At 1 p.m. Wednesday, U.S. Soccer will announce the 23 players who will comprise the final World Cup roster for the United States in South Africa. The announcement will be made by coach Bob Bradley on ESPN's Sportscenter.
United States To Announce Final World Cup 2010 Roster
The United Sates has elected to name the roster well ahead of FIFA’s June 1 deadline for finalizing the team. The final squad is set to fly to South Africa on Sunday, one day after their friendly against Turkey in Philadelphia.
All 23 players selected will be in Connecticut, on ESPN’s campus, for the announcement.
Last night in Hartford, during the United States’ 4-2 loss to the Czech Republic, players competing for the last available roster spots got their final chance to impress Bradley.
Amongst those thought to have improved their stock were left wing DaMarcus Beasley, forward Herculez Gomez, and left wing Robbie Rogers. Rogers, however, as thought to be a long-shot coming into the match.
Though he was thought to be strong candidate for the team prior to the match, defender Clarence Goodson made a great impression in central defense, was the United States' best player, and likely eliminated any doubt that he would be on teh final team. Those doubts may have also be quelled by Bradley not using Chad Marshall, thought to be Goodsons competition in central defense.
Forward Robbie Findley was also not used, nor was goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann, who will almost certainly make the final squad.
The players who were seen to have underperformed Tuesday night include left backs Jonathan Bornstein and Heath Pearce, forward Eddie Johnson, and midfielder Sacha Kljesten. Coming into the match, Bornstein was felt by many to be likely to make the final team.
Amongst the other players fighting for squad positions who featured last night were forwards Edson Buddle and Brian Ching, central midfielders Jose Francisco Torres and Maurice Edu, and winger Alejandro Bedoya. Bedoya saw less then one half of playing time.
Also featuring in last night's match: goalkeeper Brad Guzan; defenders Steve Cherundolo and Oguchi Onyewu; midfielder Stuart Holden.
The players who did not dress are thought to be already on the team: forward Jozy Altidore; midfielders Michael Bradley, Ricardo Clark, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, and Benny Feilhaber; defenders Carlos Bocanegra, Jay DeMerit, and Jonathan Spector; goalkeeper Tim Howard.
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