U.S. Men vs. Slovenia 2nd Half Live Blog

Haha would you believe that the Black Eyed Peas "Tonight's Gonna Be a Good Night" is blasting in Slovenia? It's probably their No. 1 hit.

No changes for the U.S. at halftime.

Yikes, a mistake by Goodson leads to a wide open chance from Slovenia yards away. Luckily, some bum puts it into the side netting.

This is the first time since 1997 that the U.S. has lost more games than its won. Yuck, they'll be happy to say goodbye to 2011.

Matavz tries to beat like four defenders but Bocanegra deflects his shot out for a corner. Geez, another failed U.S. clears gives Slovenia the ball in the box but they hit a terrible shot well wide. The U.S. can't keep doing that.

Good buildup by the U.S. but Buddle is the last one to touch it as he tries to spin and shoot. The type of move he couldn't complete even in his wildest dreams.

Slovenia with a nice cross but nobody can touch it. The U.S. defense is off to a terrible start in the second half.

Beckerman is the only MLS player (no Donovan) in the starting lineup.

Last time the U.S. scored 3 in a half was 2009 World Cup qualifier vs. Honduras. Last time they did it in a first half was a 2008 World Cup qualifier vs. Barbados.

Dempsey with a clear foul, clipping a Slovenia player's feet. Johnson had a shot in the box but it was blocked and cleared out.

The U.S. had a nice counterattack but Dempsey's shot went off a Slovenia player's hand/face. A foul was eventually called on Buddle. Wow, replay shows that was a clear handball.

Slovenia wins a corner kick but it's a bad one.

Another corner for Slovenia after Kirm split two U.S. defenders.

Great cross by Slovenia and touch by Shuler, should have been a goal. It just bounced wide. Slovenia is buzzing now, they won another corner. The ball goes off crossbar and Howard cleared it off the line. No idea how that wasn't a goal.

Slovenia just hit the post. Haha good lord, they're making Slovenia look like Brazil. Seconds later, Slovenia rightfully scores. Matavz cuts it to 3-2 in the 61st minute. He got the 1-2 ball and beat Beckerman.

Johnson out for Brek Shea, first U.S. substitute.

The U.S. had a break with numbers but Chandler's terrible pass messes it all up. What a waste.

Slovenia corner almost curls in. That would have been enough to make me jump off a bridge, thankfully it didn't happen.

Dempsey is called for a foul on a minor push.

First Slovenia substitute: Vrsic in for Kirm.

Dempsey makes a nice move to beat a few defenders but gives it to Shea who plays a terrible pass right to Slovenia's goalkeeper.

Cherundolo gives Buddle a great ball but he loses the handle and dribbles it off his feet. That's about right, guess the greatest half of his life is long over.

Altidore won a free kick but Chandler forces a pass and turns it over. The U.S. has been awful this half, they're lucky to still be ahead. All of the positive stuff in the first half seems like a distant memory.

Chanlder just did a good job dribbling up the sideline but he got fouled by one guy and another landed on his head. Ouch babe.

Maurice Edu in for Buddle. Big game for Buddle, showing that he's getting better.

Two more substitutes for Slovenia: Matavz out for Dedic and Ljubijankic out for Pecnik. No idea why they took Matavz (who's scored both goals out). He's by far they're best offensive threat.

The U.S. seems content to just try and bleed the clock. Unfortunately, there's ten minutes of regulation plus injury time left so it's far too early for that tactic.

Danny Williams on for Chandler, hope he's OK after that rough challenge.

Free kick by Slovenia goes out of bounds, it didn't miss by much.

Another corner for Slovenia, the U.S. is hanging on for dear life to this lead. Not liking their odds to win. Almost looked like a handball in the box by the U.S. (yikes, it was) but no call. Slovenia gets a free kick at midfield.

Harkes explained the U.S. is tired because they competed so hard against France the other day. I guess I missed that one. Come on man, be objective.

Slovenia corner and it appeared to go off an American head but it's a goal kick. What an ugly second half but I think the U.S. will hold on (not that they really deserve it).

Haha Darke says Shea needs to break to the corner which he promptly doesn't do, turning into traffic and giving it up.

Dempsey fouled by some Slovenian bum, who gets a yellow card despite walking away.

Jermaine Jones on for Beckerman. Don't ask me why the latter starts over the former.

Four minutes of stoppage time.

Edu with a shot from the top of the box, deflected out for a corner.

Slovenia wins a free kick on the edge of the box after Bocanegra jumped on a guy's back. He received a yellow card on it too.

Bradley out for Robbie Rogers. Smart move by Bradley as he takes forever to come off. He was superb in his return to the starting lineup. There should not be a question about his inclusion in future lineups.

And Slovenia kicks it over the night, goodnight fellas. That was your last chance.

The U.S. has won in Europe for the first time in three years. They broke a seven-game losing streak, the last win was 2008 against Poland.

A tale of two halves: the first was excellent and the second was awful. Whatever. This is the result Klinsmann and this team desperately needed. Now let's all get some rest and hope they come back stronger in 2012 with more training together.

Final: U.S. 3, Slovenia 2

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U.S. Men vs. Slovenia 1st Half Live Blog

Here we go, the last U.S. men's friendly in 2011: at Slovenia. It's a rematch of the memorable 2-2 tie in the 2010 World Cup.

The U.S. begins World Cup 2014 qualifying next summer against Jamaica, Antigua.

Edson Buddle with a shot in the first minute, tipped over the bar by Slovenia's goalkeeper. U.S. gets a corner kick by Michael Bradley but they can't do anything with it.

Slovenia has a breakaway but their player completely blows it as he slows down and the U.S. is able to recover and knock it out for a corner. Slovenia gets a header off the corner but Howard stops it.

Another chance for Buddle, who shoots over from a tough angle. Bradley fed him with a nice ball.

What a mess, you can barely see the field at the moment. Not helping matters is that Slovenia is wearing white jerseys. It is so foggy, stupid Slovenia weather. Slovenia called offside.

Apparently Slovenia has a new head coach.

Clint Dempsey with a decent pass into Jozy Altidore, who gets taken down with an elbow but no foul is called.

The 4-4-2 has already made a difference in the early going for the U.S. Buddle won a free kick outside the box as he was taken down hard. Bocanegra's header is deflected out (12 goals in 100 CAPs). U.S. corner kick No. 2. The U.S. won possession and Buddle hit a nice cross but Slovenia's goalkeeper got to it first.

Gooch trained last night but he's still not well enough to even sit on the bench.

Wow, Buddle is having the game of his life! He just took the ball from a Slovenian defender and one-timed it off the post from outside the box. 3rd goal for Buddle in his 10th CAP. His last goal was vs. Australia right before the 2010 World Cup. 1-0 U.S. in the 9th minute.

That was only the third goal for the U.S. under Klinsmann, this is his seventh game.

Should have been 2-0. Bradley gave Altidore a perfect ball but somehow he put it over from like two feet in front of Slovenia's goal. Got bury that, come on Jozy.

Haha love Harkes stating the obvious that the U.S. should beat a team like this, "they're not Spain." Classic analysis.

Terrible giveaway by the U.S. defense as Bocanegra hits it right to Slovenia but their shot from outside the box is nto a good one.

The U.S. looks so much better in the first 15 minutes of this match. Dempsey just hit a shot wide after a couple nice, unselfish passes.

Fabian Johnson (making his first career start) just made a great run from the midfield and earned a corner kick (No. 3). It was flicked through but the U.S. couldn't get the second touch.

As if you wanted to visit Slovenia any less, this abysmal weather isn't helping matters for this tiny country. Ugh.

Haha Ian Darke said Slovenia is about the same size as Houston and smaller than New Jersey.

Matavz with a decent header for Slovenia but you'll never beat Howard from the top of the box on a header.

I don't understand why Bradley has seemingly been on the outs with Klinsmann. I hope it's just that he's a known commodity so they want to look at some new faces. He is easily one of their best midfielders.

Slovenia is called way offside but they proceed to go in on Howard and shoot it past him. Cool dude.

Altidore called offside nullifies a 2 on 1 with Dempsey.

Another offside by Slovenia, they might want to make an adjustment here before they set a new record in one game.

Nice header by Clarence Goodson to break up a long pass but Kyle Beckerman gives it right back. Remind me again, why this dreadlocked goon is on the team? He is so mediocre.

Shaky U.S. foul puts an end to a possible chance.

Matavz scores in the 26th minute on what looks like an obvious offside call. Nice finish high over Howard's shoulder. Way too much space by the U.S. defense but we'll have to see more replays of that. Six goals in 12 matches for Matavz (who's 22). 1-1 in the 28th minute.

Well Slovenia and their pathetic home crowd (what else is going on at 6 pm on a Tuesday night?) is alive. They curled another shot wide of Howard and the goal.

The U.S. uses good transition to get a shot, Buddle crosses to Dempsey, but it's headed on top of the net.

That 2-2 tie in the group stage of the 2010 World Cup is the only time these two countries have met.

Oh ok, there's a local fan protest about rising ticket prices. That's why this tiny stadium (16,000) looks so empty.

Well Buddle almost scored his second goal but it wouldn't have counted. He was offside by a few steps. Regardless, great cross from Bradley and nice header by Buddle. They've been the two U.S. standouts thus far.

Dempsey with a nice diving header following great buildup and a cross by Steve Cherundolo. That just went wide, the U.S. has responded after Slovenia tied it up.

Dempsey's next goal will give him 24 for the U.S., tying him all-time with Joe-Max Moore (another former Revolution great), fourth in U.S. history.

U.S. foul outside the box, dangerous Slovenia free kick. They caught the U.S. asleep with a simple run but the shot skips inches wide. Yikes. Too many players thinking shot in and around the wall.

U.S. free kick leads to a corner. There we go, Dempsey heads it in from Bradley. 2-1 U.S. in the 41st minute. The Slovenian defender went for a high kick but he had no chance. Two goals, I might have a heart attack. So the U.S. matched its goal total in its previous six games under Klinsmann in 41 minutes.

Chandler wiggles free in the box and gets taken down to earn a penalty kick. Jozy steps up and scores his first goal under Klinsmann. 3-1 U.S. in the 43rd minute, this looks like a completely different team. I understand that Slovenia is not very good but they nearly beat the U.S. in the World Cup. This is the type of performance we've all been waiting for.

First time in 25 games (since Australia before the World Cup) that the U.S. has scored three goals.

Halftime: U.S. 3, Slovenia 1

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U.S. Men's Roster Announced For France & Slovenia Friendlies

As usual, the U.S. men's national team friendlies are sneaking up on us. Did you know it's a little over a week before the U.S. faces France? Likewise, they'll meet Slovenia is less than two weeks.

Today, U.S. men's head coach Jurgen Klinsmann named the 22 players (2 goalkeepers, 7 defenders, 10 midfielders and 3 forwards) that will make the trip across the pond to face two decent European teams.

These matches represent the last games of 2011 for the U.S.; two more chances to impress Klinsmann and his coaching staff. Time is running out before things get really serious as far as World Cup qualifying next year and figuring out who will be on the field for the U.S. in the 2014 World Cup (in Brazil).

There are mostly familiar names, albeit with a backup goalkeeper (Bill Hamid) that we still don't know anything about, a German-American midfielder (Fabian Johnson) that was going to play in the last couple friendlies but was pulled at the last second due to injury/fatigue and a German-American defender (Alfredo Morales) that plays for Hertha Berlin (Bundesliga). All three should get their first U.S. caps during one of these two matches.

Here's the U.S. men's roster for November 11 (3 p.m. ET, ESPN 2, UNIVISION, ESPN3.com) in France and November 15 (12 p.m. ET, ESPN 2, UNIVISION, ESPN3.com) in Slovenia.

Goalkeepers: Tim Howard (Everton), Bill Hamid (D.C. United).

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Oguchi Onyewu (Sporting Lisbon), Timmy Chandler (Nuremberg), Steve Cherundolo (Hanover), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Alfredo Morales (Hertha Berlin), Michael Orozco Fiscal (San Luis).

Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Chievo), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Jermaine Jones (Schalke), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim).

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Edson Buddle (Ingolstadt), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy).

Players on MLS teams that are still alive in the MLS Cup will report back to the States after the France match. On a sidenote, Shea will train with Arsenal for a month after the friendlies while Hamid is currently training with West Brom. These will also be Klinsmann's first games with Donovan at his disposal. The U.S. stalwart missed the U.S. games this summer and fall since he needed a break between all the MLS and international contests he had in the past year.

UPDATE 11/7: Donovan is out for these two friendlies since his club team-the Los Angeles Galaxy-is in the MLS Cup.

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U.S. Men's National Team Set For A Short European Vacation In November

After months of rumors, the U.S. men's national team has finally set its final two exhibitions of 2011 in Europe: November 11 against France in Saint-Denis (outside of Paris) and November 15 against Slovenia in Ljubljana (which apparently is a real place) at Stozice Stadium.

Both matches have some intrigue since the U.S. and Slovenia were in the same group in the 2010 World Cup. Who could ever forget that improbable U.S. tie (2-2)? It was capped off by Landon Donovan's biggest goal of his career. The stakes will be much lower this time but it does mark the first U.S. trip to Slovenia so expect plenty of hype over there; I mean really, what else is going on in Slovenia, ever?

France formerly used to be one of Europe's strongest teams but with the 2010 World Cup serving as the boiling point, they've devolved into a complete mess. Still, they must be taken seriously with extremely talented players like Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka and Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery.

The U.S. needs to win at least one of those games and start improving on Jurgen Klinsmann's (1-3-1) less than impressive start to his U.S. head coaching career.

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A great showing by the smallest country in the 2010 World Cup

If they were in any other group, I would have been completely on the Slovenia bandwagon. A tiny country, playing well in the 2010 World Cup, what's not to like? Oh right, they were in Group C with the United States and England so sorry guys with the Charlie Brown jerseys (see above), I can't root for you too much.

Slovenia

Best moment: Leading Group C for a few days after their 1-0 win in the opening match vs. Algeria.

Worst moment: Coughing up the 2-0 halftime lead to the U.S. and ending up with a draw, if they could have held on they most definitely would have gotten through to the round-of-16.

Best result: Gotta go with the win (duh). It came off a shaky goal but they all count the same right?

Worst result: The tie with the U.S., normally that would be a great point but not under the scenario of how it played out.

Final tally: 1 win, 1 tie, 1 loss. 3 goals scored, 3 goals against.

Best player: Robert Koren, the West Brom midfielder was the beneficiary of the gaffe in their win but he was their most dangerous player.

Worst player: None, they got four points when they were the longest of long shots. Nothing to laugh at.

England runners-up in Group C

It's a shame that I didn't get to watch more of the England-Slovenia match because I really like the English team (despite their Red Sox pre-2004 tendencies).

The fact that the Three Lions came through with a 1-0 win and finished second behind the U.S. in Group C is a dream scenario at least for me. England will play at 10 a.m. on Sunday against the winner of Group D: Ghana, Germany or Serbia. I'm just hoping the U.S. can avoid the Germans-one of the tournament's best teams-so I'm willing to let England face them.

It was a pretty poor showing by the English in the Group stage with the draw against the U.S., the tie vs. Algeria and now today's match which sounded rather close against Slovenia.

Nothing is ever easy for this talented group of choke-artists.

AMERICA, FUCK YEAH!

It only took 91 minutes but the U.S. finally put one in. After Howard made a nice save on a header, the counterattack led to Altidore running down the right side and crossing it to Dempsey.

His first shot was stopped but Donovan made the perfect clean up run and he slotted it home for the biggest goal in his life and one of the biggest in U.S. history.

England won 1-0 and the U.S. is hanging on now in the last minute of stoppage time.

Yahia gets another yellow and he was tossed from the game.

The U.S. wins Group C and England finishes in second. FUCK YES!

Three minutes of added time in the England game

England is still up 1-0 in extra time with three minutes left.

0-0 U.S.-Algeria in the 90th minute, Buddle just had a good chance in the box but he laid it off instead of shooting it.

Beasley gets a yellow card for an apparent handball in the box. It din't look like one though.

Four minutes of added time for the U.S.-Algeria.

Last Algerian sub

86th minute and Algerian midfielder Karim Matmour is out and Rafik Saifi is in.


0-0 in the 86th minute.

England is up 1-0 in the 89th minute.

Two Slovenian cards

Jonathan Bornstein was just taken off and DaMarcus Beasley went in, the U.S.' third and final substitute.

Slovenia picked up two yellow cards in quick succession: by midfielder Valter Birsa and Zlatko Dedic.

Can we buy a call? Dempsey just got punched in the face when he was going for a ball in the box but nothing. His mouth is bleeding and everything.

Algerian midfielder Medhi Lacen picks up a yellow on a brutal slide tackle from behind on Altidore.

0-0 U.S.-Algeria in the 84th minute with another great chance outside the box on a free kick. Dempsey puts it over.

1-0 England in the 86th minute.

Algerian subs that I missed

Algerian forward Abdelkader Ghezzal went in for Rafik Djebbour in the 65th minute. In the 69th minute, midfielder Karim Ziani was out and Adlene Guedioura went on.

Algerian defender Antar Yahia got a yellow card for a rough challenge in the 76th minute. Still scoreless in the 79th minute but the U.S. has another great chance on a free kick. Bradley hit it hard but right at M'Boli. U.S. corner.

1-0 England in the 81st minute.

Is Wayne Rooney still alive?

The Man. U star (who hasn't scored in the 2010 World Cup) was just subbed out for Joe Cole.

0-0 U.S.-Algeria in the 74th minute with a free kick to the side of the box. Bradley heads it over.

1-0 England in the 76th minute.

This is killing me

The U.S. is getting so many chances; Cherundolo just served another juicy cross into the area that Buddle headed at M'Bolhi. The Algerian goalkeeper is currently standing on his head.

A couple inches either way and it would have been in, M'Bolhi did well to hang on because if he dropped it, Altidore or Buddle would have put it in.

Algeria's defense almost had an own goal as they deflected it out for a corner.

0-0 in the 71st minute between U.S.-Algeria.

1-0 England in the 74th minute.

We just need one

Feilhaber with a great chance in the 65th minute. He had no angle but M'Bolhi hit out his cross/shot for a corner. It was a decent chance but Bocanegra's header skipped wide.

1-0 England in the 70th minute.

0-0 U.S.-Algeria in the 68th minute.

Algeria taking a page out of Greece's playbook?

Does Algeria know that they have to win to move on? It seems like they're content to be like those losers from Greece and just sit back while the U.S. throws everything they have at them.

Altidore just picked up a yellow card for a foul on an Algerian defender. It was a foul for sure but not deserving of a booking.

Bocanegra with a sliding clear of a tough cross into the box by the Desert Foxes.

0-0 U.S.-Algeria in the 64th minute. U.S. haven't had a clean sheet in 12 games.

1-0 England in the 67th minute.

Edson Buddle in for Maurice Edu, a forward for a midfielder.

What do we have to do?

As John Harkes just remarked, "when will the ball go in?"

Altidore had a great run down the left side, his ball back to the middle was crappy but Algeria's defense butchered it and it fell right to Dempsey. He took a few touches then hit the post. The rebound came to him but with the goalkeeper and defenders running at him, and a tough angle, he put it wide.

0-0 U.S.-Algeria in the 59th minute.

1-0 England in the 62nd minute.

Defoe nearly ices it for Three Lions

The England-Slovenia match kicked off a couple minutes before the U.S.-Algeria game out of the halftime break and supposedly Defoe should have made it 2-0. He flicked it wide off a corner.

English midfielder Glen Johnson picked up a yellow card for a dive in the 48th minute which the commentators on the Soccernet gamecast said was a terrible call.

0-0 U.S.-Algeria in the 49th minute.

1-0 England in the 51st minute.

Halftime in Group C

The U.S. and Algeria head into the break scoreless while England is finally alive with a 1-0 lead over Slovenia.

Halftime stats:
United States Algeria
11(4) Shots (on Goal) 11(1)
4 Fouls 10
1 Corner Kicks 3
1 Offsides 1
50% Time of Possession 50%
0 Yellow Cards 1
0 Red Cards 0
1 Saves 4

Slovenia England
4(2) Shots (on Goal) 8(5)
6 Fouls 7
1 Corner Kicks 4
1 Offsides 0
39% Time of Possession 61%
1 Yellow Cards 0
0 Red Cards 0
4 Saves 2

Also Slovenian defender Bojan Jokic picked up a yellow card in the 40th minute.

Algeria is getting their looks too

Karim Ziani scorched one wide. Apparently, Algeria midfielder Hassan Yebda picked up a yellow card in the 12th minute.

0-0 U.S.-Algeria in the 45th minute.

1-0 England in the 45th minute.

I smell a U.S. goal

Another incredible chance from the U.S. goes awry. A great buildup with some sweet passing by the Americans led to M'Bolhi getting out of position and an open net for Altidore and Donovan.

It's not clear who smashed it over but they were both there and somebody should have put it in.

The U.S. is getting so many chances, you have to feel like they're going to get one, soon hopefully. At the same time, they can't leave themselves vulnerable to counterattacks.

0-0 U.S.-Algeria in the 40th minute.

1-0 England in the 40th minute.