*Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis on Fox Sports Houston Thursday at 5pm brought to you by Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute and Danish Inspirations Contemporary Furniture

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It is fascinating at this stage to watch players pushing to find form and make impressions both with club and country with the hopes of getting to this summer’s FIFA WORLD CUP in South Africa. With that in mind lets take a look at both the United States and Mexican national team rosters for tomorrow’s matches and state cases for or against players that are involved. Clearly a good performance by any individual against the Netherlands could make a statement and influence a choice from a manager. Does the Mexico match against New Zealand hold the same value for Mexican players who are striving to make the final roster?
On a local note, my former teammate with the Houston Dynamos in 1984, 1985 was the talented Beto Dos Santos. He is the uncle of both Giovany and Jonathan who have been called up for Mexico. Lots of mix between old and young should occur for Javier Aguirre and Mexico Wednesday night.

UNITED STATES VS. NETHERLANDS at the AMSTERDAM ARENA Espn2 at 1:30 PM

U.S. roster

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan, Tim Howard, Marcus Hahnemann

Defenders: Jonathan Bornstein, Carlos Bocanegra, Jay DeMerit, Clarence Goodson, Heath Pearce, Frank Simek, Jonathan Spector

Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley, Alejandro Bedoja, Michael Bradley, Landon Donovan, Maurice Edu, Stuart Holden, Jose Torres

Forwards: Jozy Altidore, Robbie Findley, Eddie Johnson

*On another note former Chicago Fire defender Lubos Kubik has joined the U.S. national team as an assistant coach.

MEXICO VS. NEW ZEALAND Telemundo 10:00pm

Interesting match and fascinating choices will have to be made by Aguirre. The old guard of Rafa Marquez, Carlos Salcido and Ricardo Osorio all should be a part of the next World Cup but youth is staking it’s claim through Giovany Dos Santos, Carlos Vela, Pablo Barrera and Javier Hernandez.

Goalkeepers: Luis Ernesto Michel, Jonathan Orozco

Defenders: Efrain Juarez, Carlos Salcido, Ricardo Osorio, Maza Rodriguez, Hector Moreno, Rafael Marquez

Midfielders: Gerardo Torrado, Israel Castro, Andres Guardado, Jonathan Dos Santos, Braulio Luna

Forwards: Aldo Di Nigris, Carlos Vela, Javier Hernandez, Gio Dos Santos, Cuauhtemoc Blanco

Thoughts from U.S. and Mexico fans about both of these rosters?

*Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis on Fox Sports Houston presented by Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute. Also by Danish Inspirations Contemporary Furniture
*Twitter: Soccermattersgd
*Podcast of last night Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis available at Sportstalk790.com (Interviews with former Dutch National team goalkeeper Jan Van Beveran, Dynamo players Geoff Cameron and Brad Davis. Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear and the star of the movie PELADA Gwendolyn Oxenham……….

*Players will continue to make their bid to make World Cup squads tomorrow on a day of great international football. Keep an eye on these games:

Today: Brazil vs. Ireland at 2:00pm on Fox Soccer Channel
Five time World Cup winners against the Irish who controversially were eliminated in a World Cup playoff on a Thierry Henry handball.
Brazil was number one in Conmebol .

UNITED STATES VS. NETHERLANDS (1:30 pm Espn 2)
Euro-based U.S. squad taking on a Dutch squad at the Amsterdam Arena. Roster spots are on the line and with the opposition of the Netherlands, a good game for any individual will go a long way towards stating a case for inclusion on the World Cup roster.

ENGLAND VS. EGYPT
Steve Gerrard will captain England while this is the first game since the John Terry scandal and he has worn it on the field recently for Chelsea. Terry has looked poor and troubled.
This will be England’s chance to get African competition against an Egypt squad that are the current African Champions but were ousted in a playoff by Algeria.
Carling Cup hero Wayne Rooney may not play due to injured knee.

MEXICO VS. NEW ZEALAND (KTMD 47 10:00 pm)
Rafa Marquez is back for El Tri is this match against New Zealand.

ARGENTINA VS. GERMANY (1:30 pm Goltv)
Three time World Cup winners Germany will play host to two time winners Argentina. These two historic soccer playing nations have met in two World Cup finals in 1986 and 1990 World Cups. Argentina’s Lionel Messi still trying to be more impactful at the international level under manager Diego Maradona who has struggled to manage this squad.

FRANCE VS. SPAIN
Spain won all of their World Cup qualifiers while the French snuck in after a controversial handball against Ireland in a playoff. Raymond Domenech remains and under fire manager for Les Bleus. The last time Spain lost? To the United States in the Confederations Cup.

ITALY VS. CAMEROON (3:30 pm Goltv)
Is the Italian squad too old? Get a glimpse when they take on Cameroon.

Check these games out at the RICHMOND ARMS……or join the Texian Army supporters group at Ernie’s on Banks.

What are your thoughts on tomorrow’s matches? Where will you watch them? What individuals are in need of a good outing for their World Cup hopes?

KINNEAR on the 3-5-2

Alot of Dynamo fans got intrigued around the use of the 3-5-2 alignment that Dominic Kinnear used recently in Florida. Kinnear mentioned to me on Sports Talk 790 Am last night that he used a five man midfield in order to give trialists a look in their preferred midfield positions. The true and tried 4-4-2 is not going anywhere.