The USA have chosen their 23 men for the World Cup. FoxSoccer's Ives Galarcep looks at the squad.
Now that USA coach Bob Bradley has chosen his 23-man World Cup squad, FoxSoccer.com's Ives Galarcep looks at whether they can succeed in South Africa and cause one or two problems for England...
After two years of blood, sweat and tears, the US World Cup squad has been announced with a number of questions around the personnel.
Will Oguchi Onyewu be healthy enough? Will any of the new forwards step up to challenge for a starting spot? Where will Clint Dempsey play? Who will start at right back?
At first glance, the squad has its share of promise, with established standouts like Landon Donovan, Dempsey, Tim Howard and Michael Bradley, but a closer look shows the chinks in the armour. Onyewu has looked rusty while Jonathan Bornstein put in another shaky performance in the defeat to the Czech Republic that leaves you wondering if he can really be counted on. Jay DeMerit's eye condition remains an unknown factor, while several other position battles remain unsettled.
We won't really know how ready the United States are for the opener with England until we see the full squad take the field on Saturday against Turkey in the first real look at what could be the first team. Bob Bradley will offer the first real clues about who he favours at right-back, left-back, central midfield and up front.
How well the Americans do in South Africa will depend largely on the job Bradley does at selecting the right pieces to place around the team's established stars. Those decisions will come in the next two weeks, with friendlies against Turkey and Australia offering the proving grounds..
If Bradley showed anything in his selections against the Czech Republic, it is that he isn't afraid to gamble. He passed on an established striker in Brian Ching, who appeared fit and offered the type of experience the other forwards don't have. Rather than taking the safe bet in Ching, Bradley went with high-risk, high-reward selections such as Gomez, Buddle and the most surprising of Bradley's selections, Robbie Findley.
Easily the most controversial of Bradley's 23 selections, Findley is being brought in to help provide the speed element the team lost when Charlie Davies failed to make the squad. His recent struggles in MLS were offset by what several veterans called a good World Cup camp.
In-form strikers
So why did Ching miss out? It could be because Bradley ultimately decided that Jozy Altidore and Dempsey could fill any potential need for a target forward, and he couldn't afford to leave behind two in-form strikers like Gomez and Buddle. Bradley acknowledged that Gomez solidified his place World Cup place with his performance against the Czechs.
If Bradley gambled anywhere, it was on Findley being able to provide an effective speed threat. Last season with Real Salt Lake, Findley showed good form and finishing ability in helping lead RSL to the MLS Cup title, but his 2010 has been hampered by a nagging knee injury and poor form.
There were really no other great surprises as far as personnel, but the make-up of the squad does raise some questions. Bradley ultimately decided to stick with seven defenders rather than eight despite injury concerns for veterans Onyewu, DeMerit and Carlos Bocanegra.
Questions remain about the defence and whether it will be ready in time. Bradley's decision to bring seven defenders suggests he is confident he has enough defenders to get the job done.
The midfield selections went according to script, with wingers Robbie Rogers and Alejandro Bedoya falling short in their quest to make the squad. Bedoya showed some flashes in recent appearances, but ultimately failed to make enough of an impact. At 23, Bedoya is definitely a prospect for the future, but having just a year of professional experience probably cost him in the final analysis.
Bradley will bring along all five central midfield options in Michael Bradley, Ricardo Clark, Maurice Edu, Benny Feilhaber and Jose Torres. All five are capable of starting, though Bradley is certain to hold down one of the two central midfield positions.
DaMarcus Beasley had been considered a fringe player in danger of missing out when training camp began, but the veteran recaptured his old form and impressed coaches and teammates alike with his play and attitude. Now, rather than being a potential roster casualty, Beasley heads toward the World Cup as a potential candidate to start.
Ives Galarcep is a senior football writer for FoxSoccer.com. For more from Ives, click
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