Team Preview – USA
The United States topped the CONCACAF qualifying group to reach their 7th World Cup in a row and their 10th overall. They go into the 2014 tournament with a international expectation simmering considering the tough draw of 3 time World Cup winners, Germany along with the Cristiano Ronaldo led, Portugal and African heavyweights Ghana.
Manager, Jurgen Klinsmann has gone on record believing that he has the players to make it out of the group but they will do well to beat their Round of 16 finish from 4 years ago with influential players such as Landon Donovan and Stuart Holden missing from their 23 man squad.
Manager – Former Germany striker, Jurgen Klinsmann has been in charge of the USA since taking over from Bob Bradley in 2011. Klinsmann first arrived with mixed feelings from the American footballing community with many being in favour of choosing a homegrown coach rather than a foreigner. Since however Klinsmann has grown around USA football leading the side to historic wins over Italy in 2012 and their Group G rivals, Germany in 2013.
Despite having managed Germany and Bayern Munich in his decade long coaching career, Klinsmann’s first silverware as a manager came in the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup where they beat Panama 1 – 0 in the final. Klinsmann has been seen to be overseeing a regeneration of the USA team with all time top goal scorer, Landon Donovan controversially cut from the final 23.
Star Player – Captain and second highest all time goalscorer, Clint Dempsey is without a doubt the key player in this USA outfit. With over a century of caps to his name, the former Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur attacker has a wealth of experience that a rather youthful squad will need to feed on.
31 year old Dempsey can be deployed on the flanks or in central midfield but Klinsmann is most likely to play him just behind the striker where he has had his most success at current club, the Seattle Sounders. If the USA are to progress beyond the group stage, Dempsey will need to add to his 37 international goal.
Players to watch
Michael Bradley – The son of former USA manager, Bob, 26 year old Michael Bradley already has 84 caps for his national team. Bradley began his professional career at the age of 16 for MLS club New York Red Bull (then known as MetroStar) and has gone on to play in Germany, Holland, England and Italy. Currently at Toronto FC, Bradley is a genuine box to box midfielder who has established himself in Klinsmann’s starting eleven.
Aron Johannsson – Remember the name because 23 year old Aron Johnannson is a striker with real potential. The AZ Alkmaar player has amassed 20 goals in two seasons after successful showings in the Icelandic and Danish first divisions. Klinsmann has had a close eye on the youngsters progression having already awarded him 8 caps in which he has scored twice. Johannsson could be the USA wildcard that bags a couple of crucial goals that could also land him a transfer to a higher profile team.
Their draw
First up the Yanks have Ghana at the Natal Stadium which you would have to say is their best chance of picking up 3. Then they face Portugal in what could be the make or break match of both sides World Cup before finishing the group stage against one of the tournament favourites, Germany.
Previous best and Prediction
The USA’s best World Cup performance was way back in 1930 when they managed to finish third. There would have to be a minor miracle for the Americans to make it out of the group stage let alone make it to the semi finals and I am predicting them to finish bottom of their group on goal difference with a solitary point.
World Cup Record
29 matches 7 wins 5 draws 17 losses 32 goals for 56 againsts top scorer Landon Donovan (5)
FTSAUS Fact – The United States will have the largest support of any country other than Brazil at this years World Cup with over 150 000 tickets to their matches already snapped up by soccer hungry Americans.
Extra time – It doesn’t look good for the Americans, with an “easier draw they may have been a chance of getting a couple of wins but the overall strength of group G will prove to be too much for the Yanks. It was very interesting to see American soccer icon, Landon Donovan left out of the 23 man squad after being cut from the original 30 man squad, with 57 goals in 156 international matches it is hard to believe that the USA has a better striker than the 32 year old especially considering Klinsmann decided to include Sunderland struggler, Jozy Altidore.
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