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A to Z of WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA 2010 - USA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
With a population of 308 million, the USA will be representing the largest population at the upcoming World Cup Finals. By contrast Slovenia will have, at 2.05 million, the smallest level of home support.
This will be the North Americans’ 6th consecutive appearance at FIFA’s main tournament, and their 9th overall. A third place in the inaugural competition is their best achievement yet, though a quarter-final spot in 2002 and a 2nd place finish at the FIFA Confederations Cup (South Africa 2009) is a much better indicator of recent good form.
With commendable efficiency the United States reached this year’s Finals by qualifying in first place in the final 6 team North, Central American and Caribbean Zone group. This they did by initially beating arch rivals Mexico 2-0 at home and then drawing 2-2 in El Salvador.
They suffered only two defeats in this final section, a 3-1 loss in Costa Rica and a 2-1 reversal in Mexico’s formidable Estadio Azteca. However the ‘Stars and Stripes’ kept their nerve and clinched their place in South Africa by virtue of a 3-2 win in Honduras.
Chief Coach to the team is Bob Bradley who stepped up from his assistant role to take full charge immediately after the 2006 Finals. Originally there on a caretaker basis, Bradley led the team on an unbeaten run of 10 games and so persuaded the powers-that-be to make his appointment permanent.
The coach’s critics were largely silenced by the ‘Stars and Stripes’ performance in the FIFA Confederations Cup held in South Africa in 2009. They defeated the pre-tournament favourites, Spain, 2-0 in the semi-finals – a defeat that brought the Spaniards’ 35 unbeaten run to an end. In the final they faced Brazil, were 2-0 up at half-time but eventually went down 3-2. The Americans impressed most observers with their tenacity and resilience.
Bradley’s team consists of aspiring young talent mixed in with a core of seasoned internationals. Chief amongst these is Landon Donovan, recently on loan at Everton prior to the start of the MLS campaign. With 121 caps and 42 goals he is his country’s leading scorer. He is likely to be partnered up front by Jozy Altidore (just rejoined Villareal from Hull where he had been on loan).
Everton’s Tim Howard and Marcus Hahnemann of Wolves will vie for the goalie’s jersey. The side will be captained by Rennes’ Carlos Boccanegra who will play at the heart of the defence alongside Oguchi Onyewu of AC Milan. Midfield creativity should come from Fulham’s Clint Dempsy and possibly Maurice Edu of Rangers.
The USA, ranked 14th in the World, has been drawn in Group C alongside England, Algeria and Slovenia. They are seen as a fairly safe bet to progress to the last 16, as reflected in the odds of 8/13 with William Hill. Their opening match is against England on June 12th at altitude in Rustenburg. Bookmakers are understandably cagey about this match: Bet365 see a draw at 10/3 whilst VCBet are offering 13/2 on a victory for Uncle Sam.
Assuming they do progress beyond the last 16, Paddy Power offer a quarter-final spot at 16/5 whilst bwin envisage a Cup Final place at 40/1. Were the American Eagle to soar to heights as yet undreamed of, then you can get odds of 80/1 from Stan James on Bradley’s men becoming the first nation from CONCACAF to lift FIFA’s premier trophy.
Posted: Tuesday, June 8th, 2010 @ 10:06 pm by Mark
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