)
Stefan de Vrij picked up a knee injury in the Netherlands’ loss to Turkey. (Football Italia)
You should be reading
Phil Costa on new Chelsea signing Papi Djilobodji. (The Set Pieces)
Michael Caley on Chelsea’s unprecedented poor start to the season. (Fancy Stats)
Swiss Rambler on Manchester City’s finances. (Swiss Ramble)
This weekend’s games
What to watch on Monday (click for listings, all times ET)
Euro qualifying: Nine games (from 2;45 p.m.) - Slovakia vs. Ukraine has the biggest stakes, while Wayne Rooney chases the England scoring record against Switzerland.
Friendly: USA vs. Brazil (8 p.m.) - Michael Bradley has joined up from Toronto and should give the USMNT midfield a boost.
Friendly: Argentina vs. Mexico (10 p.m.) - Hopefully this will make Americans feel better about the playoff in October.
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