The Road to 2010 South Africa: USA

July 16, 2009

Without a doubt, Bob Bradley’s boys have been busier than any other international squad of late and their schedule isn’t letting up any time soon.

Currently, sitting in second place in the CONCAF World Cup qualifiers, two points behind sleek Costa Rica, the Americans are definitely building momentum and continue to improve on many levels. Their busy schedule, which has been gathering steam since their historic second place finish at last month’s Confederation’s Cup, finds them atop their group going into this weeks quarter-finals of the CONCAF Gold Cup and then has them face off in a key World Cup qualifier against arch-rivals Mexico, in Mexico City, on August 12. The intense concentration of international competition in such a short period of time, has given Coach Bradley not only the opportunity to build the chemistry on his team, but it has allowed him to give more periphereal and younger players a run out, with enriching results. The best example being mid-fielder Stuart Holden, of the Houston Dynamo, who scored the 92^nd minute game winning goal against Haiti to place them atop their group in the Gold Cup. Holden has proven his value not only has being a pressure performer, but in his ability to slot in anywhere across the mid-field. His versatality makes him particularly attractive to Coach Bradley who has been experimenting with shifting faces.

The stoic, but inspiring, Coach Bradley has been impressive since he took over from the more arrogant and inconsistent Bruce Arena. Bradley not only brings out the best of the American hard-work ethic, but he combines a joyful love of the game with the passion of an idealistic teacher that is still a student himself. He has built his team on the traditional strength of the US team, their athleticism, and at the same time helped them grow and blossom as a technical unit. No where could this be more evident than in their recent shocking 2-0 defeat of Spain in the semi-finals of the Confederation Cup. The United States were able to resist being swept into playing Spanish Football, by relying on their speed and endurance to basically run the ball through midfield and at the same time kept Spain out of their goal by maintaining an extremely disciplined back line and continually closing down the ball from all directions, constantly limiting Spain’s passing options.

No one explempified this combination of athleticism and disciplined positioning better than goalkeeper Tim Howard, who was on fire, intense, but always in control. And no one is a better physical metaphor for the power and discipline of the current US team than the massive center back, Oguchi Onyewu, who recently signed with Milan on a free transfer and will challenge there for a starting role. Huge, muscular and fast, the 27 year-old, was virtually a rock, inpenetrable for ninety minutes . Yet, for all his power and size, he played with absolute discipline and submission to the system.

Even the ubiquitous Landon Donovan who has never impressed on the international stage and more accurately represents the old Arena regime, proved his usefulness in the Confederations Cup. And not just by eliciting free kicks and yellow cards with his annoying theatrics. He finished a perfectly run, flat out sprinting, 1-2, with the still blossoming Joey Altidore, that covered fifty meters, to give the stars and stripes a temporary 2-0 lead in the final against Brazil.

Perhaps the key to the destiny of the US team lies in understanding why they weren’t able to hold on to that lead against the current FIFA number one team in the world. As well prepared as they were strategically and as strong and fast as they took it to Brazil in the first half, they didn’t know what to do with the snake once they had it cornered. The final step for the USA, the holy grail they must somehow discover if they are to be a serious World Cup contender, lies in somehow accelerating the difficult maturation process that defines an international power. It lies deeper in the psyche than weight rooms and chalkboards can navigate. It is the difference between, “Yes we can!” and “We will, because we have always done.”

Key upcoming matches:

July 18^th quarterfinals Gold Cup vs. Panama

If they win: July 23^rd : semifinals Gold Cup vs winner Canada/Honduras

If they win: July 26^th finals Gold Cup

WC Qualifiers:

August 12^th at Mexico

September 5^th home vs El Salvador

September 9^th at Trinidad Tobago

October 10^th at Honduras

October 14^th Home vs. Costa Rica

By Dean