The daunting Estadio Azteca awaits the United States

by Sean Heffernan 

BTeamBombers writer Sean Heffernan touches on five topics heating up in the soccer world from David Beckham to the upcoming World Cup Qualifer between US/Mexico to the MLS salary cap to Real Madrid. Enjoy! ...

1. Next week: US Goes to Azteca to Face Mexico in World Cup Qualifier

The United States has never beaten Mexico inside the massive 105,000 seat Estadio Azteca. A upset over El Tri this coming Wednesday would be the perfect ending to a history making summer of soccer for the U.S. National Team. That feat is easier said than done. Just imagine a 100,000 plus screaming Mexicans in a mist of colored smoke bombs, flying beers, and waving Mexico flags. Not to mention the August late afternoon  humidity beating down on the field at 7200 feet above sea level.  Azteca is undoubtidly one of the hardest places to play in the world. Although, the U.S. has already done the impossible this summer. The upset over #1 ranked Spain in the Confederations Cup has made the U.S. team relevant in the American sports landscape to a degree even David Beckham has yet to truly achieve. ESPN was unable to aquire the game's rights (NBC will show the game on Mun2 in English as well as telemundo...check your local listings), but is still putting on a full out pre-game and post-game shows  even though the game will not be aired on their network.

Expect US coach Bob Bradley to stick to the lineup he used in South Africa during the Confederations Cup with U.S . all time leading goal scorer,  Landon Donovan leading the attack. Donovan will be the most hated man in Mexico City when the two countries hit the field as he long has been a pest to the Green, Red, and White. The US/Mexico game  (4 P.M. EST, set your DVRs if you can't get out of work) will likely be one of the most watched soccer games in United States' history. Any world football expert would be hard pressed to find a more heated rivalry between two countries than the "Border War" between the US and Mexico. If you love rivalries you will love US and Mexico in Azteca.

2. Fox Soccer Channel Needs HD ASAP

Fox Soccer Channel (FSC) should be commended for all the significant number of games it televises as well as their  nightly soccer reports and terrific soccer talk show, Fox Football Fone In, but the channel is falling behind in one area specifically: High Definition. FSC has set a target date of January 2010 to begin airing some matches in HD. The fact that FSC is not being concrete about an exact date when they will be HD operational makes me worry if they'll actually be able to meet their tentative goal. Today,  a televised athletic event that isn't in HD looks 10 years old compared to a game in HD. Not having HD makes it harder for FSC to compete with ESPN who has HD and bigger budgets for their broadcasts. ESPN already has won the rights to some EPL coverage as well the World Cup next summer. Fox onthe rights to this year's Champions League and hopefully will air some games on other Fox channels other than FSC that actually have HD until the channel is available in HD. C'mon Rupert Murdock! Get her done!

3. FC Dallas on the Rise?

After selling their leading goal scorer American Kenny Cooper to 1860 Munich earlier this month, FC Dallas has won two straight slowly creeping back into the playoff picture. Long time MLS pro Jeff Cunningham has scored 5 goals in two games (4 goals in last Saturday night's game). Check out my interview with FC Dallas midfielder Dax McCarty. I'm excited to see what FC Dallas young group of American players can do the second half of the season with the likes of Brek Shea, Kyle Davies, Anthony Wallace, and McCarty leading the way. Now if they could only figure out a way to get more fans at their games. Maybe owner Clark Hunt should give Jerry Jones a call. Winning for a change should help though.

4. MLS Players Union After Free Agency

Unlike other major sports in this country MLS players do not have the luxury of free agency where they have multiple teams bid for their services which drives up salaries. Instead the league handles all the players contracts  as one single entity. It seems unlikey that the owners will give in to the players's demands especially in this economic climate, but any type of lock out would be devastating for the 16-year-old league. The MLS's salary cap desperatly needs to be raised with  too many players getting paid less a year than they would  make if they were out digging ditches on the side of the road. Some players even have to coach youth soccer teams or work a side job just make ends meet. You have to respect these guys playing for the love of the game, but the league is big enough to point where teams should be able to pay their players enough to live on. If teams are allowed to spend more, teams can bring higher quality talent to the league improving the product on the field: the most vital component to MLS growing as a league. Hopefully this matter between the players and the league will be resolved shortly.  

5.  What to Watch This Weekend

Mega rich Spanish club Real Madrid and their duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka are rumored to be making their debut together tonight as the Galacticos face MLS side Toronto FC in a pre-season friendly (ESPN 7:30 EST). Madrid signed the Brazilian, Kaka ($92 million), former Manchester United star and Portugese international  Ronaldo  ($131 million), and French goal scorer Karim Benzema ($48 million) this offseason.

On Saturday, David Beckham and the L.A. Galaxy will see if they can continue their recent success as they travel to New England to face the Revolution (6 PM EST, FSC). Beckham was booed last week in the Galaxy's friendly with FC Barcelona until he scored a bending free kick for L.A. to tie the game up with the Champions of Europe. The Galaxy eventually lost the game 2-1 to Barcelona, but one would think if Beckham continues to play as well as he has been playing Galaxy fans will quickly forgive him for his loan departure last winter to AC Milan. I don't know how well the Revolution fans will treat the Englishmen on Saturday, but hopefully they get a nice crowd for the game. The Galaxy/Revolution game will be followed on FSC by another MLS contest between the San Jose Earthquakes and 2008 MLS Cup Champs the Columbus Crew which in addittion will be followed by Barcelona facing Mexican club Chivas Guadalajara live from San Francisco in another friendly match.

If that's not enough soccer for you on Sunday the Houston Dynamo host the Chicago Fire in a battle of two of the leagues best teams (Go Fire! Sorry, Chicago bias). The English Premier League kicks off as the world's most popular club Manchester United and the Blues of Chelsea square off in the Community Shield (10 AM EST, FSC). Then to cap off your soccer weekend you can catch DC United have their stab at Real Madrid (3 PM ET, FSC). Here's to sitting on our arses all weekend!

Please comment below!

Zak Whitebread
Perhaps the biggest surprise snub from Bob Bradley’s 23 players he has initially called in to the US camp is Milwall center back Zak Whitebread. The defender had a great season in England helping Milwall make a run at the championship. It was even rumored that he was getting looked at by a number of bigger clubs around Europe.

Chris Pontius
The DC United winger is an early candidate for rookie of the year award this season in the MLS. Pontius has size, speed, and the knack to make things happen around goal. This season the former University of California –Santa Barbra standout has already scored four goals and notched two assists.

Mikkel “Mix” Diskerud
The Norwegian-American recently played for the U-20 US squad in a friendly against Egypt scoring the only goal in 1-0 victory. Every time “Mix” is on the field he makes an impact with his club. The sooner we get him in the Men’s team the better. He’s only a year younger than Altidore who started every game of the Confederations Cup. I’d hate to lose him to Norway’s national team.

Jemal Johnson
The MK Dons regular is another Yank who has seen success in England’s League One division. The speedy winger can score goals as well cross dangerous balls into the box. His experience abroad would be a nice addition to a MLS-heavy Gold Cup squad.

Chris Rolfe
Partnered with Brian McBride in Chicago, Rolfe won back his starting striker position from Patrick Nyarko after coming off the bench the first few weeks of the season. Rolfe has “Landon Donovan” qualities and is a creator on the attack.

Nate Jaqua
The big bodied Seattle Sounders striker has found the back of the net six times already this season in the MLS. The US team seems to play well with at least one “big” striker who can hold up the ball and be dangerous in the air. Jaqua has five assists to go along with his goal scoring prowess anchoring the potent Sounders attack.

Jeremiah White
Teammate of Benny Feilhaber at AGF Aarhus has been a career journeymen in Europe who had one of the best years of his career this season in Denmark. His speed and experience as a natural right winger could benefit the US.

Honorable Mention: Bobby Boswell, Robbie Findley, and Brad Davis

In 26^th minute in Sunday’s Confederations Cup Final the United States Men’s National team was on top of the world. Landon Donovan had just extended the Americans lead to 2-0 over five-time World Cup Champions Brazil with a truly world class goal. ...Donovan quickly retrieved the ball from Ricardo Clark off a Brazil’s faltered attack, passed a brilliant ball ahead to striker Charlie Davies, ran the course of the field, expertly handled the return pass from Davies, tip toed the ball around the defender, and hammered the goal into Brazil’s net leaving keeper Julio Cesar looking helpless in the net. With Donovan’s goal it appeared that United States was on its way to upsetting its second world power in a row, but in the second half the Americans dream were crushed as Brazil showed its true character scoring three unanswered goals to claim the Confederations Cup for the third time.

After a goal by Luis Fabiano in the opening minutes of the second half you could feel the weight of Brazil begin to fully register on the backs of the Americans. The Green and Yellow then released an onslaught on the American defense similar to the one the US had survived in their historic win over FIFA number one ranked Spain earlier in the week. Unlike in the miracle win over Spain the Americans just didn’t seem to have the legs to withstand barrage after barrage of attacks from the likes of Kaka, Fabiano, and Robinho. US goalie Tim Howard pulled off a few dazzling saves, but eventually found himself at the mercy of Brazil’s sheer talent.

Brazil’s bench consisted of millionaires some of whom didn’t get a sniff of the field throughout the entire tournament. US second half substitute, Sasha Kljestan, makes a humble base salary of $170,000 playing in the MLS, but battled Sunday against Brazil’s Kaka who was just sold to Real Madrid for $92 million. US Soccer fans should stick out their chests with pride as their team almost defeated the world’s two most talented teams in Spain and Brazil in the course of a few days.

The Americans were not satisfied with their surprise run to the final as Donovan told the media after the game, “We’re at the point where we don’t want respect, we want to win. There’s no guarantee that we ever get back to a final game like this so it’s disappointing.”

What we can take from the US’s Confederations Cup is that they will return next year as a team that can compete with the best in the world. It is safe to expect the Americans to advance out of their group stage in World Cup 2010. As we learned from this tournament anything can happen in the game of soccer. This team has found itself in the past two weeks representing the United States above and beyond the call of duty. The US squad may return stateside with broken hearts, but have surely won over the respect of the soccer-loving world.

Since Bob Bradley’s boys shocked the world in South Africa taking down Spain this past Wednesday US Soccer has forced itself into the American sports mainstream media machine. It’s been nice seeing the Men’s National Team talked about on every radio and television show for once. No matter what anyone says the victory over the number one team in the world changes things for the US. ... You can check out my story about the game itself at theloveofsports.com (the article was quoted on Sportscenter's Blog Buzz feature). I’ve had number of things on my mind since the victory that I’d like to express generally related to US Soccer.

Attention, those still calling for Coach Bob Bradley’s head please just go back to your mother’s basements. Though some US fans would rather have a flashy name for a head coach, I’ve always liked Bradley as a coach. All that you hear from players past and present is love for the guy. On the pitch he has a Clint Eastwood-like stoneface demeanor completely focused at the task at hand. He hasn’t been perfect in his few years on the job, but in this tournament I think he has found a core group of players that can give us a good shot at next year’s World Cup. His son Michael Bradley who starts on the squad at center midfield is even fierier than the old man calling out the media in the states for not appreciating the Egypt win getting the squad to the semifinal. And for Christ’s sake they just beat the best team in the world 2-0.

Bradley’s strategy of not over committing on defense and taking advantage of the Spanish on the counterattack worked beautifully against La Roja. He needed his men to leave everything they had out on the field for his game plan to work and that’s exactly what they did. It reminded me of how Chelsea played Barcelona in the Champions League semifinal minus the brilliance of Iniesta spoiling the title for the London club (Thank God he wasn’t available for Spain in our match). There’s something about how the US squad just dug in and went to war in the trenches that’s completely American. Bradley has earned his chance to take our team to the World Cup next year so all the crazy talk about his job needs to end.

It was a mixed bag for US Soccer’s spin around the American mainstream media circuit after the colossal win. When the supposed “sports experts” on television are forced to talk about soccer instead of doing the research and keeping up with the team they resort typically negativity about how soccer doesn’t matter in this country and we’re barely mediocre at the international level. However, with such a historic win the majority of the coverage was pretty positive. Dan Patrick interviewed Landon Donovan on his radio show and convinced him to save his game jersey for the station’s studio. On Mike & Mike in the Morning, Mike Greenberg who talked extensively about how much he enjoyed watching the game even though he wasn’t a big soccer fan. When Dempsey scored the second goal he found himself alone on his Stairmaster screaming at the top of his lungs. On PTI, Wilbon and Kornhesier apologized for not being prepared when they questioned the Americans’ validity in advancing to semifinal after the Egypt game adopting the US Men’s Soccer as their new favorite team.

Not surprisingly Jim Rome first claimed he wouldn’t be negative about the US’s win, but then went on another dumb ass tangent about how soccer doesn’t matter in America and no one cares about it. Instead of showing clips of the game he mainly used images of soccer hooligans burning things. I’m amazed that someone as close minded, arrogant, and stupid has his own nationally syndicated show. Rome is an ass clown with a bad tan. But everyone already knew that. If anyone deserves to be out of work in this economy it’s him and his creepy goatee.

Those people like Rome who would love nothing more than soccer to fail in this country, who point to how the Women’s team winning the World Cup and David Beckham didn’t instantly turn America into a soccer nation don’t understand that soccer won’t become top sport overnight, but is a process that will take time. In recent years the sport has seen tremendous growth in the US. Say what you want about Beckham, but his worldwide exposure gave MLS some much needed publicity and won the league a lot of new soccer fans. The product MLS puts out on the field gets better every year as the teams are alluring better talent than it has in the past. Clubs like Toronto FC and the Seattle Sounders are selling out of season tickets without ever playing a game before. More and more the best American players are playing over in Europe’s top leagues. Did I mention the US just beat Spain? I still can’t get over it.

This past February’s US vs. Mexico game set TV ratings records for viewers. A pro-American crowd sold out Crew Stadium in Columbus as Michael Bradley scored two goals to defeat El Tri in the World Cup Qualifier. Viewership of the Champions League Final on ESPN was up some 30% from last year. ESPN has made serious strides in their soccer coverage with their MLS game of the week and national team coverage. Fox Soccer Channel has turned into a one-stop-shop in this country for soccer fans airing tons of European league games as well as producing nightly reports and the popular talk show “Fox Football Fone In”. FSC really needs to start televising their games in HD. It’s hard to watch game that’s not in HD anymore.

I’m a former shoulder pad toting soccer hater. But I went to Europe for a summer and realized that soccer really was the biggest game on earth and thought wouldn’t it be great if the US were the best in the world at it. Soccer is on the rise in America people. Can you dig it!?!

The Americans’ defeat of the best soccer team in the world (Spain) today in Bloemfontein, South Africa will go down as one of the greatest sports victories internationally in the history of our country. The 2-0 victory in the semifinals of South Africa’s Confederations Cup is being dubbed “The Miracle on Grass” in honor of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” over the Soviet Union at the Winter Olympics. ......

Like in 1980 the Americans were giant underdogs going up against a much more talented, experienced opponent, but with a fighting spirit and a refusal to quit the US was able to do what was thought to be impossible.

Sports pundits in this country aren’t forced to talk about soccer often so when confronted with the world’s game they typically resort to negativity. When the US Men’s National Team snuck its way into the semifinal game of the Confederations Cup in South Africa across the American sports media cited a sketchy rule in the tournament that allowed the US to advance. It was a miracle in itself that the US made it to the semifinals after losing their first two games of the tournament to Italy and Brazil respectably. It took a gutty 3-0 win against the champions of Africa, Egypt, and help from the Brazilians defeating Italy by the same score line to send the Americans through on goal deferential.

Unlikely as it was, the United States was set to face the FIFA ranked #1 team in the world with a chance to make the final. Spain had not lost a game since 2006 and in the Confederation Cup’s group stage they had not allowed a single goal. Spain’s starting eleven consisted of players from some of the best teams in Europe all of who get paid millions of dollars to play professionally. The arguable best player on the US, Landon Donovan, only makes $900,000 a year with his MLS side LA Galaxy. Spanish strikers Fernando Torres and David Villa are two of the most dangerous forwards in the world. It was expected by every sound soccer mind that the Spanish would pass the American defense to death.

US Coach Bob Bradley instructed his players to adopt a “bend but not break” attitude to containing the fearsome Spanish attack. From the kickoff Spain controlled the possession of the ball, but the Americans stayed true to their game plan. US goalie Tim Howard was tested early and often, but kept himself always in good position denying the defending champions of Europe again and again. In the 30th minute the US took a 1-0 lead when Clint Dempsey played a ball into 19-year-old forward Jozy Altidore who out-muscled defender Joan Capedevila and sending the ball off keeper Iker Casillas’s fingertips into the Spanish goal. In the second half Spain stepped up the onslaught on the United States defense.

The eleven Americans ran, jumped, slid, and dived all over the pitch to keep their opponents out of their net. It was evident that US squad began to believe more in themselves as the minutes ticked by drawing them closer and closer to sports history.

In the 73rd minute Clint Dempsey, who against Egypt helped the US out of the group stage scoring a late header, struck again as Landon Donovan crossed a dangerous ball into the Spanish box where Dempsey dislodged the ball from center back Gerad Pique and buried it into the net putting the underdogs up 2-0.

Though Spain continued to attack the Americans after going down by two you could almost see the air go out of the number one team in the world as they were unable to find a way past the gritty US. When the official’s final whistle blew in the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein the crowd comprised of mostly South Africans applauded the United States for pulling of a historic upset.

The US will face the winner of Brazil and host nation South Africa on Sunday. When asked to express his feelings after the game Tim Howard struggled, “I can’t explain anymore than you can. Sports is funny sometimes, but when you put your mind to something you can achieve it.”

This victory doesn’t instantly push the United States into the upper echelon of soccer countries, but it does prove the point that the Americans can play with the best in the world on any given occasion and sometimes even beat them. Today is a great day to be a US Soccer fan and for anyone for that matter who takes pride in the good old Red, White, & Blue.

Is BG7 motor city bound?

Cubs Win Streak is Over...Derek Lee's is Not
Despite a decent outing from Ryan Dempster the Cubs four game winning streak ended at the hands of the Atlanta Braves 2-0. Derek Lee did extending his hit streak to a career high 19 games. Its nice to have you back DLee. White Sox were idle on Monday.

US Soccer Miracle Win in Confederations Cup
While I was out duffing golf balls this Sunday for Father's Day with my Dad and two brothers the United States Men's National Team somehow advanced to the semifinals of FIFA's Confederations Cup in South Africa. Of course the USMNT plays great the one game I don't watch. The US advanced by dominating the champions of Africa 3-0 and benefiting from Brazil defeating Italy by the same score. The US face Spain (FIFA #1 team in the world) on Wednesday on ESPN 2:25 EST. Check out my report on the game at theloveofsports.com. Anything is possible!!

The College World Series Has Arrived
I watched a college baseball game for the first time in awhile and was actually entertained. LSU won the first game of this year's series defeating powerhouse Texas 7-6 in 11 innings. The Tigers will try to finish of the Longhorns Tuesday night 7 P.M. EST on ESPNThe fans in Omaha where the CWS is held every year was packed. Good for you College Baseball.

Ben Gordon to Pistons?
There has been talk of the Chicago Bulls shooting guard going to Detroit for big money recently. After a killer series against Boston in the playoffs the Bulls have to decide if they want to keep the former UConn Huskie. John Paxson better make some serious moves if Gordon goes to "The D". DWade in a Bulls uniform? In my dreams.

Greatest mustache of my life.

Reciever Dante Stallworth is suspended indefinitely by NFL Commish Roger Goodell

The Cleveland Brown wide out received a controversial sentence for killing a pedestrian while driving under the influence of alcohol. 30 days in jail. A person dies and he gets 30 days. Michael Vick was in jail for like two years and his crimes weren't even people related. Did Stallworth bring back Johnny Cochrane from the dead for his guilty plea. Jaysus.

So now begins the "How is Goodell Going to Straighten Out This Bad Apple" debate on ESPN that will last forever. Way too many people think it's Goodell's job to turn these troubled players lives around. Say I'm a professional football player and I get into legal trouble. Do you think me walking into a room with some guy I've never met before is going make me see the light and turn me into a boy scout?

The first day of the US Open was rained out.

You know its a slow news day when precipitation is the top story.

How about Phil's hair? Sorry, that's all I got. Wake me up when John Daley makes a comeback.

On a more personal note the Heffernan men will venture out to golf course this Father's Day for a day of lost balls, divits, curse words, broken tees, ketchup stains, slices, and swass. A lot of swass. Seriously, I have a problem.

Confederations Cup: US Gets Owned By Brazil. Italy is Upset by Egypt.

Being the soccer nerd I've become I found a way to watch the U.S. get walloped by Kaka and company. Depressing to say the least. The team looked lost.

But a lighter side the Pharohs took down the defending World Champions Italy in a huge 1-0 victory. Now all the U.S. needs to do is beat them by at least 3 goals and hope the Italians get spanked by Brazil.

After that horrific of a performance I hope U.S. coach Bob Bradley shakes up the starting lineup quite a bit. C'mon boys give me some hope!

I hit my eight year old brother Brendan in the lip playing catch with a hard ball

While I've been in Columbus I've been working with the little guy with his baseball skills everyday and I think I've made him worse. Momma Hef says only rubber balls from now on. Probably a good idea. Kid was ok. Little blood, front lip the size of Angelina's. Credit to my buddy after he took it right in the kisser he came back out and started playing catch again. It reminded me of the Adam Sandler CD bit where he's in right field praying to God the batter doesn't hit it to him. Big game for the little guy on Saturday. Let's hope there's no tears.

Cubs Win!! DLee goes deep

Derek Lee is on a 14 game hit streak! His eight inning 2-run home run helped the Cubs beat the Southsiders 5-4. Kevin Gregg picked up the win actually. Jaysus.

One online soccer website has even instituted a “Rossi Rule” which asks posters to refrain from making derogatory statements about Giuseppe and his family. Nevertheless, after the Azzuri’s 3-1 defeat of the U.S. this Monday in their opening game of the Confederations Cup  in which the Italian-American scored two magnificently taken goals I’m sure those soccer forums are on fire again.

The Americans were fortunate Italian head coach Marcello Lippi didn’t start Rossi because prior to the young forward’s entrance the Yanks surprisingly had most of the momentum. The game was altered in the first half when U.S. midfielder Ricardo Clark received an unjust red card for a late tackle on Gennaro Gattuso. The foul likely warranted a yellow card, but did not justify Clark’s ejection forcing the Americans to play the rest of the game down a man. Even Gattuso after the game said that the foul was not a red card.

Despite their misfortune the U.S. battled on taking the lead in the 38^th minute when 19-year-old striker Jozy Altidore (and teammate of Rossi at Spanish league club Villareal) was fouled in the penalty box by the Italian defense setting up captain Landon Donovan for a well taken penalty goal. The U.S. went into the locker room with the lead, but I’m sure fully aware of how hard the rest of the game would be playing against the World Champions with one less player.

In the second half fatigue began to become an issue as the Italians dominated possession and hammered down on the American defense. U.S. central defenders Oguchi Onyweu and Jay Demerit did a solid job of clearing the ball away from their goal, but with Rossi’s introduction the game changed. After Rossi intercepted the ball in the midfield, Demerit retreated backwards allowing the 22-year-old enough room to launch a world-class strike into the corner of the American goal. Another long distance shot got past Yank keeper Tim Howard as Italian Danielle Di Rossi gave the Italians the lead with twenty minutes remaining. Not having a closing midfielder like the red-carded Clark left room for the Azzuri’s long distance attack to wreak mayhem in the second half.

The closing minutes gave the U.S. some hope as they had a few opportunities to tie up the match as substitutes Charlie Davies and Sacha Kljestan gave the team a boost in the attack. Swedish based striker Charlie Davies got loose from his defender on a corner kick, but missed the header only a few yards from the Italian goal. Kljestan in his short spell on the pitch ripped a hooking shot that just flew over the crossbar. In the end it was their fellow countrymen Giuseppe Rossi again who would put the U.S. out of their misery with an extra time volley to finish the game 3-1.

It would have been interesting if the game hadn’t been wrongfully altered early on with the red card, but regardless of the officiating U.S. soccer learned the lesson of how losing their homegrown talent to other countries can come back to haunt them.

All the United States can do is not worry about what that can’t control and get focused for the next game on Thursday against another world class opponent. On Thursday if the Americans can pull of a historic upset against the Green and Yellow of Brazil U.S. soccer fans might just take their celebration out of their dirty pubs and fan forums.

The U.S. are in the group from hell featuring Italy (defending World Cup Champions), Brazil (currently ranked 5th in the world by FIFA), and Egypt (the champions of Africa). If the United States somehow musters itself out of the group stage.

U.S. head coach Bob Bradley redeemed himself after a woeful loss against Costa Rica last Saturday with a hard fought victory over Honduras in Chicago. The U.S. head coach is bringing most of the team from the past two qualifiers to South Africa, but it will be interesting to see who gets the start in the opening game against Italy on June 15 (All games will be aired on ESPN or ESPN2). Here is my starting 11.

Goalie - Tim Howard
No surprise there. Guzan makes me nervous.

Center Back - Oguchi Onyweu
Gooch is investing a lot in this tournament professionally as his play might dictate what kind of offers he gets from European clubs this summer. The former Best 11 defender in the Belgian league is currently a free agent. In the game against Honduras Gooch looked much better than he did during the chaotic match in Costa Rica.

Center Back - Carlos Bocanegra
Captain Carlos earned his stripes on that corner kick sacrificing his face for the game winning goal in Soldier Field where he use to suit up for the Chicago Fire. Hopefully Boca is recovering from the injury and will be fit to play in the Cup.

Left Back - Jonathan Borenstein
Borenstein is certainly not a sexy pick, but the kid did enough against Honduras to earn the next start. The Chivas USA standout combined well with Landon Donovan on the left and worked hard the entire match.

Right Back - Jonathan Spector
Though I may be bias because I grew up in the same town as the West Ham defender, but Spector played a great game on Saturday. He may not have the killer instinct nor the intangibles of a healthy Frankie Hedjuk, but he has great technique, gets forward, and knows how to cross a ball better than anyone we have at right fullback.

Left Mid - Landon Donovan
A lot of commentators said before the Honduras game that Donovan needed to show up and show up he did. As the game progressed he displayed that his skill set was a grade above the majority of the players on the pitch that night. Donovan tied the game up with a vicious penalty kick and delivered the corner kick that resulted in the second goal. That's the Landon Donovan we all want to see.

Right Mid - Clint Dempsey
Though "Deuce" had a few missteps in Chicago his header set up the winning goal and he was on the offensive all night with he ball. His backheel to Ricardo Clark was sick. The U.S. is going to need some more magic from Clint if they want to advance.

Center Mid - Michael Bradley
Coach Bob Bradley's son is a lock in the middle of the field for the national team with his consistent play and aggressiveness on the ball. Growing up around the sport Bradley has a really high soccer I.Q. and a leader on the field even though he isn't much more than a teenager.

Center Mid - Ricardo Clark
The Houston Dynamo midfielder was all over the field on Saturday night. He covers more ground than any holding midfielder in the U.S. player pool. Though not the most dangerous attacker we have Clark was robbed of a penalty in the box against Honduras.

Forward - Jozy Altidore
The 19-year old has already scored 6 goals for the U.S. in his international career. Altidore is the future of the U.S. attack, but his lack of fitness was evident in the qualifiers. I can't wait to see him when he's in form with both club and country simultaneously.

Forward - Connor Casey
The Colorado Rapid did a decent job filling for Brian Ching. Missed a couple of key opportunities, but I liked his pressure on the ball. I would prefer Kenny Cooper, but Bradley didn't call the FC Dallas forward in for the tournament. However, if Casey gets some quality service from the midfield he could light some defenders up.

Bench

DeMarcus Beasley
Jose Francisco Torres (or Freddy Adu)
Benny Feilhaber
Jay Demerit
Brad Guzan
Charlie Davies