Goodson starts for US against France

Published Nov. 11, 2011 7:40 p.m. ET

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Clarence Goodson was given a start at central defender in place of Oguchi Onyewu for the United States' exhibition game at France on Friday night.

The rest of the American lineup was unchanged from last month's 1-0 loss to Ecuador, with Tim Howard in goal; Steve Cherundolo at right back; captain Carlos Bocanegra at central defense; Timmy Chandler at left back; Kyle Beckerman, Brek Shea, Maurice Edu and Danny Williams in midfield; and Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore at forward.

Midfielder Fabian Johnson was on the bench and could make his U.S. debut. Also on the bench were goalkeeper Bill Hamid; defender Michael Orozco Fiscal; midfielders Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones and DaMarcus Beasley; and forward Edson Buddle.

Onyewu, who has a slight groin strain he sustained before arriving to national team camp, didn't dress along with defender Alfredo Morales and midfielder Robbie Rogers.

The U.S. entered 1-3-1 under new coach Jurgen Klinsmann. This was the first meeting between the nations since 1979.

France, with 15-match unbeaten streak, kept just four starters from a 1-1 tie against Bosnia in its final European Championship qualifier last month: goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, center back Adil Rami and midfielders Yann M'Vila and Jeremy Menez.

Also starting were right back Mathieu Debuchy; central defender Laurent Koscielny; left back Jeremy Mathieu; midfielders Alou Diarra and Franck Ribery; and forwards Karim Benzema and Kevin Gameiro.

They replaced Anthony Reveillere, Eric Abidal, Patrice Evra, Yohan Cabaye, Samir Nasri, Florent Malouda and Loic Remy.