While this is not the same team that blanked world power Spain, 2-0, and nearly toppled Brazil in the final in South Africa, coach Bob Bradley's 30-man Gold Cup roster fields strong national team experience along with a mixture of homegrown and international talent.

The U.S. opens Group B play tomorrow at Seattle's Qwest Field against Grenada before coming back east to take on Honduras at RFK Stadium in Washington on Wednesday. Group play ends in Foxborough, Mass., on Saturday, July 11 against Haiti with the top two teams playing quarterfinal action inside Lincoln Financial Field on July 18.

"All of the pieces are in place and we are ready to get going with the Gold Cup," Bradley said in a conference call yesterday. "This is an important tournament to us and I feel confident that this team will go out and effectively defend our title."

Eleven players who were with the team in South Africa are on the Gold Cup roster after CONCACAF allowed the U.S. to expand its roster from 23 to 30 because of the pressure of competing in back-to-back tournaments. Notable holdovers from the Confederations Cup squad include forwards Jozy Altidore and Brian Ching, backup goalkeeper Brad Guzan and defender Steve Cherundolo.

The Stars and Stripes have dominated the Gold Cup since its inception in 1991, holding a 34-4-5 record all-time. Expected to emerge from group play relatively unscathed, the U.S. could be in Philadelphia 2 weeks from now hosting the third-place finisher in either Group A (Canada, Costa Rica, Jamaica or El Salvador) or C (Guadaloupe, Mexico, Nicarauga or Panama). *