U.S. World Cup team is named
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, May 26, 2010
[USA 23] U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley and his staff met late into the night following Tuesday's friendly against the Czech Republic to finalize his 23-player roster for the World Cup.
The big surprise was the selection of Robbie Findley, who had not yet played in Tuesday's game.
He couldn't sleep, wondering what his absence from the game meant, and was relieved to get the call at 2:30 in the morning that he'd be flying to South Africa for the World Cup on
Sunday.
If Findley was the surprise pick, Brian Ching was the surprise omission. Ching had battled back from a hamstring injury and played well against the Czechs.
The following players were also not picked: defenders Chad Marshall and Heath Pearce, midfielders Alejandro Bedoya, Robbie Rogers, Sacha Kljestan and forward Eddie Johnson.
Only Johnson had previous World Cup experience.
U.S. WORLD CUP ROSTER:
(Age) GOALKEEPERS (3):
25 Brad Guzan (Aston Villa)
37 Marcus Hahnemann (Wolves)
31 Tim Howard (Everton)
(Age) DEFENDERS (7):
25 Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA)
31 *Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes)
31 *Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96)
30 Jay DeMerit (Watford)
28
Clarence Goodson (IK Start)
28 *Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan)
24 Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)
(Age) MIDFIELDERS (9):
28 **DaMarcus
Beasley (Rangers)
22 Michael Bradley (Bor. M'Gladbach)
27 Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt)
27 *Clint Dempsey (Fulham)
28 **Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)
24
Maurice Edu (Rangers)
25 Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus)
24 Stuart Holden (Bolton Wanderers)
22 Jose Francisco Torres (Pachuca)
(Age) FORWARDS
(4):
20 Jozy Altidore (Hull City)
29 Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy)
24 Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake)
28 Herculez Gomez (Puebla)
*Previous World Cups in which
they played.
Note: Age as of June 12.
(What do you think of Bob Bradley's choices? How will the USA do? Let us know in the comments below.)
Surpised Findley made the team, but nobody stepped up so much so that I feel they were snubbed. His speed could be interesting at times even though he's not as sure-footed as Ching. Too bad there aren't some better defenders out there as too many of our quality guys are hurt and the 2nd squad just isn't up to this level...
I was shocked by Findley's inclusion over Ching, especially since the staff really seemed to like him more than I did.
I think Ching is limited but he does bring the quality of being able to hold the ball up which, given our problems keeping possession, is not nothing.
At this point, I haven't seen Findley offer anything at the international level. I thought he might be ready for 2014, but not yet.
I am also surprised Ching didn't make it. I think he has an excellent first touch, can control the ball, score, and brings lots of energy to the game. Findley showed none of this.
Completely agree with David Johnson. The inclusion of Findley over Ching is shocking.
Really, wouldn't we be at the desperation level if the game comes down to the inclusion of Ching or Findley as the difference. Both are just add ons at this point, why not go with the younger guy? My concern is still the unsettled situation in the back, especially at left side defender.I don't think it's by accident that teams want to attack us from that side.
I was suprised to see Ching make the first 30. While we lose his experience (44 games vs. Findley's 4), Walt is right-- either of these guys is more than likely a tag along. Better that we bring the future striker for the experience than the experienced striker for the sake of the past. Findley does bring some speed, which may come in handy late in a game when legs are heavy.
I don't know which player is the better fit, but I was at the Czech game and they have to play better as a team than the did if they're going any where in the World Cup. The defense seemed to break down as the game proceeded and the overall energy level didn't compare with that of the Czech's energy level.
For me not only Ching was a surprise! Robbie Rogers not making the team was a bad news! Let's just hope we gonna lock the same like last year's Confederation Cup! We have to be better then the last World Cup!
Findley was a stunning inclusion -- he has shown nothing, in my opinion -- but I agree the surprise exclusion was Rogers, rather than Ching. I can see situations where Rogers' speed and intensity might have been of value in the World Cup, whereas Ching -- who has never scored against a good team in international play, only against the minnows -- clearly just isn't good enough. One Bradley choice worth cheering is the exclusion of a guy who never, ever belonged in the national team program, Heath Pearce. His train wreck against the Czechs finally sealed his long-overdue fate. But as Walt says, the US left back situation remains a nightmare, with Spector having shown throughout the EPL season that he cannot handle the position -- he certainly has a future in the middle, but not on the flank -- and Bornstein clearly out of his depth.
I'm shocked to see Goodson make the team considering he was the main cause for Czech Rep. scoring two goals he could of saved, but instead he let the ball go by him twice. One defender that Bradley should have tried out even though it's his first yr. in the MLS is is NY Red Bulls defender, Tim
Reams. Very composed on the ball which even seasoned vets don't show in any league! Robbie Rogers is another player that should have been chosen but that a decision Bob Bradley will have to live with.