The fervor over these, and all of the matches, matches began in December, when the draw was announced live to the entire world. Now we are less than a month away (June 11th - opening match: South Africa vs. Mexico) from the start of the greatest sporting event/tournament in the world. No other sporting event comes close to the drama, joy, heartache, and passion that the World Cup brings about every four years.
In the history of the tournament only 7 countries have won the title of World Cup champion. Uruguay (2), Italy (4), Germany [as West Germany] (3), Brasil (5), England (1), Argentina (2), and France (1). To become champion makes you a legend and gives your country bragging rights over the next four years.
I'd like to forget four years ago and what happened with the USA in Germany. Hopes ran high for this team after the successful 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup run only to be derailed in the first half of the first match vs. Czech Republic and fumbling through the other matches. A disallowed goal here, a red card there all but sealed their fate. On a positive note, the USA was the only team not to lose to eventual champion Italy.
If history is any factor to judge World Cups, which it can be, then the USA is due for a good showing. Case-in-point: 1994 - upset favorite Colombia, played hard against eventual champion Brasil in knockout round. 1998 - One. Goal. Scored. 0 wins, 3 losses (Germany, Yugoslavia, and Iran). 2002 - beat group favorite Portugal, advanced to knockout stage: beat Mexico, narrowly lost to eventual runner-up Germany 1-0 in quarterfinals (Torsten Frings is still public enemy #1 in my house for his not-called handball on the German goal line). 2006 - blown out by Czech Republic, tied Italy, lost to Ghana (here's where the disallowed goal happened). 2010 - ??
Yesterday, USA coach Bob Bradley named his preliminary 30-man roster for the team. This number will be reduced to 23 by June 1st (FIFA date for final roster submission). In case you missed it, or you rely on me to tell you everything about the United States Men's National Team here is the 30-man roster, with the clubs they represent in parentheses:
Goalkeepers: Tim Howard (Everton), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolves)
Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Chad Marshall (Columbus), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Heath Pearce (Dallas), Jonathan Spector (West Ham)
Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers), Alejandro Bedoya (Orebro), Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Bolton), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Robbie Rogers (Columbus), Jose Torres (Pachuca).
Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Hull), Edson Buddle (Los Angeles), Brian Ching (Houston), Robbie Findley (Salt Lake), Herculez Gomez (Puebla), Eddie Johnson (Aris).
A lot of people will talk about the omissions. You won't find that here. These Yanks will represent the USA in South Africa and while I may not agree with every selection I support them 100% of the way.
Expect all three goalkeepers to go along for the ride with Howard as the starter. Jonathan Bornstein is suspect at the back line but can be good when his head's on straight.
DaMarcus Beasley played his way onto this spot for his great showing for Glasgow Rangers and during the USA vs. Nederlands match. Robbie Rogers is low man on the totem pole here based solely on the fact that Bradley, Donovan, Holden, Dempsey and Clark play extremely well together and have proven themselves at a high level.
I don't expect to see Robbie Findley or Brian Ching get off the plane in South Africa. Robbie Findley was touted as the answer to the missing Charlie Davies. In his time playing for the Stars and Stripes (I saw him live vs. Honduras) he looked sluggish, and jogged most of the time. The speed he showed during the MLS Cup final back in November vanished. I don't know where it went. He's a great player and I want him to excel but he hasn't shown me much to make me believe he can be a legitimate scoring threat. Ching is recovering from a recent injury, but I've never really considered him much of a threat up front. I want to see Gomez play and see what he can bring to the USA because he has been a goal-scoring machine in Mexico. Buddle is a surprise choice but not unthinkable. I only ask if can he produce on the international stage as he has at home (MLS leading goal scorer with 9 in eight games)?
The USA has some "tune-ups" for the World Cup in late May vs. Czech Republic and Turkey. The final roster will be announced June 1st and on June 5th they play Australia in South Africa for their final "tune-up". I will be sure to keep you all updated after those matches and throughout the World Cup.
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