Four weeks until the World Cup kicks off. For everyone complaining about too much randomness, and not enough US of A, today’s post will focus solely on the United States World Cup team.
8th Round Pick thinks its time to focus on the US a little bit more...
Hopefully you know by now that the US is in Group C, and they begin their play against England on June 12. England is a heavy favorite to win not only this match, but the entire group. And for good reason. The country is a traditional soccer power, and is loaded with world-class talent from top to bottom. It also doesn’t hurt that they are the highest ranked team in the group, coming in at #8 in the latest FIFA rankings. USA is a respectable #14, while Slovenia and Algeria, the other two teams in Group C, come in at 23rd & 31st, respectively.
Lately, though, the USA has been catching some big breaks as far as this matchup is concerned. David Beckham is out for the World Cup, while Wayne Rooney is banged up and seemingly worn out. Owen Hargreaves, England’s best player in Germany in 2006, has recently just begun playing again after a 19 month absence due to injury, and has almost a 0% shot at making the team. New captain Rio Ferdinand has been nagged by back & groin injuries all season, while former captain John Terry recently survived a major scare with his foot. Terry injured it in practice this week, and for a few minutes it was believed he broke his metatarsal bone, which would have ended his World Cup before it began. Luckily for him, and not so much for the US, he was given the all clear almost immediately upon arriving at the hospital.
So how is the US taking all these lucky bounces? Not the smart way. Instead of going about their business, still preparing for everything as they normally would, they’re running their mouths. Well, OK, not everyone; just Landon Donovan. But to be fair, he is US Soccer. Donovan recently told Yahoo! Sports that English star Wayne Rooney is worn out from playing 49 matches this season, and that is why he has struggled recently, with injuries & with his performance. Taken in context (full transcript found here), Donovan’s words are seemingly innocent. But they still shouldn’t have been said, and can certainly be used to fuel a fire that nobody in the United States needs burning.
The US is no stranger to rivalries, as theirs with Mexico has become one of the nastiest in the entire world. It’s not quite Argentina-Brazil, or even Germany-Anybody, but it is getting up there. And this roster has proven that it can handle hotly contested matches such as that, so this England game shouldn’t be any problem for them, from that standpoint. That doesn’t mean they should give England any extra motivation. Don’t wake a sleeping giant, gentlemen. Only 29 days left until the match, just keep your mouths shut.
Team USA doesn't need its match with England to get as heated as its battles with Mexico always get.
A much bigger issue in these next 29 days is finalizing the roster. Despite earlier reports that Bradley would only invite 26-28 people to tomorrow’s WC Training Camp, he announced earlier this week the 30 players (max allowed by FIFA) who would be attending.
The following players will be in camp:
Goalkeepers (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton)
Defenders (9): Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)
Midfielders (12): DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers), Alejandro Bedoya (Örebro), Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Bolton), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), José Torres (Pachuca)
Forwards (6): Jozy Altidore (Villarreal), Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Herculez Gomez (Puebla), Eddie Johnson (Aris Thessaloniki)
The most immediate reaction I had upon seeing the roster was no Charlie Davies, whose fight at making it back for the WC has sadly come to an end. The other big surprise I had was not having Connor Casey in camp, something that was only made possible by the emergence of Gomez & Buddle, I have to believe.
Only 23 of them will make the final roster. From my calculations, there are 16 players who are 100% locks to be on the roster. All three keepers will make it, leaving us with 20 spots. On defense, you have to imagine Carlos Bocanegra, Jonathan Bornstein, Oguchi Onyewu, Heath Pearce, Jay DeMerit, Steve Cherundolo, and Jonathan Spector will all make the roster. That leaves 13 spots. Midfielders Landon Donovan, Maurice Edu, Michael Bradley, Benny Feilhaber, and Clint Dempsey will be on the roster, as will forward Jozy Altidore.
Fully recovered from an injury that caused him to miss the entire '09-10 AC Milan campaign, "Gooch" is a lock to make the squad.
If you assume those 16 are on the roster, and they are, that leaves 14 players fighting for 7 spots. Of those 14, Clarence Goodson & Chad Marshall have almost no shot at making the team, unless there’s an injury on D between now and then. So we’re left with 12 people fighting for 7 spots.
Not as big of guarantees as the previously mentioned 16, DeMarcus Beasley, Brian Ching, Ricardo Clark, Stuart Holden, and Jose Francisco Torres should make the roster.
That leaves 2 spots for Alejandro Bedoya, Sacha Kljestan, Robbie Rogers, Edson Buddle, Robbie Findley, Herculez Gomez, and Eddie Johnson. Johnson’s days with the National team are just about over, in my mind, and I don’t think he’ll make it. I also don’t see Bedoya making the team. With scoring going to be a big issue for the US, you have to imagine the best goalscorers of Kljestan, Rogers, Buddle, Findley, and Gomez will make the roster.
I have no idea which way it will go between these five. You can make the argument for any of them making the team. I’m going to go out on a limb and say it’ll be Edson Buddle (because of his recent play and because I imagine Donovan will do everything he can to convice Coach Bradley to take Buddle) and Herculez Gomez (based solely on his recent play).
Luckily, and for good reason, I’m not the coach of the team, so what I say holds no bearing. It’ll be interesting to watch this team take shape over the next few weeks, particularly in the 2 friendlies later this month. Keep an eye on the battle for forward spots, as the rest of the roster is basically set.
Man, I can’t wait until that USA/England game.
My entire sports world for the last 5 months has revolved around that 90 minutes of sportage…
If you are going to do this you should actually follow the game seriously. Goodson is a complete lock on the 23 man roster.
So you say. Everything I’ve heard, seen, or read points to Bradley bringing 7 defenders, and the final spot being between Goodson & Pearce. Maybe I was wrong in calling Pearce a lock to make the roster, and I could have gone into the battle between the two of them for the final roster spot a little more, but I just don’t see Goodson making the team.
If I’m wrong, and he makes it, so be it. I think you calling him a complete lock is about as silly as me saying he has no chance, though.
I dont have a problem with Donovan running his mouth. Although i dont really consider it that. I think he has proven his class/quality on the North American/European/International stages. While i dont consider Donovan even a top-50 player in the World, everyone in the soccer universe is aware of him and knows his name. So i think he’s earned the right to say whatever he wants.
Admittedly, i dont follow US soccer nearly as closely as you appear to, so i wont comment on the roster make up for fear of putting my foot in my mouth.
As for England, i think their greatest weakness has been TOO MUCH TALENT. On paper, they’re stacked from the forwards to backs. They have the Captains of 3/4 best teams in England (Arsenal has Cesc Fabregas). They just dont know where to play or how to play. Fabio Capello has done an excellent job so far in figuring out where to put everyone. But the actual WC is a different beast.
I agree on the injury front for England. I thought choosing Rio as the new captain was foolish. When they chose him, he was out hurt for Man Utd. Part of a captain’s job is to lead by example and inspire teammates. I dont see RF doing either of those. Not having Hargreaves is a big blow. It’s hard to believe he was the best midfielder for England in ’06.
I do think that after the Confed Cup, no WC team will underestimate the U.S. team. The U.S. has proven that we can hang with the best on a big stage.
Not World Cup related, but Barca just signed David Villa from Valencia. AND Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal Captain) wants a transfer to Barca. He played in their youth systema and signed with Arsenal at 16.
Barca is going to be unstoppable next year with those two. Fucking ridiculous.
i wonder what Real Madrid is going to come up with this summer to compete.
If they get Fabregas, too, they might go undefeated for 60+ games. OK, not really, but seriously, they’re unbelievably stacked as it is.
Madrid is going to have to do something, and fast!
I’m hoping somebody at some point either this transfer period or next one buys Landon Donovan. He proved he can play in the EPL, and needs to be over there permanently.