Jozy Altidore ‘Ready And Available’ For Tomorrow’s Match Against Belgium

Tomorrow afternoon the U.S. National Team is set to play Belgium in what will be a fantastic Round of 16 knockout match.

The American squad will be facing a Belgian team that boasts plenty of elite talent but is still learning how to work as a team. However, with names like Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku up front Belgium has plenty of firepower. Even on the back line they have Vincent Kompany, the fantastic Manchester City center back.

Even goalkeeper Tim Howard, one of the National Team’s seasoned veterans, acknowledged that Lukaku specifically was “super talented” despite his World Cup struggles thus far. In turn Belgian manager Kevin Mirallas called Howard “one of the 10 best in the world” as far as goalkeepers go.

Fortunately for the U.S. National Team they will be getting back some of their firepower, namely Jozy Altidore, who left due to injury in their first match of the World Cup against Ghana.

Now, “ready and available” does not hint at how fit he is to play nor if he will in fact start. But, if the U.S. squad needs an offensive boost, at least we know he would be available to come into the game perhaps as a sub.

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If he is able to start, however, we could see him and Clint Dempsey back up top along with Altidore. Perhaps that would open up some more avenues for Michael Bradley to make plays since he has been inconsistent so far this World Cup.

They’ll need all the offensive help they can get too, because Belgium has only conceded one goal so far in three games. Yes, they were in a weaker group, but this is the World Cup and no team is a pushover.

Whatever his status, Jozy Altidore should be able to help a static offense that has been pretty sluggish at times despite fantastic play from the likes of Jermaine Jones and Fabian Johnson out of the back. This is especially true considering Belgium can be a patient team as well having scored all four of their goals in the 60′ minute or later. That means the U.S. National Team will need to stay composed, and one lapse, such as the one against Portugal in stoppage time, could be the difference between moving on and going home.

And to send you off, here is Jones’ fantastic goal against Portugal, with a wonderful call by Ian Darke.