Meet the U.S. national team
Click on each of the 23 players to see more about his background and watch videos from training camp:| Project starter (*) | Career statistics |
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| Brad Guzan | 16 U.S. Caps, Aston Villa (England) |
Age: 25
Height/Weight: 6-4, 210
Hometown: Homer Glen, Ill.
Soccer Insider's take:As the understudy to American Brad Friedel at Villa, Guzan made only occasional league appearances.
Video of Guzan talking about his college and early professional career.
| Marcus Hahnemann | 8 U.S. Caps, Wolves (England) |
Age: 37
Height/Weight: 6-3, 220
Hometown: Seattle
Soccer Insider's take:An outstanding season in the Premier League probably moved him up to No. 2 on the U.S. depth chart.
| Tim Howard* | 51 U.S. Caps, Everton (England) |
Age: 31
Height/Weight: 6-3, 210
Hometown: North Brunswick, N.J.
Soccer Insider's take: Experienced and composed, excellent shot-blocker, reads the game acutely and has performed in many high-pressure situations in English Premier League and for U.S. team. The clear No. 1 choice to start every match.
| Projected starter (*) | Career statistics |
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| Carlos Bocanegra* | 79 U.S. Caps, 12 Goals, Rennes (France) |
Age: 31
Height/Weight: 6-0, 170
Hometown: Alta Loma, Calif.
Soccer Insider's take:A regular for seven years and captain for two, he has played primarily in the middle for the national team and on the left for his club. Though he lacks the pace required by an outside back, he is most needed on the corner.
| Jonathan Bornstein | 32 U.S. Caps, 2 Goals, Chivas USA (MLS) |
Age: 25
Height/Weight: 5-9, 145
Hometown: Los Alamitos, Calif.
Soccer Insider's take:Left-sided player runs the flank well but probably lacks the technical skill to excel on the international stage.
| Steve Cherundolo* | 60 U.S. Caps, 2 Goals, Hannover (Germany) |
Age: 31
Height/Weight: 5-6, 145
Hometown: San Diego
Soccer Insider's take: Steady and efficient right back started at the 2006 World Cup. Captain of his German club, which he joined almost 12 years ago after leaving the University of Portland. Seems likely to start ahead of Jonathan Spector.
| Jay DeMerit* | 19 U.S. Caps, 0 Goals, Watford (England) |
Age: 30
Height/Weight: 6-0, 185
Hometown: Green Bay, Wis.
Soccer Insider's take: A central back who worked his way up the English league ladder to forge a solid pro career. Rugged style is disruptive to opposing attacks and his distribution has improved.
| Clarence Goodson | 13 U.S. Caps, 2 Goals, Start (Norway) |
Age: 28
Height/Weight: 6-4, 170
Hometown: Springfield
Soccer Insider's take: For an unusually tall player, the former W.T. Woodson High and Maryland standout offers excellent footwork.
| Oguchi Onyewu* | 54 U.S. Caps, 5 Goals, AC Milan (Italy) |
Age: 28
Height/Weight: 6-4, 210
Hometown: Olney
Soccer Insider's take: Towering and stuffed with muscle, “Gooch” is a forceful presence in central defense. Sidelined for seven months after rupturing a knee tendon, he has been steadily regaining fitness and recalibrating his timing.
| Jonathan Spector | 25 U.S. Caps, 0 Goals, West Ham (England) |
Age: 24
Height/Weight: 6-0, 180
Hometown: Arlington Heights, Ill.
Soccer Insider's take: Preferred position is right back, but with uncertainty surrounding the back line, he could provide cover elsewhere.
| Projected starter (*) | Career statistics |
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| DaMarcus Beasley | 92 U.S. Caps, 17 Goals, Rangers (Scotland) |
Age: 28
Height/Weight: 5-8, 145
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Ind.
Soccer Insider's take: Left wing with quick feet and improvisational skills is heading to his third World Cup after falling out of favor last year and earning a spot at training camp.
| Michael Bradley* | 43 U.S. Caps, 7 Goals, Moenchengladbach (Germany) |
Age: 22
Height/Weight: 6-2, 175
Hometown: Manhattan Beach, Calif.
Soccer Insider's take: The coach’s son is an intense fixture in the middle of the formation, a two-way player as capable of scoring from distance as initiating an attack. Susceptible to making harsh challenges; disciplined decision-making will be key.
| Ricardo Clark | 29 U.S. Caps, 2 Goals, Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany) |
Age: 27
Height/Weight: 5-10, 150
Hometown: Jonesboro, Ga.
Soccer Insider's take: Injuries limited playing time after moving to the Bundesliga from Houston over the winter, but offers experience and composure.
| Landon Donovan* | 123 U.S. Caps, 42 Goals, Los Angeles (MLS) |
Age: 28
Height/Weight: 5-8, 158
Hometown: Redlands, Calif.
Soccer Insider's take: American soccer’s career scoring leader and most dynamic attacking player looks to redeem himself after a lackluster performance at the 2006 Cup. He creates opportunities and finishes them, and is vital to the U.S. campaign.
| Maurice Edu* | 13 U.S. Caps, 1 Goal, Rangers (Scotland) |
Age: 24
Height/Weight: 6-0, 170
Hometown: Fontana, Calif.
Soccer Insider's take: A strong central player from the University of Maryland who earned a regular role for the Scottish champions after recovering from a knee injury. Might be called on to play in central defense.
| Benny Feilhaber | 32 U.S. Caps, 2 Goals, Aarhus (Denmark) |
Age: 25
Height/Weight: 5-9, 150
Hometown: Irvine, Calif.
Soccer Insider's take: Technical player able to play centrally or on the flank. Returned to the team a year ago after injuries and lack of form.
| Stuart Holden | 13 U.S. Caps, 2 Goals, Bolton (England) |
Age: 24
Height/Weight: 5-10, 160
Hometown: Houston
Soccer Insider's take: Born in Scotland and raised in Texas, a product of MLS who has excelled internationally the past year and fits nicely on the right flank. Recovered from a leg fracture suffered against the Netherlands in March.
| José Torres | 10 U.S. Caps, 0 Goals, Pachuca (Mexico) |
Age: 22
Height/Weight: 5-7, 135
Hometown: Longview, Tex.
Soccer Insider's take: Clever, creative central midfielder who is finally finding his form on the international level after struggling in qualifying.
| Clint Dempsey* | 62 U.S. Caps, 18 Goals, Fulham (England) |
Age: 27
Height/Weight: 6-1, 170
Hometown: Nacogdoches, Tex.
Soccer Insider's take: Scored in the previous World Cup against Ghana and excelled at last summer’s Confederations Cup with three goals. Primarily a right-sided player but comfortable on the left and likely to start up front.
| Projected starter (*) | Career statistics |
|---|
| Jozy Altidore* | 25 U.S. Caps, 9 Goals, Villareal (Spain) |
Age: 20
Height/Weight: 6-1, 175
Hometown: Boca Raton, Fla.
Soccer Insider's take: Powerful, fast and clinical with his scoring stroke, the squad’s youngest member has quick-strike potential. Looks to rediscover his form after a disappointing loan stint with England’s Hull City this past season.
| Edson Buddle* | 3 U.S. Caps, 0 Goals, Los Angeles (MLS) |
Age: 29
Height/Weight: 6-1, 185
Hometown: New Rochelle, N.Y.
Soccer Insider's take: Barely on the national team radar in recent years, the MLS veteran rekindled his hopes with a scoring surge this spring.
| Robbie Findley | 6 U.S. Caps, 0 Goals, Real Salt Lake (MLS) |
Age: 24
Height/Weight: 5-9, 165
Hometown: Phoenix
Soccer Insider's take: With Charlie Davies unavailable, Findley was the next-best choice to provide speed. Late-game appearances are likely.
| Herculez Gomez | 4 U.S. Caps, 1 Goal, Puebla (Mexico) |
Age: 28
Height/Weight: 5-10, 165
Hometown: Las Vegas
Soccer Insider's take: Another forgotten forward who, after several unproductive seasons in MLS, scored goals in bundles in Mexico this year.
