World Cup preview: USA
Coach: Bob Bradley
Key player: Clint Dempsey
Previous best: Third place 1930
Perennial qualifiers the United States of America are back again, and return to South Africa buoyed by last year’s run to the Confederations Cup final.
A 2-0 semi-final win over Spain in Bloemfontein was the highlight of that tournament, which ended in disappointment when Brazil came from 2-0 down to win the final, but they gained a confidence and togetherness from the competition, not to mention an experience of playing in South Africa. All of which stands them in good stead for the finals.
More recent results haven’t been as promising though, the US have lost to fellow World Cup qualifiers Slovakia, Denmark, Honduras and the Netherlands in recent months, but some of those results were put down to coach Bob Bradley’s experimentation with team personnel and tactics as he looked for the perfect blend ahead of the finals.
The USA certainly have talented personnel.
Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard is one of the most dependable shot-stoppers in the Premier League, while Blues fans were more than impressed with Landon Donovan’s brief loan spell at the club last season. All of the signs point to the USA’s most capped player returning to Merseyside for the next campaign.
Clint Dempsey was a key player in Fulham’s remarkable run to the Europa League final – his stunning winner against Juventus would have been celebrated in the States – while Maurice Edu, Stuart Holden and Michael Bradley, the coach’s son, are all strong, forceful midfielders.
Oguchi Onyewu has endured a nightmare season after his dream move to Milan, but recently demonstrated a humanitarian side by offering to play for free following the Italian club’s medical care of him, and he was rock solid in the Confederations Cup. The US will hope that he’s fully fit, as without him they could struggle, but on top form and fully focussed, he’s a barrier that can be hard to pass.
One of the concerns for Bradley probably comes with a lack of firepower, as Jozy Altidore didn’t exactly pull up any trees at Hull City last season.
José Torres, Robbie Findley, Herculez Gomez and Edson Buddle – named after Pele – can all find the net, but whether or not they can do so on a consistent enough basis against superior opposition at the World Cup remains to be seen.
There is still disappointment in the States at their team’s poor showing at the last World Cup, when only one point was gained as they finished bottom of their group. It had been hoped that they could build upon their run to the quarter-finals in 2002, which included wins over Portugal and Mexico, but they flattered to deceive.
This time around, qualification from the group should be a given.
It is likely to be the June 12th meeting between the USA and England that determines who comes first and who comes second in this group, with the runners up probably facing a tough second round clash with Germany.
It was the Germans who did for the States in that 2002 quarter final, and that stage is surely the best that Bradley’s boys can hope for here, even though that is unlikely.
They’ll entertain, but ultimately lack the strength in depth to go far.
USA squad
1 Tim HOWARD (Everton)
2 Jonathan SPECTOR (West Ham)
3 Carlos BOCANEGRA (Rennes)
4 Michael BRADLEY (Borussia Monchengladbach)
5 Oguchi ONYEWU (AC Milan)
6 Steve CHERUNDOLO (Hannover)
7 DaMarcus BEASLEY (Rangers)
8 Clint DEMPSEY (Fulham)
9 Herculez GOMEZ (Puebla)
10 Landon DONOVAN (Los Angeles Galaxy)
11 Stuart HOLDEN (Bolton)
12 Jonathan BORNSTEIN (Chivas USA)
13 Ricardo CLARK (Houston Dynamo)
14 Edson BUDDLE (Los Angeles Galaxy)
15 Jay DEMERIT (Watford)
16 José TORRES (Pachuca)
17 Jozy ALTIDORE (Villarreal)
18 Brad GUZAN (Aston Villa)
19 Maurice EDU (Rangers)
20 Robbie FINDLEY (Real Salt Lake)
21 Clarence GOODSON (IK Start)
22 Benny FEILHABER (Aarhus)
23 Marcus HAHNEMANN (Wolves)
For previews of the USA's Group C opponents click here:
http://www.senore.com/World-Cup-2010-preview-Algeria-a12353
http://www.senore.com/World-Cup-2010-preview-England-a12354
http://www.senore.com/World-Cup-preview-Slovenia-a12356
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