United States 2010 World Cup Daily Update: Onyewu Doesn’t Appear, Altidore Handles Criticism, Beasley Leaves Glasgow

Yesterday, Oguchi Onyewu was amongst the 22 players in the mix to dress for Milan’s Serie A finale with Juventus; however, when the teams were announced Saturday, the American central defender was not in the side.

Milan defeated Juventus 3-0 at the San Siro when a Ronaldinho brace augmented an early goal from left back Luca Antonini.

Onyewu’s absence means the former Standard Liège player did not make a Serie A appearance this year, his only competitive match coming in UEFA Champions League on September 30, when he came on for the final 30 minutes of Milan’s loss to FC Zürich.

Two weeks later, Onyewu suffered a knee injury in the U.S.‘s final World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica.

The Serie A season now over, Onyewu will join the U.S. Men’s National Team in New Jersey for World Cup preparations.

Last month, Hull manager Ian Dowie questioned Jozy Altidore’s training:

“I’ve spoken to Jozy a number of times since I’ve been here and, if Jozy can train the way he plays, I think he’s got a great opportunity, but he needs to understand that it’s that day-in, day-out,” Dowie said. “He’s a lovely, laid-back boy and there’s no side to him but he needs to focus on training at a better level.”

It’s a criticism the 20-year-old striker does not deny, partially ascribing his lack of training ground effort to preparations for the summer’s World Cup:

“For me that was more geared towards, you know, just the pressure of everything and the summer coming,” he said. “I was just being extra careful, but in games giving my all. You know what I mean? Because you just have to be smart in the way you handle things. But at the same time I think he’s just looking out for my interest, which is good.”

Altidore has said that he has enjoyed Hull, and at one time it appeared that a permanent move was possible. With finances looking troublesome around KC Stadium, a move to Hull seems unlikely, particularly with Dowie questioning the wisdom of the investment:

”“Probably he hasn’t fulfilled his potential here,” the manager was quoted in the Daily Mail as saying last month. “For the level of investment, it’s probably not enough.”

Not that we should have expected him to say anything different, but arguably Algeria’s best player, Glasgow Rangers’ defender/captain Mahjid Bougherra, is confident the African Cup of Nations semifinalists can get out of Group C in South Africa:

Defender Madjid Bougherra is confident that Algeria can qualify ahead of either England or USA and reach the knockout phase for the first time. The Rangers defender said: “It has been said that we can’t qualify from a group including England and USA, but I am sure we will advance to the knockout stage. Algeria have true warriors and we want to write a new history for our country and fans.”

Having qualified for the World Cup ahead of African champions Egypt (beating them twice), Algeria does have a recent history of giant slaying. They also have a recent history of inconsistency, losing to Malawi 3-0 in January’s African championships before knocking-out Cote d’Ivoire, eventually losing to Egypt 4-0 in the semifinals.

The Egypt and Cote d’Ivoire wins speak to a team that can advance, but the lopsided losses to Malawi and Egypt in Angola show this team could also flame-out in South Africa.

I suppose we should expect Bougherra to endorse the former.

Bougherra now seems like a former teammate of U.S. winger DeMarcus Beasley, who confirmed via Twitter that he is leaving Rangers:

Beasley is out-of-contract with the Glasgow-based club, and for the Major League Soccer fans hopeful that one of the national teams’ stars may return home, perhaps the final tweet is a hint that the former Fire player would look kindly on landing at Red Bull Arena.

West Ham defender Jonathan Spector is supporting teammate Robert Green’s quest to wear the one shirt for England in South Africa.

Green is currently in the middle of a three-way battle for England’s goalkeeping position, competing against Portsmouth’s David James and Manchester City’s Joe Hart.

Spector feels the Hammers keeper has the qualities for which England coach Fabio Capello should be looking:

“I always personally felt confident having him behind me, that if something goes wrong, he’ll be there,” said the American. “I think he’s the most consistent as well, compared to the other England keepers.”

He added: “That’s something Fabio Capello or any manager would value in a World Cup, especially when there’s a lot more pressure, the kind of pressure the England team will be facing going into it.”

Green had moved into England’s starting position this year when David James was struggling with injuries. Since, James has regained fitness while Joe Hart has been one of the English Premier League’s best keepers.

The 23-year-old Hart may be the least experienced, but he was recently voted the goalkeeper on the Professional Footballers Association team of the year, and the statistical record shows a decided edge over Green.

Although Spector is certainly merely being a supportive teammate, his choice of Green may actually put a worse keeper in goal for England. Though he will not get a voice in the actual choice, you have to appreciate Spector trying to help the U.S., even if it is unconscious.