SUMMER (AND THE WORLD CUP) JUST AROUND THE CORNER
As we head toward the latter part of March, it has suddenly dawned on me just how close the World Cup is. As I write this there are 82 days before the first game; less than three months. Time to take a quick peek at where the U.S. squad is, geographically as well as mentally, as they prepare to improve on their disappointing World Cup effort in Germany four years ago.
Bob Bradley has a talented group to choose from to represent the states in South Africa. The team is led by the all time scorer in U.S. history in Landon Donovan, and striker Clint Dempsey, who should be back from injury in time to play in the summer global tournament. Other key players include keeper Tim Howard, forwards Jozy Altidore and Brian Ching, midfielders Michael Bradley and Stuart Holden, and defenders Freddie Hejduk and Carlos Bocanegra.
Most of the key players on the US squad have been playing in Europe over the winter, including Dempsey with Fulham, Howard with Everton and Altidore with Hull City, all in the Premier League in England. Bocanegra moved to France this past year playing with Stadde Rennais, and Michael Bradley in Germany with Borussia Moenchengladbach. Demarcus Beasely, who I didn’t mention earlier, is another key element to the U.S. attack. He has been playing in Scotland with Rangers, although playing time has been difficult for him there.
The biggest player to cut his teeth in Europe over the winter is, without a doubt, Landon Donovan, who headed to Everton FC of the premier League in a transfer on January 1st. No other player is as key to the success of the U.S. as Donovan. Donovan is easily the best player this country has ever produced, and at 28 in the prime of his soccer life. Previous stints in Europe proved frustrating for Donovan, who had two unsuccessful attempts at Bayer Leverkusen and one at Bayer Munich, both in Germany.
Despite all his success in the MLS here in the states, and all his international success with the U.S. team over the last ten years, I think it was important for Landon to go over to Europe and get some playing time with the right team in the right league and prove what he could do. Important not just for him, but important for the US team heading into this World Cup year, Donovan being the leader and the undeniable most important cog in the red, white and blue machine.
In choosing Everton he chose the right team and the right situation, and he flourished. He was dominant in his playing time and the Everton fans quickly fell in love with him. Donovan learned as much in his three month stint with Everton as he did in years in the MLS. But, of course, having him back in the MLS is mighty important for that league as well. Having said that, I would not be surprised to see Landon back in the blue of Everton in the future.
Donovan and the U.S. will play a couple tune up games for the World Cup in May. On May 25 in Connecticut against the Czech Republic and on May 29th in Philly versus Turkey. The U.S. men will arrive in South Africa a little early in June so they can play a last minute warm-up game against Australia in Roodepoort on June 5th. The World Cup itself starts for the states on June 12th with the big showdown against England, also in Roodepoort.
Next time we’ll break down the teams in the US group (England, Algeria and Slovenia), as well as some of the other favorites heading into the big tournament this June in South Africa.
By: Ron Furlong
DFN Sports Staff Writer
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