USA ready for Argentina meeting

The United States will lock horns with Argentina in New Jersey on Saturday in the first of two friendlies ahead of their Gold Cup campaign.

The USA will be looking to extend their four-game unbeaten record that has seen them twice draw with South American opposition in Chile and Colombia.

US coach Bob Bradley has named three uncapped players for the friendly, summoning Nuremberg attacker Timothy Chandler, Duisburg keeper David Yelldell and Norwich City defender Zak Whitbread.

The game also offers Bradley the first chance to have his favoured starting squad together for the first time since a 2-2 draw with Poland.

However, the US midfield – the side’s weakest component – has been dealt a blow with Bolton midfielder Stuart Holden ruled out for six months following a collision with Manchester United defender Jonny Evans on Saturday.

Bradley’s men crashed out of last year’s FIFA World Cup in the second round after a 3-0 defeat to eventual semi-finalists Ghana, but will be hoping to secure their fifth Gold Cup crown come June.

Argentina also have a regional competition to contend with, the Copa America which kicks off in July on their home turf.

Coach Sergio Batista’s side will be buoyed by their recent international friendlies, which has seen them account for Portugal, Venezuela and great rivals Brazil.

Barcelona superstar and world player of the year Lionel Messi has recovered in time for the clash after suffering a knee injury in La Liga.

Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez has been left out of the squad with reports suggesting the prolific scorer, who has netted 18 goals this term, was being punished for his late withdrawal from the friendly against Brazil, which saw him subsequently feature for his club only three days later.

Atletico Madrid’s Sergio Aguero is also out of the Argentina squad while Benfica striker Eduardo Salvio comes in in the absence of Inter’s prolific marksman Diego Milito.

Elsewhere, Mexico hosts Paraguay at the Estadio Azteca, with both sides looking to record a positive result ahead of the Copa America, while Chile tackles Portugal at the Estadio Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa in Leiria.Earlier in the day, Colombia will face Ecuador at the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Melendez.