|
|
|
United States
For a nation that sees football (or soccer) as its sixth or seventh most important sport, the United States has done extremely well to qualify for the finals for the fourth straight time and seventh overall.
A lot of the credit should go to manager Bruce Arena, who negotiated a tricky qualifying run, much of it even without two of the team's stars: Clint Mathis and Brian McBride. With them healthy, the States should add some punch, and they need it since they were among the lowest-scoring qualifiers from all regions.
As the countdown to the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan continues, CNNSI.com's Pedro Pinto will take a close look at all of the nations that will contend for football's greatest prize.
Pinto is an anchor on World Sport, the international sports show that airs live on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN International.
 |
|
Arena normally deploys a 4-4-2 formation, which includes an anchor in midfield (usually Chris Armas) and a link man in attack. The team likes to press all over the pitch, which forces opponents to get rid of the ball early and make mistakes. This creates counter-attack opportunities for an American side that possesses several quick midfielders and forwards.
As playing style goes, the States like to implement a short passing game in midfield with virtually every attacking move going through captain Claudio Reyna. In defense, Arena may not have many skillful players, but they are determined, good in the air and unafraid to go in for every tackle.
|
 |
| |
 |
|
Claudio Reyna. He was one of the first Americans to make a name for himself in Europe, crossing the pond to play for Leverkusen, Wolfsburg, Rangers and now Sunderland. He is an excellent passer, possesses great vision and is instrumental in the States' offensive scheme. He is also a general on the pitch, organizing the troops around him and calming the side with his ability to hold the ball under pressure. Without Reyna in the lineup, the U.S. often appears lost, so it is imperative that he stays healthy throughout the finals.
|
|
 |
|
Finishing. The United States scored 11 goals in the CONCACAF Hexagonal, the final round of 10 qualifying games -- among the lowest of any of the 32 teams that made the finals. Why this low number? The team lacks a true finisher, a predator inside the area who can bundle the ball into the net consistently. It is true that both Mathis and McBride were injured during much of last year, but Mathis is more of a second forward anyway. Joe-Max Moore must return to top form, and Landon Donovan, one of the country's top prospects, needs to develop a killer instinct. Ante Razov and Josh Wolff will also be options for Arena.
|
|
 |
|
| |
Defense.
Remember Marcelo Balboa? Alexi Lalas? Love them or loathe them, they were solid and gave the Americans consistency at the back. The current crop of defenders isn't especially talented, even if they are physically strong. Jeff Agoos can impress, but much of the time is busy trying to correct his own mistakes. Carlos Llamosa is a late bloomer new to the World Cup level, and Gregg Berhalter is still a question mark. Arena needs Eddie Pope to finally return to full strength. The central defense will be seriously tested, and when it is, I don't know if they'll be able to cope -- despite a solid goalkeeping duo. The wide spots are no more settled, with Frankie Hejduk and Tony Sanneh lately failing impress on the right any more than undersized Steve Cherundolo did in qualifying.
|
|
 |
|
The United States finished in third place in the final CONCACAF round, which earned an automatic spot in the finals. They won five, drew two and lost three of their 10 matches, scoring 11 goals and conceding eight. Also in the group were fellow qualifiers Costa Rica and Mexico, along with Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Honduras. |
|
| |
The U.S. is playing in its seventh World Cup. It has played a total of 17 matches, winning four, drawing one and losing 12. Its best finish was a third place back in 1930. In its last three finals, it was eliminated in the group phase twice and made it in the round of 16 in '94.
|
 |
|
| |
I believe that the United States will win one of their group games, but that will not be enough for them to make the last 16. This team has improved over the last decade and will continue to do so, but the nation will only become a true contender when the domestic media start paying attention to the sport and the team. The Women's World Cup team in 1999 got more attention than the men's squad has ever received, and that needs to change if this squad is going to go anywhere soon.
How far will the U.S. go in the World Cup? View Instant Poll Results
|
|
|
|
