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USMNT vs. Denmark: Lineups and match thread

Down with the Danes.

Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports

The United States are in Aarhus, ready to take on Denmark in their first full-team friendly of 2015. The Danes sit four spots ahead of the Americans in the FIFA rankings and are led by one of the Premier League's best playmakers, Christian Eriksen, so Jurgen Klinsmann and Co. are in for a tough test.

The U.S. has struggled since the World Cup, going 2-3-2 in their seven matches since. They weren't especially important matches, just friendlies serving as an opportunity to try new players and systems, but the Gold Cup is now just four months away. That is a big tournament, as the Americans will look to be crowned champions of CONCACAF and clinch a spot in the Confederations Cup, and they don't look ready for it yet. The heat, theoretically, should be turned up now as they begin getting ready for the Gold Cup.

Klinsmann originally called 23 players in for this match (as well as next week's friendly against Switzerland), but Clint Dempsey suffered a hamstring strain so they are down to 22. It's largely a European-based squad, with a handful of Liga MX and MLS players sprinkled in.

Neither of the newbies, Ventura Alvarado and William Yarbrough, are in the starting XI, but both are available off the bench. Aron Johannsson gets the nod up front next to Jozy Altidore, with Gyasi Zardes back on the wing, where he was good against Panama at the beginning of February. Michael Bradley is the captain.

United States lineup: Nick Rimando; Timothy Chandler, Michael Orozco, John Brooks, Greg Garza; Gyasi Zardes, Alejandro Bedoya, Michael Bradley, Fabian Johnson; Jozy Altidore, Aron Johannsson.

The match kicks off at 3:15 p.m. ET and will be televised live on ESPN. This is your match thread so chat it out as the U.S. looks to grab a win and start their run-up to the Gold Cup with some momentum.