Team USA at the 2010 World Cup
Although by far not the most popular sport in the U.S. the national interest in soccer has rocketed since the 1994 World Cup was held on home soil and the introduction of a professional league in 1996/97 further increased the sport's popularity. As such the United States National Soccer Team enjoys substantial support going into the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
35 teams were lined up from February 2008 to reach one of the three direct qualification stages made available by FIFA for the Concacaf group from North and Central America and the Caribbean for the World Cup in South Africa. The U.S. however only had to compete in the second round and succeeded in the Ko-matches against Barbados 8-0 and 1-0. The following two qualification rounds which were held as group games were equally almost effortlessly dominated by the United States and secured them their ticket to the 2010 World Cup.
The Team
Currently the U.S. national team holds 16th place in the Fifa World Rankings. Most of its players play for European club. Some like the defender Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt) and Steven Cherundolo (Hannover 96), or the midfielder Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach), son of coach Bob Bradley play in the German Bundesliga. Their big advantage is the tenacious fighting spirit with which they can potentially make up for the technical deficits they have against the big teams.
The core defence of the team, which consists of a mixture of experienced players and young talent is made up of their goalkeeper Tim Howard (Everton) and their captain Carlos Bocanegra (Stade Rennes). Amongst the most experienced players in the team are midfielders DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers) on the left and Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC).
In the offence there is Jozy Altidore (Hull City, who shot the most goals for the Americans during the qualifiers. His teammate, striker Charlie Davies (FC Sochaux) had a car accident in the fall of 2009 and is still injured. As such it is likely that the Hawaiian Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo) or Eddie Johnson (Aris Thessaloniki) will take his place.
The star of the team and its core is the offensive midfielder Landon Donovan. Since his appearance at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea he has become the favorite player amongst American fans and many of them will be looking to him to tilt the 2010 World Cup Odds in the USA's favor.
The Trainer
Bob Bradley (born 1958) has been the head coach of the American national team since 2006. At the young age of 22 years Bob Bradley already took on his first coaching position for the football team at Ohio University. From 1996 on he worked in the newly established MLS and is the coach who was able to win the most titles.
A week after the World Cup in Germany and the embarrassing withdrawal of the U.S. with only a single point, he initially took over the U.S. national team as a temporary replacement. But after ten games without defeat the search for another coach became redundant. The last doubts about Bradley's commitment went up in smoke after his team's brilliant performance at the 2009 Confederations Cup.
The U.S. in the 2010 World Cup
The U.S. play in Group C in the World Cup in South Africa in Group C. Their opponents are England, Algeria and Slovenia. Their most difficult opponent will naturally be England who are currently ranked 7th in the Fifa World Rankings. Following that however the USA World Cup match odds look promising for both their match versus Slovenia and Algeria.
The USA Group Matches:
12th June - England -vs- USA @ Royal Bafokeng
18th June - Slovenia -vs- USA @ Ellis Park Stadium
23rd June - USA -vs- Algeria @ Loftus Versfeld
35 teams were lined up from February 2008 to reach one of the three direct qualification stages made available by FIFA for the Concacaf group from North and Central America and the Caribbean for the World Cup in South Africa. The U.S. however only had to compete in the second round and succeeded in the Ko-matches against Barbados 8-0 and 1-0. The following two qualification rounds which were held as group games were equally almost effortlessly dominated by the United States and secured them their ticket to the 2010 World Cup.
The Team
Currently the U.S. national team holds 16th place in the Fifa World Rankings. Most of its players play for European club. Some like the defender Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt) and Steven Cherundolo (Hannover 96), or the midfielder Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach), son of coach Bob Bradley play in the German Bundesliga. Their big advantage is the tenacious fighting spirit with which they can potentially make up for the technical deficits they have against the big teams.
The core defence of the team, which consists of a mixture of experienced players and young talent is made up of their goalkeeper Tim Howard (Everton) and their captain Carlos Bocanegra (Stade Rennes). Amongst the most experienced players in the team are midfielders DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers) on the left and Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC).
In the offence there is Jozy Altidore (Hull City, who shot the most goals for the Americans during the qualifiers. His teammate, striker Charlie Davies (FC Sochaux) had a car accident in the fall of 2009 and is still injured. As such it is likely that the Hawaiian Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo) or Eddie Johnson (Aris Thessaloniki) will take his place.
The star of the team and its core is the offensive midfielder Landon Donovan. Since his appearance at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea he has become the favorite player amongst American fans and many of them will be looking to him to tilt the 2010 World Cup Odds in the USA's favor.
The Trainer
Bob Bradley (born 1958) has been the head coach of the American national team since 2006. At the young age of 22 years Bob Bradley already took on his first coaching position for the football team at Ohio University. From 1996 on he worked in the newly established MLS and is the coach who was able to win the most titles.
A week after the World Cup in Germany and the embarrassing withdrawal of the U.S. with only a single point, he initially took over the U.S. national team as a temporary replacement. But after ten games without defeat the search for another coach became redundant. The last doubts about Bradley's commitment went up in smoke after his team's brilliant performance at the 2009 Confederations Cup.
The U.S. in the 2010 World Cup
The U.S. play in Group C in the World Cup in South Africa in Group C. Their opponents are England, Algeria and Slovenia. Their most difficult opponent will naturally be England who are currently ranked 7th in the Fifa World Rankings. Following that however the USA World Cup match odds look promising for both their match versus Slovenia and Algeria.
The USA Group Matches:
12th June - England -vs- USA @ Royal Bafokeng
18th June - Slovenia -vs- USA @ Ellis Park Stadium
23rd June - USA -vs- Algeria @ Loftus Versfeld
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