Projecting the U.S. roster for Egypt friendly (UPDATED)

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The U.S. national team's looming friendly in Cairo to take on Egypt may be in doubt due to political reasons, but if it's not canceled, then the roster for the match should be released soon.

Assuming head coach Bob Bradley is to take advantage of the single FIFA fixture date, it's likely only 20 players will be called into camp for the Feb. 9 match. Most will be European based as Bradley will try to avoid interrupting MLS players' pre-seasons as much as possible. Still, there should be a couple of domestically-based players in the squad.

With that said, here's a look at which 20 players I think Bradley will call up:

Goalkeepers (2): Tim Howard (Everton, England), Brad Guzan (Hull City, England)

Defenders (8): Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96, Germany), Oguchi Onyewu (FC Twente, Netherlands), Clarence Goodson (Brondby IF, Denmark), Carlos Bocanegra (St Etienne, France), Eric Lichaj (Aston Villa, England), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United, England), Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls), Zach Loyd (FC Dallas)

Midfielders (7): Stuart Holden (Bolton Wanderers, England), Jermaine Jones (Blackburn Rovers, England), Michael Bradley (Aston Villa, England), Clint Dempsey (Fulham, England), Maurice Edu (Rangers, Scotland), Sacha Kljestan (RSC Anderlecht, Belgium), Mikkel Diskerud (Stabaek IF, Norway)

Forwards (3): Jozy Altidore (Villarreal, Spain), Edson Buddle (FC Ingolstadt 04, Germany), Eddie Johnson (Fulham, England)

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Some quick thoughts:

• Ream, Loyd and Diskerud make it from January camp/Chile roster onto Egypt roster due to their performances in the 1-1 draw.

• Highly hyped forwards Juan Agudelo and Teal Bunbury do not get called in as Bob Bradley is likely to continue to bring them into the program at a slow but steady pace while also trying to limit fans' exceeding expectations of the talented tandem.

• No Landon Donovan, and that's because he hasn't played in a single game since November. Bradley is likely to leave Donovan with the Los Angeles Galaxy in order to allow him to completely get into shape for his upcoming season.

• Of the 20 players called in, only two ply their trade in MLS while nine earn their wages in England.

(UPDATE 1/31 - The U.S. Soccer Federation announced on Monday that the United States' friendly against Egypt has been canceled. The federation looked for other locations in which to hold the game, and different opponents to play, but nothing could be finalized in such a short amount of time.)

Future looks bright for U.S. front line

photo by AP Photos

The U.S. national team saw its forwards score zero goals in last year's World Cup, and while concerns remain about the American frontline, help might be on the way in the shape of two youngsters not yet old enough to buy a beer.

New York Red Bulls' Juan Agudelo, 18, and Sporting Kansas City's Teal Bunbury, 20, each built on their impressive national team debuts (in a 1-0 win versus South Africa last November) by injecting life into a U.S. attack that lacked any real creativity against Chile in a 1-1 draw on Saturday in Carson, California.

Trailing 1-0 due to a goal from Esteban Paredes, the United States felt an immediate impact when both forwards entered the game in the 60th minute. Bunbury's combination of size and strength gave Chile's defense fits, while Agudelo's willingness to take on defenders was as effective as it was impressive.

Agudelo, who scored the lone goal against South Africa in his debut in November, even helped set up the equalizer when he played a one-two with midfielder Alejandro Bedoya before getting fouled inside the penalty area.

The foul on Agudelo may have been questionable, but American fans forgot about that as they were quickly celebrating a goal moments later. With Agudelo preparing to take the penalty kick, Bunbury convinced his younger teammate to let him take it.

Bunbury hit the spot kick firmly and accurately into the back of the net to pull the U.S. level. He and Agudelo then celebrated the goal by doing the Dougie dance, which Telefutura broadcaster Jorge Ramirez comically called (see below) by referencing the Black Eyed Pea's hit single Boom Boom Pow and saying "Boon-boo-ree!", playing off the pronunciation of Bunbury's name in Spanish.

Regardless of the comic relief fans had after the game due to Ramirez's commentary, they likely had even more optimism about the future of the American frontline, especially considering that former teen sensation and Villarreal striker Jozy Altidore can help groom the two starlets.

Expectations should be tempered, but they likely won't be. Not from American fans who saw a second straight World Cup finish for the U.S. without a single goal from a forward. That may lead to disappointment down the road, but then again it might not.

For now, American soccer fans are just reveling in the fact that there are two more young forwards to get excited about.

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Here is Teal Bunbury's first international goal, and Jorge Ramirez's hilarious Spanish call:

Owls win seventh straight in front of nationwide audience

photo by AP Photos

Talk about publicity.

FAU's basketball team (15-6, 7-0) continued its unprecedented run with a seventh consecutive victory as it defeated Arkansas-Little Rock 88-71 at the Burrow on Saturday. Currently on the longest winning streak in school history, the Owls also stayed undefeated in conference play, improving to 7-0 with the win.

What made those two runs even more special for FAU was that ESPN2 was broadcasting the game nationwide, a first in FAU basketball history.

The arena was loud (even football head coach Howard Schnellenberger and Tennessee Titans quarterback Rusy Smith were in attendance), the players were pumped and basketball fans nationwide got to witness just how good this FAU team is.

If you missed Saturday's festivities or want to relive them again, FAUOwlAccess.com has a neat video from the Owls' nationwide victory.

Roberto Carlos scores dream (Olympic) goal

photo by Reuters

The term "golazo" seems to be overused now a days in the world of soccer (futbol or football), but not in the case of describing Roberto Carlos' latest strike.

The 37-year-old defender showed he still has a lethal kick on set pieces, scoring a rare and incredible Olympic Goal (when one scores directly from taking a corner kick) in Corinthians' 2-0 victory over Portuguesa in Brazilian League action this weekend.

Just as he has throughout much of his career, Carlos struck a potent and accurate left-footed shot, surprising Portuguesa's goalkeeper, who was off his line trying to organize his defense. The goal took one bounce and went in as a Corinthians player cleverly let it go through his legs rather than take a touch on the ball.

The goal itself is incredible, but for Carlos to have the awareness and audacity to try it might be even more so. The former Brazilian international told media after the game that the goal was the first of its kind in his storied career, and that it took a long time to happen.

It's also definitely one worth watching. Over and over again.

Here's the goal (at the 1:21 mark):

Bosh sprains ankle over weekend as Heat lose third straight

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The Miami Heat (30-12) lost a third consecutive game on Saturday, and that may not be the worst thing to have happened to the team this weekend.

Power forward Chris Bosh injured his ankle in the Heat's 99-96 road loss to the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, leaving Miami with just one of its three star players healthy as it heads into Tuesday's showdown with the Atlanta Hawks. LeBron James is also nursing an ankle injury.

Bosh and James' ankle injuries aren't deemed to be too serious, but they could spell trouble for Miami as it looks to bounce back from its three-game skid.

If neither Bosh or James can play at the AmericanAirlines Arena on Tuesday, then Dwyane Wade will need to hope his supporting cast can play as well against Atlanta as it did versus the Bulls.

The Heat's bench scored 37 points on Saturday, with Eddie House leading the way with 13 of those. Mike Miller, who is still trying to define his role in the rotation, chipped in with eight points, which included his first two three-pointers of the season.

Wade can obviously carry a heavier load even if Bosh and James don't play, but with Atlanta surely sending double-teams his way, the rest of the team will need to do its part.

That will especially hold true on the defensive end, where Bosh's rebounding ability will sorely be missed if he cannot suit up.

Miami plays just two home games over the next 10 days, so there will be time for the walking wounded to heal. Until then however, the Heat will need all of its healthy players to step up in James and Bosh's absence.

Otherwise, a fourth straight loss may be in store.

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If you haven't seen how Bosh rolled his ankle, you can do so here: