USA has come to South Africa 2010 World Cup on a high notch having enjoyed a good qualifying experience. The United States emerged first in the final six-team Hexagonal phase of North, Central America and Caribbean Zone qualifying rounds.
USA coach Bob Bradley has established himself as a good instructor and has brought the USA once known soccer minors into the major limelight, with key results in the Confederation cup played in South Africa in 2009 where they beat favourites Spain 3-0 before succumbing to Brazil by a narrow 3-2 margin in the finals.
“We’re very proud to have finished at the top of the final Hexagonal. It was a great effort and required a great deal of determination on our team’s part. Every time we took the field we spoke about proving to the world what we were capable of and I think we did just that,” says Bob Bradley, USA coach.
Playing in Group C where they are pitted against England, Slovenia and Algeria, the USA might as well fancy their chances to reach the last 16, if only they work as hard and disciplined as they have shown they can in the past few years.
Star Key players of USA soccer Team in FIFA 2010 World Cup
The USA will still look to the excellent services of Landon Donovan who plays for Los Angeles Galaxy because of his excellent form in recent years. Providing an impressive supporting cast are the likes of Oguchi Onyewu, Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, Tim Howard and Clint Dempsey, all of whom are plying their trade on in Europe and their experience will be to USA success in South Africa.
Previous USA FIFA World Cups
• The United States have taken part at nine FIFA World Cups, with Mexico the only CONCACAF team involved in more editions of the showpiece event.
• The Stars and Stripes’ best finals performance came at Uruguay 1930, when they exited at the semi-final stage.
• South Africa 2010 will be the United States’ sixth consecutive finals appearance. At Germany 2006 they bid farewell to the tournament at the first hurdle.
USA Records at FIFA World Cup
• The United States’ 2-0 victory over Spain at South Africa 2009 prevented La Roja extending their 35-game unbeaten run, a record they hold jointly with Brazil.
• The USA had enjoyed a 58-match unbeaten home streak against CONCACAF opponents until July 2009, when arch-rivals Mexico thrashed them 5-0 in the final of the Gold Cup.
• Altidore, currently on loan at English Premier League outfit Hull City from Villarreal, was the Stars and Stripes’ six-goal top scorer in qualifying.
USA Soccer National Football Team Squad
Nr. | Name | Date of Birth | Position | Clubs | Height |
1 | Tim HOWARD | 06/03/1979 | GK | Everton (ENG) | 187 |
2 | Jonathan SPECTOR | 01/03/1986 | DF | West Ham Utd. (ENG) | 183 |
3 | Carlos BOCANEGRA | 25/05/1979 | DF | Rennes (FRA) | 184 |
4 | Michael BRADLEY | 31/07/1987 | MF | Borussia Moenchengladbach (GER) | 185 |
5 | Oguchi ONYEWU | 13/05/1982 | DF | AC Milan (ITA) | 192 |
6 | Steve CHERUNDOLO | 19/02/1979 | DF | Hannover 96 (GER) | 168 |
7 | DaMarcus BEASLEY | 24/05/1982 | MF | Rangers (SCO) | 170 |
8 | Clint DEMPSEY | 09/03/1983 | MF | Fulham (ENG) | 185 |
9 | Herculez GOMEZ | 06/04/1982 | FW | Puebla (MEX) | 178 |
10 | Landon DONOVAN | 04/03/1982 | MF | Los Angeles Galaxy (USA) | 173 |
11 | Stuart HOLDEN | 01/08/1985 | MF | Bolton Wanderers (ENG) | 178 |
12 | Jonathan BORNSTEIN | 07/11/1984 | DF | Chivas USA (USA) | 175 |
13 | Ricardo CLARK | 10/02/1983 | MF | Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) | 178 |
14 | Edson BUDDLE | 21/05/1981 | FW | Los Angeles Galaxy (USA) | 185 |
15 | Jay DeMERIT | 04/12/1979 | DF | Watford (ENG) | 180 |
16 | Francisco TORRES | 29/10/1987 | MF | Pachuca (MEX) | 168 |
17 | Jozy ALTIDORE | 06/11/1989 | FW | Hull City (ENG) | 185 |
18 | Brad GUZAN | 09/09/1984 | GK | Aston Villa (ENG) | 193 |
19 | Maurice EDU | 18/04/1986 | MF | Rangers (SCO) | 183 |
20 | Robbie FINDLEY | 04/08/1985 | FW | Real Salt Lake (USA) | 175 |
21 | Clarence GOODSON | 17/05/1982 | DF | IK Start (NOR) | 193 |
22 | Benny FEILHABER | 19/01/1985 | MF | AGF Aarhus (DEN) | 175 |
23 | Marcus HAHNEMANN | 15/06/1972 | GK | Wolverhampton (ENG) | 192 |
Coach: Bob BRADLEY (USA)