Bradley announces World Cup roster
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Bradley announces World Cup roster
Kate Fagan
Sorry for the delay since our last posting here at Kickin' It -- things got a little crazy with the 76ers and the selection of their new head coach, Doug Collins. We'll be back on track here starting today and also with tomorrow's U.S. practice at the NovaCare Complex. But now, for the big news from today:
At 1 p.m., live on ESPN's Sportscenter, U.S. coach Bob Bradley announced his final roster -- 23 players -- for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Bradley entered camp with 30 players. The U.S. lost to the Czech Republic on Tuesday night in Hartford. On Tuesday, Bradley rested his star guys and played a lineup almost entirely of fringe guys: substitutes and guys fighting to make the roster.
Heading into Saturday's final send-off match, Bradley will have his roster set. That match is scheduled for 2 p.m. against Turkey at Lincoln Financial Field here in Philly.
Here are the 23 players:
Goalkeeper: Brad Guzan
Goalkeeper: Marcus Hahnemann
Goalkeeper: Tim Howard
Defender: Carlos Bocanegra (captain)
Defender: Jonathan Bornstein
Defender: Steve Cherundolo
Defender: Jay DeMerit
Defender: Clarence Goodson
Defender: Oguchi Onyewu
Defender: Jonathan Spector
Midfielder: DaMarcus Beasley
Midfielder: Michael Bradley
Midfielder: Ricardo Clark
Midfielder: Clint Dempsey
Midfielder: Landon Donovan
Midfielder: Maurice Edu
Midfielder: Benny Feilhaber
Midfielder: Stuart Holden
Midfielder: Jose Torres
Forward: Jozy Altidore
Forward: Edson Buddle
Forward: Robbie Findley
Forward: Herculez Gomez
Coach: Bob Bradley
Quotes from Bradley:
Bradley on selecting Onyewu, despite injury: "We see a real important player, a real important part of our team back on the field and that means a great deal to all of us."
On the selection of Buddle and Gomez: "Both have been in great form, scored a lot of goals this year and as we move into the World Cup, players that are on a good roll come in handy."
--Kate
Wow our forwards flippin stink. So does our defense actually. This isn't shaping up to be a good tournament for USA. I'm predicting 1 and done in the round of 16.— sla6yer- yawnnnnn....soccer.— MGaines
- I like the pick of both Gomez and Buddle, along with Robbie Findley. That adds alot of depth at the striker position with proven goal scorers, and I liked Ching, but he's had his chance to make it happen and just hasn't done so. Donovan can move up there if needed, as well as Dempsey which Coach Bradley has done before with success. Watching that game yesterday, Buddle, Gomez and Findley showed ability to create offense and will be extremely helpful in the 2nd half of games. With a team that has more and more int'l playing experience, Uncle Sam's Army has reason to be hopefuly of a good Cup, probably not winning it all but continuing to establish it's World presence.— Bleue
- sla6yer, Gomez is going to turn some heads, and Buddle up top with Altidore could be dangerous and make teams play back a little more, specifically at the start of games when the US usually gets rocked a bit. Buddle can use his feet better than Jozy can and should be able to get him a few passes moving towards the goal, and not with his back to it which is how he usually gets it. Gomez just has a sense for putting the goal in the net, leading scorer in the Mexico league, and within fifteen minutes of getting in the game yesterday, he had three scoring chances and one goal. They'll be alright up top, it's the backline that could scare everybody.— Bleue
Comment removed.- Need more UNION players.— JimLemley
- The backline was awful last night. Alot of white shirts stood around on one goal. Onyewu didn't even get off the ground on the other. It all starts with the back. If the US continues to give up soft goals like that - it will be a short trip to South Africa. Not ready to bury them yet. Let see how the boys play in Philly on Sat.— kjw
- I gotta correct myself, when I put Findley played well yesterday, I had him confused with Rogers,...Rogers played well and got left off, don't know much about Findley other than he's fast like Davies was and was probably the last person on the roster, and probably won't play much if at all...— Bleue
- DaMarcus Beasley must have compromising pictures of Bob Bradley for him to make the roster. I hope he stays rooted to the bench. In the beginning he showed promise and has made past contributions but he simply can't play anymore (assuming he was ever effective) in a World Cup. First, Like an orange leaf in autumn, he falls over in a strong breeze or at an opposing player's slightest touch, fair or foul. Because he's not Italian, he doesn't know how to flop in a manner that will draw a free kick. Second he is not game fit and his offensive skills have deteriorated. Its unlikely he can make accurate passes under pressure or be part of combination moves toward goal involves 3-4 passes. Third, Last night he ran all over the field including runs to bail out the defense, only because his spot on the team was on the line. He is a defensive liability . As I see who was let go, Beasley stayed only because the other 3 midfielders (Klejstan, Bedoya and Rogers) weren't quite good enough to make it. Rogers has ability and potential but is not ready to mix it up at a World Cup. He must learn to integrate with other midfielders and forwards better and also goes down too easily. I would have liked to see Ching at forward rather than Findley for his grit (he is McBride-like) and ability in the air. However, Gomez showed he can jump with or over England's back line to head in crosses or set pieces. I have no problem with the defensive picks but Onewyu isn't ready.— lmscdad
- Based on the 23-man roster here are my starting 11 and situational assignments Howard R-L Cherundolo; Bocanergra; Goodson; Bornstein Bradley Dempsey Holden Donovan Buddle Gomez Corner Kicks and 30 plus Free kicks Holden PKs Donovan Close in Free kicks Donovan or Dempsey Comments Holden has been whipping in accurate free kicks and corners. I couldn't stand it when we had Donovan do it because he was needed on the receiving end of them. Sub(s) to protect a lead: DeMerit for Cherundolo; Edu for Gomez; Sub(s) if we're behind: Altidore for Gomez/Buddle; Torres for Bradley; Spector for Bornstein Sub to prevent Bradley from getting a 2d yellow (Edu) No. 2 keeper Hahnemann— lmscdad
I'm surprised Bradley is only taking 7 defenders, but it makes sense. Don't take too much stock in last night's debacle. Many of our starters didn't play so Bradley could make the final evaluations on who made the 23. The Czech Republic is not going to the World Cup, was trying to redeem themselves after an awful effort last Saturday, and has Chelsea's keeper in goal, and we still put 2 past him. Our performance against Turkey will be more indicitive of the kind of XI we will have in South Africa.- I was surprised to see Beasley make it too, thought Klejstan might have done enough to eek in there, but it might be like it was said about Rogers, just not ready to mix it up in the Cup yet. And I would have Jozy start, with Buddle, and then bring in Gomez if we get down alot or need a spark at the start of the 2nd half. By the 60th min, I would have Gomez in, Dempsey or Donovan moving up, and filling the middle somewhere with fresh legs. Sat's game is going to be telling as to how this group plays together, the starters for the most part have been together long enough to play with a higher degree of cohesiveness....— Bleue
- Bornstein better not leave the bench!— CJK
- Will this or any American side ever win, umm NO. Face it, soccer might be the most popular sport in the world, but it ranks a distant eight in the USA!— downthemiddle
- @downthemiddle Did anyone ask where soccer ranks in the American Sports hierarchy? umm, NO. Face it, soccer might be the eighth most popular sport in America, but those of us who follow it couldn't care less about where soccer disrespecters think soccer ought to be.
- The team's depth has already been compromised. I think, if everyone is healthy, the starting 11 we see today will be ok. But after that grouup the talent does diminish considerably.— philsoc8
