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What we learned from the U.S. men's national team's January friendlies

What we learned from the U.S. men's national team's January friendlies

What, exactly, do you take away from the United States men's national team's January camp games? As a rule, very little. And certainly nothing about the team as a whole. These friendlies in Southern California, bookending a long preseason camp mostly held for the USA's domestically based players, are the equivalent of spring training games in baseball. Or the NBA preseason. They're about regaining a feel for competition, intended for rediscovering stamina and sharpness.

The topsy-turvy 3-2 victory over Iceland and the shoddy 1-0 win against Canada lent themselves to no significant conclusions about where the national team is or where it is going in this year of World Cup qualifiers and a stateside Copa America Centenario.

Over 180 minutes we did, however, see some glimpses and glean some impressions of a few players individually. So let's break it down.

Jozy Altidore looked fit and sharp

Never mind the goal he got in each game, or his assist against Iceland. Altidore was slowed by injuries in 2014 and 2015 but appeared a little trimmer and a lot more plugged into the game in these two matches. He hungered after chances and was rewarded for his toil. Not only that, but he seemed rejuvenated and sufficiently confident to try several daring chips. At 26, Altidore should be entering his prime. The Americans remain hugely dependent on him and need the Haitian-American to have a big year. This was a promising start.

Michael Bradley appears healthy

The midfield metronome has likewise suffered through some nagging injuries recently. He moved around well for 180 minutes and his decision making was on point. He set up a few goals in the first game. In the second, when he was pulled back into his more natural deep-lying role, absolutely everything flowed through him. The national team is markedly better when that's the case.

Lee Nguyen and Steve Birnbaum stood out in both USMNT friendlies. (Getty Images)
Lee Nguyen and Steve Birnbaum stood out in both USMNT friendlies. (Getty Images)

Steve Birnbaum was impressive

The D.C. United defender caught the eye by giving an assist and bagging a late winner against Iceland, both with his head. But he was imperious against Canada as well. He might bring the same things to the national team in central defense as Omar Gonzalez, namely aerial dominance. But Birnbaum could prove to be less gaffe-prone than Gonzo. At 25, he isn't a prospect, but he likely played himself up the depth chart.

Lee Nguyen has something to offer

The attacking midfielder has long been an enigma of the American game. He spent five years playing in the Netherlands, Denmark and Vietnam before joining the New England Revolution in 2012. But he never really got a serious look with the national team. Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann brought him back from a seven-year exile in 2014, but Nguyen didn't play for the U.S. again until last October. Now, in these two games, he demonstrated that his touch, passing and vision have added value to the national team. It's just a shame that it took until he was 29 for someone to notice.

Jerome Kiesewetter can be very helpful off the bench

The under-23 national team winger, in camp to prepare for the Olympic team's playoff series with Colombia next month, confirmed that he's one of the more exciting young players in the program. He was more influential in his first substitution appearance than his second, but he can bring the same kind of late speed and energy up the right flank DeAndre Yedlin has become known for, giving tiring defenders fits.

Jermaine Jones is still useful … in midfield

Big Bad Jermaine has turned 34 and is out of contract, making this an unusually important camp for him. And he's still got it: but with a caveat. When he played in midfield in the first game, he showed that bite coaches love to have in their team. When he was moved back a line against Canada, however, he once again lacked the positional discipline and wherewithal to be relied upon to stay home and cover his territory. No matter how old he gets, Jones won't grow out of his wanderlust – or his sometimes rash tackling.

Kellyn Acosta could be a real option at left back

As another under-23 player to earn some senior team appearances, it seemed at first like Acosta was just plugging a hole in the absence of a senior team left back. But he acquitted himself well over two games and could suddenly find himself in the conversation for the full-time job, with Brek Shea, Tim Ream, Greg Garza, Fabian Johnson, Timmy Chandler and a few others failing to make that spot their own.

Jordan Morris is settling in well

Morris remains something of a tweener between the Olympic and senior teams, but for a man who still hasn't appeared in a professional soccer game, he now fits into the national team nicely. His attacking partnership with Altidore in the second game was fruitful and vaguely reminiscent of the days when a young Charlie Davies raced around the big target man. Morris has that same kind of speed, and a bit more size, no less. Their pairing could become a common occurrence in 4-4-2 formations.

Leander Schaerlaeckens is a soccer columnist for Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter @LeanderAlphabet.