The United States reached the 2010 Soccer World Cup by finishing top in the final six-team CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) Zone.
Under coach Bob Bradley, a well-drilled Stars and Stripes’ blend of proven internationals and up-and-coming stars never looked in danger of missing out, and will be keen to build on their second-place finish at last year’s Confederations Cup.
The road to South Africa
After putting nine goals without reply past minnows Barbados in Stage 2, the USA found themselves drawn with Trinidad and Tobago, Guatemala and Cuba in Group 1 of Round 3. Bradley’s charges held firm to win five of their six encounters in the penultimate group stage, their only defeat a 2-1 reverse in Port of Spain against the Soca Warriors with progress to the Hexagonal already in the bag.
Star players
In recent years, the name Landon Donovan has been synonymous with the US national team. He has often saved his best performances for a USA shirt, and there is little doubt that Donovan will once again be one of his team’s leading men in South Africa. Providing an impressive supporting cast are the likes of Oguchi Onyewu, Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, Tim Howard and Clint Dempsey.
The coach
Bradley was originally appointed national coach on a caretaker basis, but a run of ten games unbeaten earned him the job on a permanent basis. If there was any doubt about his credentials, they were silenced by the team’s showing at the Confederations Cup, where they ousted favourites Spain in the semi-finals before going down to a narrow 3-2 final defeat to Brazil.
Facts
- The US have taken part at nine Soccer World Cups, with Mexico the only CONCACAF team involved in more editions of the showpiece event.
- Their best performance came at Uruguay 1930, when they exited at the semifinal stage.
- South Africa 2010 will be the United States’ sixth consecutive finals appearance. At Germany 2006 they bid farewell to the tournament at the first hurdle. — Fifa