If you had told 2005 Me that I would attend an international soccer game in person before seeing an NFL game in person, I probably would have bought tickets to a Carolina Panthers game that day, just to spite you.

And yet here we are in 2010, and I’m all excited about going to see the U.S. Men’s National Team play a World Cup warm-up friendly against Turkey at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia today.

What’s that? No, I have never actually been to an NFL game. I’ve heard plenty of stories about what actually happens in stadiums during games, and honestly, I don’t feel like I’m missing all that much by not being there. HDTV has only heightened this feeling.

But that’s beside the point. Today’s a day to get excited about our national team, which will hopefully be a little more organized at the back today than it was against the Czechs. Carlos Bocanegra, who had hernia surgery recently without telling anyone except his bosses at Rennes — and how’s that for burying the lede — is expected to slot in at left back today, which should tell you about the confidence Bob Bradley has in Jonathan Bornstein right about now.

Meanwhile, I’m going to be partying with the American Outlaws for the first time today. This should be an adventure. I’ll try to get some decent photos and post them here later. In the meantime, let’s just hope this Xerox machine here doesn’t get tabbed to ref the World Cup match against Slovenia: