FIFA World Cup 2010
United States
 United StatesUnited States Soccer Federation Confederation: CONCACAF Head coach: Bob Bradley Captain: Carlos Bocanegra Top scorer: Landon Donovan FIFA ranking: 14 World Cup Appearances: 8 Team Colors: Best Results
World Cup Third Place 1930 Gold Cup Third 1968, Semifinals 1996 |
Once again, the USA national team qualified for the FIFA World Championship. The U.S. squad advanced to first place of CONCACAF during the fourth round. With 20 points and six wins in 10 games, this team, led by veteran Landon Donovan, was able to win the key matches during the qualifying stage.
Qualifying Stage
United States was presented as one of the most dominant teams in the qualifying stages. The team faced Mexico (its arch rivals) and even though it lost the game in the Aztec home stadium, it got ahead in the series. Then the squad faced the Costa Ricans. In the first game, the Costa Rican team won, 3-1. But in the second leg, in the U.S. home stadium, the game ended in a draw.
The following matches against Trinidad and Tobago (3-0), El Salvador (2-2), Honduras (3-2) didn’t present any obstacle for the U.S. team to get to the World Cup.
Players
With more than 110 international matches played, captain Landon Donovan is the American player to watch out for in this World Cup. The coach also counts on other experienced players , such as Oguchialu Chijioke "Oguchi" Onyewu (FC Metz), Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach) and Jozy Altidore (Hull City).
Head Coach
Bob Bradley, at 52 years-old, has coached several clubs in his country. Bradley took over the national team in 2006 and in 2007 he won the Gold Cup. Now Bradley is preparing his team to confront group C in South Africa, knowing that the English squad will not give away opportunities during this first match on June 12th.