US National Team

Winners and Losers: U.S.-Denmark

Noah Davis gives his winners and losers for the U.S. against Denmark.

Nov 18, 2009 8:50:33 PM

Jozy Altidore, United States, USA (Ryan Heffernan / Goal.com)

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Jozy Altidore, United States, USA (Ryan Heffernan / Goal.com)

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By Noah Davis

The United States Men's National Team finished off a successful 2009 campaign with a 3-1 loss at the hands of fellow 2010 World Cup qualifiers Denmark in Aarhus' NRGi Park. As with the match against Slovakia on Saturday, the game offered an opportunity for some fringe players on the American roster to improve their standing in the eyes of manager Bob Bradley.

Winners

Jeff Cunningham

In addition to the opportunistic goal he scored -- the type of individual effort the Americans will need if they are to advance out of the group stage next summer -- Major League Soccer's Golden Boot winner was frequently at the center of what few chances the U.S. had. His speed troubled Denmark's backline during the first half, pressuring the European side's defenders into a number of rushed passes. Cunningham worked a nice one-two with Stuart Holden to spring the Houston Dynamo midfielder and later just missed Jozy Altidore's head with a deft cross on the first possession of the second half. Eddie Johnson replaced the FC Dallas striker at the hour mark, but it was a day to remember for the man who scored his first international goal.

Benny Feilhaber

Playing in front of his home fans, the young midfielder stayed focused over the entire 90 minutes. He started strong, tackling a Danish defender and blasting a shot from 20 yards out that forced a diving save from Thomas Sørensen. A nice flick-on header in the 33rd minute found Cunningham alone in space, but the striker was correctly ruled offside. Playing on the left of midfield, Feilhaber looked more comfortable than he has when he's started in the center of the pitch. Landon Donovan (or occasionally Clint Dempsey) currently own this position, but with the injury to Charlie Davies, that could change. The Aarhus' midfielder's cameo out wide can only help his case for more playing time.

Michael Bradley

Although he didn't create any spectacular opportunities against Denmark, he had another solid match in the center of the pitch. Bradley is learning to time his runs, making a wonderful one straight up the middle of the field in the 45th minute. After receiving the ball, he turned brilliantly but was unlucky not to be able to get off a shot. The benefits of his playing time at Borussia Monchengladbach are apparent, as Bradley looks calmer with the ball at his feet than he did this summer. The maturation of his game, both defensively and offensively, is impressive.

Losers

Frankie Hedjuk

Perhaps a surprise starter, the two-time World Cup veteran didn't help his case to make a third team. Jesper Grønkjær slipped behind him on a quick restart and nearly scored in the third minute. On Denmark's first goal, Hedjuk was caught watching the play as Johan Absalonsen corralled the ball and scored. The Columbus Crew fullback arrived a step late to a number of challenges and was lucky not to see a card from Scottish referee Craig Thomson. Hedjuk will always be one of the fittest players on the pitch -- he ran strong for 90 minutes in Aarhus -- but quite simply can no longer keep up.

Jozy Altidore

In stark contrast to Cunningham, the Hull City striker was virtually invisible for the first 35 minutes of the match. When the ball did come into his general area, Altidore was reacting to it rather than anticipating. It's possible to blame a bit of this on a lack of playing time at his club side or an unfamiliarity with his strike partner's style of play, but he also seemed lost on Saturday against Slovakia. This trend is a serious concern for an American team that needs their young striker to improve his game and shoulder more of the attacking load with Davies absent. Altidore, perhaps more than anyone, misses the presence of Donovan who understands how to get the ball to the striker in situations where he can produce. (See: Donovan's three assists to Altidore's against Trinidad and Tobago.) The U.S. has to hope the Los Angeles Galaxy talisman's return with spur the 20-year-old to greater heights.

Jonathan Spector

The West Ham defender's second attempt at playing centerback didn't go nearly as well as his first. While Spector -- normally a right back for the U.S. -- shined on Saturday in Bratislava, he struggled alongside Carlos Bocanegra against Denmark. He could have done more to track Absalonsen on the first goal -- although Hedjuk bears the brunt of the blame -- but his missed clearance led directly to the second strike. On the third tally, Spector was guilty of ball-watching after Bocanegra left eventual scorer Martin Bernburg to stop Søren Rieks at the top of the box. (On a related note, Jonathan Bornstein was nowhere to be found on the second goal and watched as Rieks scored on the third.) Spector isn't the answer at centerback, but with DeMerit and Onyewu almost certainly returning before the World Cup, he doesn't need to be.

Noah Davis covers the United States Men's National Team for Goal.com.

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