Donovan, U.S. soccer team making strides

hen the 2010 World Cup begins Friday in South Africa, the U.S. men's national team will be making its sixth straight appearance on the sport's grandest and most visible stage.

Considering the American squad that started this streak in 1990 was made mostly of players scratching out a living in the hodgepodge of U.S. "professional" leagues that existed at that time, the U.S. team opening play against England on Saturday has come a long, long way.

Today's 23-man American roster features 19 full-time professionals who are competing in some of the top leagues in Europe and Mexico. The remainder play domestically for clubs in Major League Soccer, which is now firmly established after 15 seasons of play. Six players on the U.S. roster have participated in at least one World Cup, including star midfielder Landon Donovan, who will be making his third showing in the quadrennial tournament.

True, there have been setbacks along the way - including France '98, when the U.S. made a quick exit from the tournament by scoring just one goal and losing all three first-round matches - but current American coach Bob Bradley said he believes the national team has continued to progress.

"I think we have a good sense of the fact that when we play well as a team we can compete with anyone," said Bradley, who was in Tampa in February when the U.S. played El Salvador in a friendly. "In terms of chemistry, we feel we have a great group, guys who have been to the World Cup before and have become good leaders, some younger players that have played key roles throughout qualifying and some new players that came in late but still bring enthusiasm."

This time, England is the favorite to win the United States' Group C, which also includes Slovenia and Algeria. The top two teams in each group advance to the next round and the Americans could easily experience a repeat of the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where they played well at times but failed to escape group play.

What most supporters of the U.S. squad are hoping for is something akin to Korea/Japan 2002. That year, a Donovan-led American team had folks back home staying up all hours of the night as it advanced to face Germany in the quarterfinals. There, it took an outstanding effort from German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn - and a controversial no-call on a handball by a German defender - to knock the U.S. out of the tournament.

Can the Americans perform like that again?

A lot likely depends on their first match against England.

In the 1950 World Cup, the U.S. pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the tournament's history when it beat England 1-0. Another American victory over the country that claims to have invented the game wouldn't be as shocking, but few believe it will happen - except the U.S. players.

"If we didn't believe that we could (make history), why would we be here?" said U.S. midfielder Clint Dempsey, who has played the past four seasons for Fulham in the English Premier League. "Every time you put on the U.S. jersey, you should think you can do a good job. If you don't, you shouldn't be here."

Despite that type of confidence, questions surround this U.S. World Cup team.

As shown in recent exhibition matches, the Americans are capable of greatness one minute and mental lapses the next. That was never more evident than in last week's come-from-behind victory over Turkey in Philadelphia.

Turkey dominated the first half, had the U.S. on its heels defensively and created several scoring chances. The Turks took a 1-0 lead on a 27th-minute goal, scoring on a quick counter-attack and making the American defense look slow and vulnerable.

But Bradley responded with four substitutes in the second half - including the addition of newcomer Jose Torres at midfield and speedster Robbie Findley at forward - and the Americans were seemingly transformed.

Sparked by the fresh legs, the U.S. equalized on a goal from Jozy Altidore, who played last season in Hull, England, on loan from his Spanish club Villarreal. With 15 minutes to play, Dempsey gave the U.S. a 2-1 victory when he muscled past a defender close to goal and beat the keeper to the near post. Both American goals came off assists from Donovan.

"I think this U.S. team continues to be one of two faces," said United Soccer Leagues founder Francisco Marcos, founder and president of the Tampa-based United Soccer Leagues who is heading to South Africa to attend his 11th consecutive World Cup. "Against Turkey, they showed they can be careless, not back-track and get scored on with the counter. But they showed in the second half they can play as a team and, with the likes of players like Torres, can attack and create numerous opportunities."

So which team will show up Saturday against England?

If recent results are any indication, the Americans should be competitive in their opener. In recent tournaments, the U.S. has performed well against some of the world's top-ranked squads. That includes last year's Confederations Cup in South Africa, where the U.S. upset Spain 2-0 in the semifinals. In the title game against Brazil, the Americans led 2-0 at halftime but surrendered three second-half goals to lose 3-2.

"I think where we begin to elevate our game is that we're comfortable letting (the best teams) create the (game's) rhythm, and then finding our own rhythm within the game," U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard said. "When you play the best teams in the world they're going to have most of the ball, they're going to usually dominate, and it's up to you to not play outside yourself. We don't seem to do that; we understand our role very well."