Country: USA
The American Dream
Trending
Manager: Bob Bradley
Group Opponents: England, Algeria, Slovenia
Recent Form & News: Beat Turkey, Lost to Czech Republic by 4-2 and also lost to the Dutch. That, I would say is not a bad round of warm up matches, considering that that the win against Turkey was their last game.
The Team
Goalies: Tim Howard, Guzan and Hanheman
USA have a safe goal keeper in Tim Howard. The Everton stopper had a good/steady season, if not spectacular.
Defence: Oguchi Onyewu and Bocanegra will lead the team, never mind the defence. Both are highly experienced and and have experience playing the top-flight in Europe. The likes of Jonathan Spector (of West Ham United) and Demerit (of Watford) need to stand up. Onyewu passed a late fitness test, despite being out for most part of the last season in AC Milan‘s campaign.
Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes)
Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA)
Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96)
Jay DeMerit (Watford)
Clarence Goodson (IK Start)
Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan)
Jonathan Spector (West Ham)
[slideshow]
Midfield: If Bocanegra is the captain, Landon Donnavan is the inspiration, the Messiah, for the Americans. Not only is he a talented mid fielder, he is also very experienced now, having played 2 World Cups and also in the English Premier League. Clint Dempsey will be the other key guy in the mid field. The mid field is completed by Edu (Rangers) and Holden (Bolton) and Demarcus Beasley.
DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers)
Bob Bradley
Michael Bradley (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Maurice Edu (Rangers)
Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus)
Stuart Holden (Bolton)
Jose Torres (Pachuca)
Clint Dempsey (Fulham)
Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)
Forwards: Jose Altidore is the key guy up-front for the US. Blistering pace, clinical finsishing and quick feet are attributes which will not give any opposition an easy sleep the night before and Villareal man has all of these in abundunce. He will get support from Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake) and Herculez Gomez (Pachuca).
Jozy Altidore (Villarreal)
Landon Donovan: Ay Ay Captain!
Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy)
Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake)
Herculez Gomez (Pachuca).
Predictions: Remember, the Americans went to the final of the confederations cup last year. They beat teams like Egypt and Spain en route to the final. Even in the final, they set the cat among the pigeons before losing 3-2 to them. They have a good chance of beating the English and topping the group. I expect them to go out in the quarters or in the pre-quarters.
