United States
World rank: 8
How they got here: They won their group by one point, scoring 19 goals and allowing 13.
World Cup best finish: Semifinals, 1930
A player-by-player look at the U.S. roster:
Name/Ht./Wt./Club team/Previous Cups
Goalies
Guzan, Brad/6-4/210/Aston Villa/None
Team’s No. 3 keeper; he must control the box.
Hahnemann, Marcus/6-3/220/Wolverhampton/2006
Team’s No. 2 keeper; good on low shots
Howard, Tim/6-3/210/Everton/2006
He’s the key to the U.S. team; if he’s locked in he will keep the team in every game.
Defenders
Bocanegra, Carlos/6-0/170/Rennes/2002, '06
Team captain will play on the left; good going forward; great on set pieces.
Bornstein, Jonathan/5-9/145/Chivas USA/None
Only made the team because choices were few
Cherundolo, Steve/5-6/145/Hannover '96/2002, '06
Veteran can provide experience on right or left.
DeMerit, Jay/6-0/185/Watford/None
Good in the air, can be exposed by quickness; he is recovering from abdominal strain.
Goodson, Clarence/6-4/170/IK Start/None
Earned his spot on the roster with hard work; could be a named a suprise starter in middle.
Onyewu, Oguchi/6-4/210/A.C. Milan/2006
Can dominate in the air when healthy; only he knows if he’s truly 100 percent.
Spector, Jonathan/6-0/180/West Ham/None
Very good with crosses going forward; can lose players in space on defense.
Midfielders
Beasley, DaMarcus/5-8/145/Rangers/2002, '06
On-again, off-again player whose speed can cause problems; liability on defense.
Bradley, Michael/6-2/175/ Mönchengladbach/None
Temperamental player who is good at making runs to unlock defenses.
Clark, Ricardo/5-10/150/Eintracht/None
Fast and capable ball-holder; may have lost minutes with poor Turkey game.
Dempsey, Clint/6-1/170/Fulham
His style is the most international of anyone on the U.S. roster; very daring shooter.
Donovan, Landon/5-8/158/Galaxy/2002, '06
Arguably the team’s best player, he will dominate or he will disappear.
Edu, Maurice/6-0/170/Rangers/None
Often finds himself in goal-scoring spots.
Feilhaber, Benny/5-9/150/AGF Aarhus/None
A situation player, provides good passes but can also make dumb mistakes.
Holden, Stuart/5-10/160/Bolton/None
Like most U.S. mids, tough and physical; can play any position in midfield.
Torres, Jose'/5-7/135/Pachuca/None
Brings creativity to the U.S. attack as well as a calming presence.
Forwards
Altidore, Jozy/6-1/175/Villareal/None
Tough in the box, he will be the tip of the spear on offense; must watch his temper.
Buddle, Edson/6-1/185/Galaxy/None
In good form; scored nine goals for club so far.
Findley, Robbie/5-9/165/Real Salt Lake/None
Unproven but made the team because he’s very fast; may have earned more minutes in friendlies.
Gomez, Herculez/5-10/165/Pachuca/None
Scored 10 goals at Puebla; a poacher in the box.
