World Cup 2010: USA verdict

By Oliver Brown Published: 3:26PM GMT 04 March 2010

England awaits: USA will face Fabio Capello"s men in the organisation stages in South Africa Photo: REUTERS

Coach: Bob Bradley The straight-talking 51 year-old has managed to have the American group a family affair, since that son Michael, abounding with Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Bundesliga, has turn a unchanging pick. He led his players to a serenely candid gift for the World Cup but the weight of inhabitant expectancy could be unwieldy in South Africa. Much will rely on harnessing the talents of Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey, on his lapse from ankle vinculum damage, if Bradleys men are to obey the category of 2002 in reaching the quarter-finals.

Looking good:Jose Torres emerged agreeably from Wednesday nights 2-1 better to the Dutch, charity Bradley a small sorely-needed impetus in midfield. Of Mexican descent, Torres has been personification his bar football for Pachuca, the countrys champions, and constructed USA"s one shot on idea a absolute bid from prolonged area in the initial half at the Amsterdam Arena.

The Argentina outcome Holland 2 USA 1 Germany 0 Argentina 1 The Germany outcome The Brazil outcome Diego can"t stop Argentina

Must do better:The US regularly lift a risk in dead-ball situations, as captain Carlos Bocanegra valid by streamer in DaMarcus Beasleys late free-kick opposite the Dutch, but their set upon force appears toothless. Jozy Altidore, whilst fleetingly in effect with Hull, is still usually twenty and his partnership with Robbie Findley of Real Salt Lake, usually 4 years his senior, reflects a worrying miss of experience.

Mood: Take this outcome from "The Los Angeles Times": "Unless someone sticks a pointy hang in them, the Americans sojourn a group that can be taken, a group that all as well mostly sleepwalks the approach by games." The teams detractors on home dirt are not desirous by a lapse of usually 4 wins in twenty-six games in Europe and are assumingly joined in desiring England have small to fright at the World Cup.

Star man: Landon Donovan. The winger, whose form has risen fast interjection to his purpose to one side David Beckham for the Los Angeles Galaxy, has been expensively praised by his some-more shining team-mate. Beckham claimed not to be at all astounded that Donovan has been such a success in this seasons loan spell at Everton, where he has supposing an enterprising participation on both flanks. The imponderable is either the twenty-eight year-old can galvanize a fickle inhabitant group all on his own.