Before the relegation duel with Bochum, Heidenheim’s national player Lennard Maloney celebrates his competitive debut for the USA.
While his colleagues at home underwent a lactate and fitness test during this international break and coach Frank Schmidt decided not to play another test match this time, Lennard Maloney jetted overseas again. After his first invitation to the US national team and his debut in the friendly against Ghana, Heidenheim’s first national player was now hoping for his competitive debut. And had to be patient for a long time.
In the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Nations League, the US boys faced Trinidad and Tobago, but in the 3-0 home win in the first leg, Maloney remained on the bench and was an outsider. But in the second leg on Monday night on the Caribbean island it was still time, although the 24-year-old had to be content with a short appearance.
US coach Gregg Berhalter only brought Maloney on in stoppage time to ensure progression to the semi-finals despite the 2-1 defeat. An unnecessary sending off against Sergino Dest had put the USA and their coach in trouble and under pressure. In addition to participating in the semi-finals, the Americans also secured qualification for the Copa America, which will be held in the USA next summer.
Despite the international trip, not particularly challenged
So there are more opportunities for Maloney to prove himself, this time he at least scored his second international match and another international point. Coach Schmidt should be pleased that his strongest player is returning healthy before the important relegation duel against Bochum and that he was not particularly physically challenged in addition to the travel strain. After all, there is a lot at stake in the home game against Bochum on Sunday afternoon.
Home games of 1. FC Heidenheim
“Our direct competitors are still coming,” Schmidt recently emphasized after the respectable 2:4 at FC Bayern, Bochum being one of those. After eleven games, VfL is one point and one place behind promoted team Heidenheim, so this time it’s about doubly valuable points.
Away weakness is the big problem
The home-strong FCH had recently even defeated the strong Stuttgart team at home (2-0) and were also successful against their direct competitors for relegation from Bremen (4-2). There was also an important 1-0 win at Schlossberg against Union Berlin, which had fallen to the bottom of the table. On the other hand, the Schmidt men suffered a 2:5 defeat against the then struggling Augsburg team.
Italy’s playoff: Will the defending champion miss the European Championship?
For Italy, it’s about direct participation in the European Championship on Monday evening. Manuel Neuer is now thinking about a new contract – and a Premier League professional has strange eating habits.
11/20/23 – 4:38 p.m. 15:22 minutes
Thanks to Sunday’s late appointment, Maloney has an extra day to recover from the trip and readjust to the time change. Because against Bochum, Heidenheim’s long-time runner, who has been in the starting line-up in all games so far and has only been substituted early three times, will again play a more important role than in the US national team.
2023-11-21 09:22:14
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