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Scouting
Report
Style of play: The U.S. alternates between a
4-4-2 with a flat-back four and a 3-5-2 formation, depending
on the quality of the opposition. With very little speed
on the wings, the U.S. relies on ball possession in
midfield to create scoring chances. Claudio Reyna is
the creative playmaker in midfield and is responsible
for launching the U.S. attack. The Americans use quick,
one-touch passes to control the pace of the game, keeping
its opponents chasing the ball as much as they can.
When using a 3-5-2, the central midfielders mark opposing
forwards and provide support to the defenders, while
the wingers press forward in attack.
Strengths:
Goalkeeping -- In Brad Friedel and Kasey Keller,
the U.S. have two accomplished goalkeepers with vast
experience at the highest level of club and international
competition. Both are "big-game" keepers and
proven shot-stoppers when the game is on the line.
Confidence -- The U.S. is brimming with confidence
after capturing the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament
this past February. The Americans were the class of
the field as they beat fellow World Cup-bound side Costa
Rica 2-0 in the final.
Coaching -- Bruce Arena may not be the most personable
of coaches, but there's no questioning his coaching
acumen. He's won titles at the college and professional
level, he's tactically astute, and he knows how to get
the most out of his players.
Weaknesses:
Few top-quality players -- The U.S. may have
determination, but what it lacks is a core of talented
players who have seen consistent first-team action in
the top European leagues. The majority of the team plays
in the lowly MLS - hardly a breading ground of world-class
soccer.
Reyna factor -- The flow of the U.S.'s attack
flows through the feet of midfielder and team captain
Claudio Reyna. He is the lone creative playmaker for
the squad, and if he is effectively marked and contained,
the American attack will instantly become stymied.
Wing-backs -- Jeff Agoos and Eddie Pope are strong
central defenders, but the U.S. doesn't have any world-class
players on the defensive wings. Aging left-back David
Regis has seen better days, right-back Steve Cherundolo
lacks strength and Frankie Hejduk is inconsistent.
Key injuries/omissions:
Defender Greg Vanney did not make the team because of
a partially torn ligament in his right knee…. Defensive
midfielder Chris Armas won't make the trip to South
Korea after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in
his right knee. He has been replaced by Steve Cherundolo…
Outlook:
The U.S. faces an uphill battle in advancing to the
second round of the World Cup. Portugal is a virtual
lock to win Group D, leaving the Americans to battle
a strong Polish side for second place. Poland’s
squad is comprised of players from its own domestic
league, as well as several key starters that play first-team
soccer in the top European leagues. On the other hand,
the bulk of the U.S. roster plays in the lacklustre
MLS, giving Poland a decided advantage in terms of experience
and skill level. While the U.S. could finish in second
on goal difference (or, in a more unlikely scenario,
if it can upset Poland in their game), a third-place
finish ahead of overmatched South Korea is more likely.
The
Country
Location: North America, bordering both the
North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between
Canada and Mexico
Capital: Washington, D.C.
Area: 9,629,091 sq km
Population: 275,562,673 (July 2000 est.)
Government type: Federal republic
Climate: Mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii
and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great
plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid in the
Great Basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures
in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in January
and February by warm winds from the eastern slopes of
the Rocky Mountains.
Ethnic groups: White 83.5%, black 12.4%, Asian
3.3%, Amerindian 0.8% (1992).
Religions: Protestant 56%, Roman Catholic 28%,
Jewish 2%, other 4%, none 10% (1989).
Languages: English, Spanish (spoken by a sizeable
minority).
History: The United States became the world's
first modern democracy after breaking from Great Britain
in 1776 and adopting its own constitution in 1789. During
the 19th century, the U.S. expanded from 13 states across
the North American continent and obtained a number of
overseas possessions. The two major events in the country's
history were the Civil War between 1861-65, and the
Great Depression of the 1930s. Following victories with
the allied forces in the First and Second World Wars
and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the U.S. stands
as the world's sole remaining superpower.
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