The Short List: Big Weekend For Americans Abroad

By Allen Ramsey

The season in Europe is coming to an end and most of the title races are done and dusted, but it’s not over yet. There are still some close races for spots in Europe, smaller league titles, promotions and relegations to look forward this weekend. Nestled into these races are a few of America’s top players who have a lot on the line.

For Clint Dempsey and Fulham this season has been nothing short of a major success. Roy Hodgson and his troops have already guaranteed the Craven Cottage faithful of their best finish ever in the Premiership, and Europe is still on the offer. Standing in their way is another Europa-bound team with an American star, Tim Howard and the Toffees.

The match should prove to be a close contest, with Fulham needing only a point to virtually (it would take Tottenham beating Liverpool by five or more) assure a spot in Europe.  With Howard on fine form this season Everton have only passed out 17 goals on their travels, but Fulham are fifth in the league in goals allowed at home with only 14, so there probably won’t be too many goals on the offer.

This is the type of match that could truly go either way and is a can’t-miss event for any U.S. National Team fan.

Here’s a list of some of the other big matches involving American’s this week.

Dundee Utd. vs. Rangers:

Rangers jumped back to the top of the SPL last week when Celtic stumbled at Hibernian and Maurice Edu’s side will have a chance to walk away with the title on Sunday. It won’t be easy for the Gers as they travel to Dundee to take on the fourth placed team in the SPL table.

Rangers will probably need a win to take home the title, but Celtic has a tricky match of their own against Hearts.

Borussia Monchengladbach vs. Borussia Dortmund:

Three points clear of the drop heading into the final round of matches is never where you want your team to be, but that’s exactly where Michael Bradley and ‘Gladbach are right now.

The good new is that they’re at home. The bad news is that they have to play Borussia Dortmund, a team that they’ve already lost to once this season, and ‘Gladbach have to rebound from a 5-0 spanking at the hands of Bayer Leverkuesen last week.

They should also find some comfort in a healthy goal differential over the only two teams that can catch them, but another big loss could see Bradley and the boys headed to the second division next season.

Anderlecht vs. Standard Liege:

This playoff for the Belgian title will start on Thursday with Anderlecht hosting the first leg and conclude on Sunday with Standard hosting the second leg.

The matches will likely be Oguchi Onyewu’s farewell to Liege and the big defender would surely like to leave as a champion. A strong showing from the big defender will probably on spark new rumors as to where Onyewu will land next season, but in the end it will cap off one of the most exciting title races in Europe this season.

West Ham vs. Middlesbrough:

Admittedly, this one doesn’t have too much to do with the future of the American that will be involved, but Jonathan Spector and the Hammers will have their hands full with trying to knock Boro out of the EPL.

Spector is still seeing limited playing time, but the big story here is Middlesbrough trying to overtake Newcastle and Hull City to stay in the top flight. This should be a cracker of a match and, being that it will likely involve and American, it’s fit to make the list.

Allen Ramsey in an assistant editor for Goal.com USA. The Short List runs every Wednesday afternoon on Goal.com.