2/29: Italy vs. USMNT @ Genoa [R]

Friendly will be shown live on ESPN2 at 1:30pm CT.

U.S. to Face Four-Time World Cup Champion Italy on Feb. 29 in Genoa

Brek promoted from U-23 team to national team due to injuries.

Kljestan and Shea Added to U.S. Men's National Team Roster for Match Against Italy

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U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has added
midfielder Sacha Kljestan and forward Brek Shea to the training camp
roster ahead of the match against Italy on Feb. 29 in Genoa. Timmy
Chandler (left hamstring strain), Landon Donovan (bronchitis), and Jose
Torres (right hamstring strain) have all been forced to withdraw from
the squad.

Italy names roster for USA friendly

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GOALKEEPERS: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain), Emiliano Viviano (Palermo).

DEFENDERS: Ignazio Abate
(AC Milan), Davide Astori (Cagliari), Federico Balzaretti (Palermo),
Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio
Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Zenit St. Petersburg),
Christian Maggio (Napoli), Angelo Ogbonna (Torino).

MIDFIELDERS: Daniele De
Rossi (Roma), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo
(Fiorentina), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint-Germain), Antonio Nocerino (AC
Milan), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus).

FORWARDS: Fabio Borini (Roma), Sebastian Giovinco (Parma), Alessandro Matri (Juventus), Giampaolo Pazzini (Inter Milan)

Klinsmann’s big risk rewarded with U.S. upset win over Italy

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Many of the world’s finest teams have traveled to Italy and been sent
home with their tail between their legs. Yet the real triumph here was a
justification of Klinsmann’s brave approach in setting up international
friendlies that take the USA out of its traditional comfort zone.

Taking on some of the best in the business on home soil is one thing.
But by daring to venture to France, where the team suffered a 1-0 loss
late last year, and now Italy, Klinsmann took a bold step. Such a move
risked a potentially damaging defeat, one that could have attracted
significant criticism from an American soccer public that is never
particularly forgiving.

Grant Wahl: U.S. looks to build on Italy win

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To understand the significance of the U.S.' 1-0 friendly win over Italy
here on Wednesday, it's good to know what it was and what it wasn't. Was
it historic? By all means, yes. The U.S. had never beaten Italy in 10
previous games going back to 1934. Winning against a four-time world
champion on the road is always important, even if the game doesn't
count. And yet the U.S. players were still cognizant that there were
limits to how much you should take out of the result.