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USA Team Guide

The recently crowned CONCACAF Champions, after winning the Gold Cup (The North American equivalent of the Copa America) on their home turf only on Sunday, have travelled to the Copa America with a largely experimental side. The Gold Cup was always going to be the priority for the USA as winning their own regional tournament guaranteed entry for next season’s FIFA Confederations Cup, something that is given high importance. Since the USA have been invited to this tournament the clubs, to whom the players are contracted, aren’t obliged to release their players. For this reason some of the more recognisable players from the MLS (and, no, David Beckham doesn’t count here) such as Landon Donovan and Brian Ching have not been called up. Furthermore the European based players such as Brian McBride and Clint Dempsey have also been given a rest although there are some players from Europe in the squad. However, instead of the likes of Everton, Newcastle United and Fulham contributing players it is Watford, FC Nordsjaelland (Denmark) and Hammarby (Sweden) who send their players to this squad.

To further add to their workload the USA have also qualified for the World u-20 Championships and the Federation have decided to send some of their younger players such as Freddy Adu to that. Upon reflection the Federation will probably decide that such is the price of success. Their 2nd string team might not have the strength in depth like their Brazilian equivalent, but one or two players may be looking to stake their claim for a regular starting place and will see this tournament as the ideal opportunity to do just that.

The current manager is Bob Bradley who has been a regular and consistent top coach within the MLS doing well with both Chicago Fire and Los Angeles Galaxy recently. He comes from the same College that the previous manager Bruce Arena does, UCLA, and was seen as the obvious replacement when Arena left at the end of the last World Cup.

The USA have been drawn in Group C which means they will have to play Argentina, which is their first group game. If they can get something out of this game, and perhaps playing Argentina first up is better than in the 3rd game when the Argentines have got into their stride, then they will set themselves up nicely for the remaining two matches. On paper the States don’t look as strong as Colombia or Paraguay but they may be able to get something out of those game and achieve their aim of qualifying for the knock out stage. The USA have been involved with the Copa America before but they were last invited in 2001 when they pulled out after fears over their security in Colombia.

With no Brad Friedel or Marcus Hahnemann selected veteran Kassey Keller, who is currently unattached, has been called up. Keller is hugely experienced both at club and international level where he has just reached his 100th cap. He has been released from recently relegated Borussia Moenchengaldbach in Germany and at 37 may look to sign another contract. His back-up will be the promising Brad Guzan who plays for Chivas USA in Los Angeles, the city rivals of LA Galaxy. He has one cap to his name which he earned last year in a friendly.

In the centre of defence the USA will have one familiar name to Watford fans in the shape of Jay Demerit who has to be one of the recent footballing fairytales. Signed from non-league football in North London Demerit quickly established himself as a key defender in the team that won promotion to the Premiership; this after leaving the USA for Europe after graduating from college with just under $2000 in his pocket with the dream of establishing himself as a pro-soccer player. Having been overlooked by the clubs in the MLS Demerit now gets his chance to show what he is capable of. Other options in the centre of defence will be Bobby Boswell who has been with DC United for the last two seasons. He had a fine season last time around being named the MLS Defender of the Year for 2006. Danny Califf could also be in the reckoning for a spot; Califf who left the San Yose Earthquakes for Danish football in 005 has gone onto to be a useful asset to Aab Aalborg. He has 13 caps for the national team.

There will be plenty of competition for the full back positions in the squad most likely to start will be captain of the Kansas City Wizards Jimmy Conrad, who been courted by several European clubs. He has a record of 1 goal every 9 matches at domestic level but has only managed 1 in 20 caps for the USA. Marvell Wynne is another quick full back who could be given a chance in the tournament; currently playing for ‘expansion’ outfit FC Toronto in Canada in the MLS he has impressed since arriving there from New York Redbull. As a child he was equally adept at athletics so his pace will clearly trouble opposition defenders. Final full back-back will be one of the brightest young players in the MLS; Jonathan Bornstein another player involved with Chivas. Although he plays in midfield for his club side it is believed he may start as a defender in this tournament. He has shown some fine form this season and at 22 won the MLS Rookie of the Year award.

Bob Bradley has called up two holding midfielders in the shape of Kyle Beckermann (Colorado Rapids) and Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo). Both players have been on the fringes of the national squad for sometime and will see this as an ideal chance to get some playing time in the national squad. For attacking midfielders it seems as if Bradley hasn’t named too much width in the side, which may indicate he is looking to play a 4-3-3. The one player who can play wide is Ben Olsen a perennial favourite with his club side DC United and also with the national team. Olsen a talented player, who had a brief spell in the UK with Nottingham Forest where he failed to find the form he had shown in the MLS is a fine winger capable of delivery quality service to the strikers. He was soon back with DC United and is one of the most experienced outfield players on the team.

Eddie Gaven made history becoming the youngest ever play to play in the MLS at only age 16, this record has since been surpassed by Freddy Adu, and is a favourite of coach Bradley who coached him during his early spell at the New York/New Jersey Metrostars. Gaven is one of a new generation of soccer stars that have been signed up directly by the MLS rather than going through the collegiate system in the States. His rise has been meteoric and could be one of a number of talented players who could shine in Venezuela. Sascha Klejstan, currently with Chivas USA, was a nominee for MLS Young Player of the Year in 2006 as well and could also do well this time around. Kljestan has graduated from the US u-20 team that took part at the last youth championship in 2005 and was called into the main team just before the Gold Cup.

Another interesting option will be the half Vietnamese midfielder Lee Nguyen who currently plays his football in Holland after he caught the eye of Guus Hiddink then PSV coach at the u-20 championships, played two seasons ago in Holland. Nguyen is considered to be one of the brightest talents of American soccer but has yet to force his way into the 1st team at PSV and may have to consider a loan move to play himself into contention.

Up front the USA have a number of options including the wonderfully named Herculez Gomez a striker who has shone sporadically in the league. His best spell came during a potent spell for the LA Galaxy when he scored 18 goals in 18 matches helping the Galaxy to a historic league and cup double. He has since been traded to the Colorado Rapids but hasn’t found the form that propelled him into the national spotlight.

Eddie Johnson is another striker who has been on the fringes of the US squad unable to force his way past Brian McBride and Landon Donovan, he was used only as a substitute in the World Cup last season. However, he has fine scoring record, albeit against relatively weak opposition, recording 10 goals in only 26 caps. He has also trained with Reading with national team colleague Bobby Convey although a full time deal didn’t materialise. Taylor Twellman is also being given a chance at national level although his best form is a few years behind him. Currently playing with New England Revolution under former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol, he has developed into a mature striker since returning from an unhappy spell in German football. He has 82 goals in just under 140 appearances in the MLS but realises this might be his final chance on the international stage unless he can hit the goal scoring trail and recapture his league form.

If some of the 2nd string side can spring a bit of a surprise and excel at this Copa America it will certainly give coach Bob Bradley an interesting selection headache for forthcoming games. With the World Cup some 3 years off and the USA almost certain to qualify for it anway, they can afford to try out some lesser known players.

Key player: Eddie Johnson needs to step up to the plate and show that he is capable of leading the line for the US. He has already been courted by several European clubs and if he can find the form that saw him win the Golden Boot in the FIFA Youth Championship of 2003 the States may spring a surprise yet.

Posted by Walter Townsend on Thursday, 28th June 2007

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