The United States soccer team faces the first of two very tough international friendless on Friday when they collide with 2014 World Cup bronze medalists, the Netherlands in Amsterdam.
Both teams were perceived as over achievers in last summer's World Cup in Brazil and similarly have both struggled since leaving South America. USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has openly admitted that Team USA is in a transition period as they prepare for the next World Cup cycle. Klinsmann has experimented with players, formations and tactical strategies over the past year.
The Netherlands have lost four times since their third-place finish in Brazil and the subsequent loss of coach Louis Van Gaal who moved on to coach Manchester United last July, has also left the Dutch in a period of transition.
The struggle is real as both teams seek momentum as they prepare for meaningful matches on the horizon. The Dutch are still trying to qualify for the 2016 Euro Cup and desperately need to keep pace with Iceland and the Czech Republic in their qualifying group.
On the other side of the Atlantic, the USMNT will have stiff competition in the Netherlands and reigning World Cup Champions Germany ahead of the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup in July.
The Stars and Stripes will be without many key members of the 2014 team that made its way out of the "Group of Death," only to fall to Belgium in the round of 16. Jozy Altidore and Alejandro Bedoya are both injured and captain Clint Dempsey will not take the pitch as he is awaiting the arrival of his fourth child.
"Playing against top teams like Germany and the Netherlands provides valuable experience, especially for the younger players here," Klinsmann said. "More and more they must understand we come to meet these opponents eye to eye."
Holland will have injury concerns of their own as stars Arjen Robben and Robin Van Persie are expected to miss the match. Wolfsburg striker Bas Dost who has been on a tear in the Bundesliga this season is also nursing a hamstring injury.
Even if Robben and Van Persie don't play, the Netherlands still has plenty of talent to defeat the Americans. They have great players like Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Daley Blind and play with a pace and rhythm that should give the United States fits.
Prediction: 2-1 Netherlands
Betting Favorite: Netherlands -1
Over/Under: 2.5 Goals
The match is set to kickoff on Friday, June 5th at 2:30PM EST from the Amsterdam Arena in the Netherlands. It will air live on ESPN and can be live streamed here. If you prefer to watch the game on your mobile device, please download the WatchESPN app.
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