USA Final Squad for World Cup 2010

Coach Bob Bradley announced the final 23-man US squad for the World Cup 2010 on Wednesday (26 May). The squad consists of 3 goalkeepers, 7 defenders including captain Carlos Bocanegra, 9 midfielders and 4 forwards.

Out of 23 players, only 4 are from Major League Soccer (MLS). Seven players represent English clubs in the squad, while three are from German league, two from Scottish league, and one player each from 5 other European leagues including Italy, Spain, Norway, Denmark and France. Two other players are from Mexican league.

There is no uncapped player named in the squad. With the inclusion of two relatively new but in-form strikers: Buddle and Gomez, it seems that Bradley preferred current form of the players while deciding on the squad.

Both Buddle and Gomez have been in excellent form with their clubs. Los Angeles Galaxy forward Buddle is the leading goal scorer in the ongoing MLS season, while Gomez netted 10 goals for Mexican club Puebla to become the joint highest scorer this season in Mexican league.

The squad looks pretty much balanced in the presence of experienced as well as young but talented players. Villarreal forward Altidore, at 20, is the youngest member of the squad, while 37-year-old goalkeeper Hahnemann is the oldest player in the side. However, the average age of the squad is around 27 (26.86) which indicate a balanced squad.

It is going to be the third world cup for two midfielders Beasley and Donovan as well as for defender Cherundolo. Defender Onyewu, who returned to international football with the Czech Republic friendly following a long-term injury, has also found himself in the squad.

The defense boasts of versatile players like Bocanegra and Spector. In the defense, there are 4 centre backs in Bocanegra, DeMerit, Goodson and Onyewu, while Bornstein and Cherundolo are specialists for the left and right back positions respectively.

The defense boasts of some versatile players. Besides playing the central role, Bocanegra is also capable of playing as a left back. Spector, though a right back, can also be deployed anywhere in the back line effectively.

In the midfield, versatile players like Donovan and Dempsey can play as attacking midfielder being deployed on either of the two wings or as striker. Other attacking-minded midfielders are Holden, Edu and Feilhaber, while Torres and Clark are there to play more central role in the midfield. Bradley can play both the defensive and attacking roles, while Beasley is an effective option for the left wing.

Here is the 23-man US World Cup squad:

Positions	Players (Clubs)
Goalkeepers	Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Tim Howard (Everton)
Defenders	Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Clarence Goodson (Start), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)
Midfielders	DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers), Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (AGF), Stuart Holden (Bolton Wanderers), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca)
Forwards	Jozy Altidore (Villarreal), Edson Buddle (Los Angles Galaxy), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Herculez Gomez (Pachuca)