World Cup Preview: United States

In Group C with England, Algeria and Slovenia

Appearances: 8 (Last appearance in 2006)

Current FIFA Ranking (As of March 3): 18

Captain: Carlos Bocanegra (Center Back/Left Back)

Leading Scorer in Qualifying: Jozy Altidore - 6 goals (Striker)

Key Injuries: Charlie Davies (Striker) - Injuries sustained from a car crash (Questionable for World Cup). Stuart Holden (Midfielder) - Fractured right tibia (Possible return in mid-May). Jermaine Jones (Midfielder) - Fractured left shin (Out since Summer '09, possible return in April).

Key retirements since 2006: Claudio Reyna (Midfielder/Former Captain), John O'Brien (Midfielder), Eddie Lewis (Midfielder/Winger), Brian McBride (Striker), Eddie Pope (Defender)

Team Overview:

The Americans enter the World Cup with high hopes after finishing second in the 2009 Confederations Cup. They shockingly defeated the number one team in the world, Spain, by a score of 2-0 and narrowly lost to Brazil in the final 3-2. They led, at one point, 2-0 in that game as well. This team is the most talented that the U.S. has ever had and has a good mix of youth, talent, and experience. The only question is if they have enough to beat the best in the world.



Tim Howard is the choice as number one keeper. He is among the top goalies in the world and is the best that the U.S. has ever had. He was named the top goalkeeper in the Confederations Cup, beating the likes of Iker Casillas, Julio Cesar and Gianluigi Buffon. Because of the inconsistency of the defense in front of him, Howard will have to be at the top of his game for the U.S. to have a chance of reaching the quarterfinals and beyond.

The defense for the U.S has some solid players, although they are very inconsistent. The two center backs will most likely be Oguchi Onyewu and Jay DeMerit. Both are physical players and are strong in the air. They do get lost at times and quicker forwards are able to elude them. Onyewu also is coming back from a severe knee injury and will need to get into form. Bocanegra, the captain, will be the left back and Jonathan Spector will be the right back. Both are reliable players and Spector is able to put in some accurate crosses. That ability will be crucial if the Americans wish to score goals and put pressure on opposing teams.

The midfield for the Americans is one that could change drastically. The only sure starters are Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley. Donovan is, and has been, the face of United States soccer for many years now and his playmaking ability will determine the fortunes of the U.S. Clint Dempsey is another candidate to start in midfield, but if Charlie Davies is unable to return from his injuries, I would expect Dempsey to be moved to a forward position. Nevertheless, he will be in a starting position.

Stuart Holden is another injured player that should be in the starting spot. His current timetable of recovery would give him a month of preparation before the World Cup. He has shown flashes of brilliance as the right wing and provides a spark that the U.S. needs. The other spot in midfield could go to a number of guys. If healthy, and that's a big if, Jermaine Jones should be the starter. He's a big powerful defensive midfielder and comes to the American team after spending the past few years as a part of the German national team. He has, however struggled to return from his shin injury and has suffered two recent setbacks. His original return date was in early December. Now, it is in mid-April.

The other players vying for that spot, if Jones is unable to return, are Ricardo Clark, Maurice Edu and Benny Feilhaber. Clark and Edu have the best chances at that starting spot and Feilhaber is a valuable asset off the bench.

With the possible loss of Charlie Davies, the forward position becomes a significant point of weakness in the U.S. team. Davies was the perfect foil for Jozy Altidore. He was a very quick, agile and smart player. His speed opened up holes that Altidore was able to run through and use his big body and strength to cause havoc. Davies hopes to begin running and training in a month, but that timetable is shaky. If he returns, he will start as the other striker alongside Altidore.

If Davies does not return, it leads to problems. His back-ups: Robbie Findley, Eddie Johnson, Brian Ching and Connor Casey have not been able to make an impact on the field. The most reasonable choice to play in his position would be midfielder Clint Dempsey due to his goalscoring capabilities, but Dempsey and Altidore have talents that are similar to each other and may not work well together. Dempsey works better when he is inside the 6-yard box, which Altidore is also good at. Coach Bob Bradley will need to figure out who to pair with Altidore in order to get the best results. Findley and Johnson are both fast guys, but they have been unable to find a spark with Altidore.



Player to Watch: Landon Donovan

As stated before, the fortunes of the American team will lie on the shoulders of two men, Tim Howard and Landon Donovan. Donovan has been the face of U.S. soccer for 8 years now and is the most talented player on the team. He is the playmaker in midfield and he undoubtedly be involved in nearly every goal the Americans score. He has good speed and great vision on the field. He also is the top goalscorer in U.S. history with 42 goals which speaks well of his ability to put the ball in the back of the net.

He is a willing passer and is able to use both feet well. He also has a good repertoire with the forwards and he can any position at the midfield or forward spots. If he plays well, the U.S. will play well. If he doesn't, then the U.S. will almost certainly face a very quick exit.



Prediction: Loss to Germany in the Round of 16.

The final squad will not be announced until June 10 but here is a small list of players in the running to make the team.

Match Schedule

Beckham tears Achilles, will miss World Cup

David Beckham tore his Achilles tendon today during AC Milan's game against Chievo. This is another blow for the English team as Beckham was expected to to be a big player in the midfield.

This makes it more likely that a struggling player like Theo Walcott or Joe Cole will make the team instead of Beckham. This also will almost assuredly end David Beckham's international career. He will end it as the second-most capped player, only behind keeper Peter Shilton.

More on the Beckham injury here.

World Cup Preview: England

In Group C with United States, Algeria and Slovenia

Appearances: 14 appearances (Champions in 1966)

Current FIFA Ranking (As of March 3): 8

Captain: Rio Ferdinand (Center Back)

Leading Scorer in Qualifying: Wayne Rooney - 9 goals (Striker)

Key Injuries: Ashley Cole (Left Back) - broken left ankle (Out till mid-May), Michael Owen (Striker) - hamstring injury (Out for World Cup), Wes Brown (Right Back) - foot injury (Out till May), Aaron Lennon (Midfield/Winger) - Groin injury (return unknown)

Key retirements since 2006: Jamie Carragher (Center Back)

Team Overview: At the moment, coach Fabio Capello and his English team are in a world of turmoil. Top defenders John Terry and Ashley Cole were both discovered to have had affairs. Terry was stripped of his captaincy while Cole, to go along with his broken ankle, will be divorcing his wife.

As a result of the Terry situation, reserve left back Wayne Bridge has refused his summons to join the team due to the fact that he cannot stand being in the same room as Terry. Terry had his affair with Bridge's ex-girlfriend. To top all of this off, a recent meeting of English coaches and players was secretly recorded. More on that story can be found here. Capello will have to get his team focused in the coming months to have a chance of succeeding in the World Cup.



On the field, the English team is very strong in the middle and up front, but recent injuries and issues off the field have decimated the backline.

If healthy, 39-year-old David James will be the starting goalkeeper. He did not play in the last World Cup as Paul Robinson started all of England's games. However, under Capello, James has regained his starting spot although he is as shaky as his fellow English goalkeepers. Capello may play James, but he will not have a whole lot of confidence in him. It doesn't help that James has also recently been bothered by nagging injuries.If he is not fit to play, Robert Green will most likely be the starter, although young upstart Joe Hart could be a surprise first-choice keeper.

The English backline is as big of a mess as you could find right now. The only healthy starter is Terry, and he is under fire for his off-field activities. Both sidebacks, Cole and Brown, have injuries at the moment and may struggle to get fit in time for the World Cup. Cole's backup is Wayne Bridge, but Bridge refuses to play for England as long as Terry is a part of the team.

Rio Ferdinand, the captain and other center back, has been dealing with back injuries for the past 18 months and he may not be fully fit during the World Cup. One of their most talented center backs is Ledley King, but he has debilitating knee problems that are so severe that he can only allow play one game a week.

Add all of this up and England may have to play the wildly inconsistent Glen Johnson at right back while inexperienced center backs Matthew Upson and Joleon Lescott may see more time than they expected. Capello will just have to have hope things work out in time for the World Cup.

The English midfield is as talented as any in the world but they struggle mightily in big tournaments. Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are the two big names of the group and a lot more will be expected of them at this World Cup. Both players are immensely talented but both disappear when the World Cup rolls around. At the 2006 World Cup, Gerrard could only manage two scores while Lampard while blanked throughout the entire tournament. Lampard managed not to register a single point despite playing every minute of five games. Both of them need to do better this time around. Things seem to be on the uptick as the two scored seven of England's 34 goals in qualifying. Stewart Downing and Michael Carrick are both valuable back-ups and will play well if they are needed.




The right wing position at the moment is up for grabs. A smorgasbord of players is in the running for ample time: Joe Cole, Aaron Lennon, Shaun-Wright Phillips, Theo Walcott, James Milner and David Beckham. All are talented players and it will be up to Capello to say who gets the most time. Beckham is on the bubble to make the squad at the moment so his name could be taken out of the running and Lennon is struggling to return from his groin injury. He recently suffered a setback and may not be fit in time for the World Cup. If he is healthy, Lennon is Capello's choice as his starter at right wing.

At the forward position, it's all about Wayne Rooney. More on him will come in a minute. The problem is that Capello has struggled to find a player to play beside Rooney. He has tried many players including: Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Carlton Cole, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Peter Crouch. Heskey gained the most time but was not able to do much with it. Defoe and Cole are better as substitutes so both will probably make the team as such. The enigma of the group is Crouch. His latest start garnered wide praise after he scored twice after coming on as a substitute against Egypt. He works well under Capello's system so look for him to be the starter opposite Rooney come World Cup time.


Player to Watch: Wayne Rooney

The fortunes of England, as well as the weight of a nation, will rest on the shoulders of the 24-year-old superstar. The young man is one of the best players in the world and, this year, there may be no one playing better. He is a powerful player and is a bull with the ball, it is extremely difficult to steal it from him. He has great passing vision to go along with his world class shooting ability. He is also a force in the air and has scored many of his goals from headers. England needs to get him the ball early and often so that he can make his impact on the game.



Prediction: Loss to Brazil in the semifinals. Beats Germany for 3rd place.

The final squad will not be announced until June 10 but here is a small list of players in the running to make the team.

Match Schedule

World Cup Preview: Greece

In Group B with Nigeria, South Korea and Argentina

Appearances: 1 appearance in 1994

Current FIFA Ranking (As of March 3): 10

Captain: Giorgos Karagounis (Midfielder)

Leading Scorer in Qualifying: Theofanis Gekas-10 goals (Striker)

Key Injuries: No significant injuries.

Key retirements since 2006: Antonios Nikopolidis (Goalkeeper), Stelios Giannakopoulos (Midfield/Winger),
Nikos Liberopoulos (Striker)

Team Overview: The Greeks are known for their workman-like style of soccer. They will hope to score one goal and will defend the other team to death. Under coach Otto Rehhage, the Greeks have become a force to be reckoned with which was shown by their stunning Euro 2004 championship. In that tournament, they had 100-1 odds and beat the three favorites without conceding a goal in the knockout stages. Rehhage will rely heavily on veterans in this World Cup just like he did in Euro 2004.

Rehhage uses a system where energetic midfielders wear down the opponent and they swarm on defense, using numbers to stop opponents attacks. However, this does seem very boring to the viewer and on more than one occasion, his team has been booed by opposing crowds. They reached the World Cup this year by beating Ukraine in a playoff match with an aggregate score of 1-0.

Kostas Chalkias takes over as goalkeeper with the retirement of Nikopolidis. He has large shoes to fill as Nikopolidis was widely regarded as one of the greatest Greek goalkeepers ever. At 35-years-old, Chalkias has more than enough experience to keep a cool head during the big games. He is also one of the tallest keepers in the world, standing 6'6".

The defense for the Greeks is about as tough a group as you will find in the World Cup. All of their central defenders stand over six feet tall and all of them are excellent in the air. The group will be led by Sotirios Kyrgiakos, a 6'4" monster in the middle. Giourkas Seitaridis is another important player for the Greeks. He will be manning the right back position and will be counted on to help settle the midfield when they get in trouble.

Karagounis and Kostas Katsouranis will be the main men in the midfield and both of them will work tirelessly. They will hound the opposing team as they run through midfield and will tackle roughly. Physical play is expected when you play against Greece. Very few goals come out of midfield as these two and fellow midfielder Angelos Basinas have only scored 20 goals combined in over 250 games. These men are simply there to outwork the opponent and set up goals for the forwards.

Greece will be counting on two men, Angelos Charisteas and the aforementioned Gekas to do the heavy lifting in the forward position. Greek forwards scored 17 of the 21 goals in qualifying and 14 of them were scored by these two men. Both are in the top five of all-time goal scoring Greeks. Charisteas is the target on set pieces as he is very good in the air and will be relied upon to be a physical center forward to open space for Gekas.


Player to Watch: Theofanis Gekas

The top scorer in the European section of World Cup qualifying will be expected to do much more of the same for a offensively challenged Greek team. He scored 10 goals in 11 games during qualifying, but 6 of them came in his two games against a weak Latvian team. He has a nose for the ball and has a knack for being in the right place at the right time, a quality that can't be taught. He also positions himself very well and will not get caught offsides often.  He is not a threat to outrun the defense and will rely on his cleverness to get open for shots and goals. He has absolutely no aerial game so Charisteas will have to do most of the work there.



Prediction: Knocked out in group stages

The final squad will not be announced until June 10 but here is a small list of players in the running to make the team.

Match Schedule

World Cup Preview: South Korea

In Group B with Argentina, Nigeria and Greece

Appearances: 8 (Last appearance in 2006)

Current FIFA Ranking (As of March 3): 53

Captain: Park Ji-Sung (Midfielder/Winger)

Leading Scorer in Qualifying: Park Ji-Sung (5 goals)

Key Injuries: No significant injuries.

Key retirements since 2006: Choi Jin-Cheul (Center Back), Lee Eul-Yong (Midfielder)

Team Overview:

After a semifinal finish in the 2002 World Cup, hopes were high for the South Koreans, but they could only be disappointed when they were knocked out during the group stages in 2006. As a result of this, former head coach Huh Jung-Moo returned to the team and guided them to a first place qualifying position. Jung-Moo was originally the head coach during the 1998-2000 seasons and he discovered many of the star players that Korea now employs. They were able to get through qualifying without a single loss, although the number of times they won and had a draw were equal.

The 2010 South Korean team is one of the most experienced in the entire tournament. There are only four starting players that are under the age of 26 and even those players have played at least 20 international games. Experience and crumbling under the pressure will not come into play for the South Koreans this year.

Their oldest and most experienced player, Lee Woon-Jae, is the goalkeeper for the team. A veteran of three World Cup teams, dating all the way back to 1994, Woon-Jae is known for his uncanny ability to stop penalty shots, which is undoubtedly a result of his 16 years of time in the net. He only played in six qualifying matches, but tallied four clean sheets in those games. In the other two games, both against Iran, he allowed one goal each game.

The defense for the Korean team is an experienced group but the center backs for the team are smaller and will be easier to exploit when they have to face set pieces. Lee Young-Pyo is the name to watch from the group. The 5'9" left back is one of the fastest backs in the game and he will have the ability to cause havoc when he overlaps. Crosses from him will be crucial because South Korea is not a team that will score a lot of goals.

Midfield is where the South Korean stars play. Captain Park Ji-Sung is the leader of the team and will be counted on to be the playmaker for the team. All offense will run through him. His stamina and workrate have not diminished. Joining him around the midfield will be the two of the three rising stars of the South Korean team. Lee Chung-Yong and Ki Sung-Yong are the future for the South Korean midfield and playing alongside Park Ji-Sung will only enhance their abilities. The pair, unrelated but known as the "Double Dragons", are 21-years-old and have a wealth of ability. Chung-Yong is a quick player and has fantastic vision and passing ability.



Sung-Yong has much of the same talent and is one of the best set-piece takers on the team. His ability has caused many Koreans, and other fans, to dub him the "Korean Gerrard", an homage to the English midfielder Steven Gerrard.



The forward position has been a disappointing spot for the South Koreans. They have only one goal scorer that they can count on, Park Chu-Young. The other starter, Lee Keun-Ho has found recent success with the insertions of the Double Dragons into the starting lineup, and will need to continue his success with the offensive struggles that South Korea has had. 2002 World Cup hero Ahn Jung-Hwan makes a return to the teamand will be counted on to provide support as a super sub.

Player to Watch: Park Chu-Young

Chu-Young will be the man that South Korea counts on. . In 39 total games, he has scored 13 goals, four of them in qualifying. At times, he will be called upon to be the lone striker, a role that he does not flourish in but the recent uptick in midfield play has helped his game. Chu-Young is the most agile and one of the fastest players on the Korean team. He has solid passing and is a dead ball specialist. He will be taking nearly all of the free kicks for the South Korean team. For South Korea to succeed, he absolutely has to have an impact on the game.



Prediction: Knocked out during group stages.

The final squad will not be announced until June 10 but here is a small list of players in the running to make the team.

Match Schedule

Sports Illustrated Profile

World Cup Preview: Nigeria

In Group B with Argentina, South Korea and Greece

Appearances: 4 (Last appearance in 2002)

Current FIFA Ranking (As of March 3): 21

Captain: Nwankwo Kanu (Foward)

Leading Scorer in Qualifying: 2 players with 4 goals: Victor Obinna (Striker), Ikechukwu Uche (Striker)

Key Injuries: No significant injuries.

Key retirements since 2006: Jay-Jay Okocha (Midfielder)

Team Overview: The Super Eagles come into this World Cup with high hopes after qualifying as the leader of its group.They possess a high-powered and extremely fast group of forwards and a solid defense. However, the team could run into two problems. The first is that they are a very young squad. They have only one player over the age of 30, captain Nwankwo Kanu who doesn't even start. Another problem they face is that they just changed their head coach.

Previous coach Shaibu Amodu was fired and on Feb. 27, Lars Lagerback was hired to lead the Super Eagles. He is the former head coach of the Swedish team, which failed to qualify for this year's World Cup. He will have to organize the team and find what group of players he likes quickly because there are only a few tune-up games left before the start of the World Cup.

In goal will be 27-year-old Vincent Enyeama, an excellent keeper. Currently a player in the Israeli Premier League, Enyeama is the reigning Israeli player of the year. He provided the goalkeeping that was necessary to put Nigeria through qualifying by putting up clean sheets in eight of his ten games. He will have to be on top of his game with Argentina and South Korea in his group.

Enyeama's backline is difficult to get through. They helped Enyeama post those eight clean sheets and they have some scoring ability in them as well. The group will be lead by Joseph Yobo, a six-foot-two beast in the middle of the defense. He provided two goals for his squad during qualifying and is an obvious target on set pieces. Yobo is the second most capped player on the team and will be the future captain when Kunu retires.

Around Yobo will be a mix of players, but the most interesting will be Taye Taiwo. The 24-year-old left back has already scored 7 goals in his 31 appearances for the Super Eagles and was the 2006 Young African Player of the Year. Like his teammates, he has quick speed and is strong in the air. He is excellent at overlapping and strikes from his left foot are deadly. He will be one of the men to take the free and corner kicks for his team.

Midfield is the position of weakness for the Nigerians but the bright spot is John Obi Mikel. At 22-years-old, Mikel is already the highest profile player on the team and he will be the main cog in the offense. He will be expected to use his playmaking ability to free up his forwards. He is also a solid defensive player and will be tough to get through. He is known for his tough tackles which can, at times, cross into vicious challenges. He has not been called upon by his club team, Chelsea, to be an offensive force but Nigeria will need him to be.



The group of forwards for the Super Eagles is, collectively, the fastest in the world. Their two leading scorers in qualifying, Obinna and Uche, are actually substitutes when the complete squad is on hand. Peter Odemwingie and Obafemi Martins will be the starting strikers. Both are similar players: Agile, fast and small guys who have the ability to put the ball in the net. They will rely on center forward Yakubu Aiyegbeni  to hold the ball and provide space for them to run. The group can be explosive but they will have to find consistency that, so far, they have lacked.

Player to Watch: Obafemi Martins

Martins might be the fastest player in the world and is the goalscorer that Nigeria need. to do well. In just 28 games for his national team, he has cored 16 goals. This is 5th most all-time among Nigerians and at just 25-years-old, he has the potential to become their most prolific goalscorer ever. He led the team in 2006 World Cup qualifying with eight goals and scored twice in their final game against Kenya to secure a spot in the World Cup.

He has a powerful shot and despite his height (5'7"), is a very good aerial player. However, he is prone to having off days and against stiffer defenses, especially group member Greece, could struggle to find room. He will need Mikel to be on top of his game and feed him the ball often in order for Nigeria to succeed.



Prediction: Second round loss to France

The final squad will not be announced until June 10 but here is a small list of players in the running to make the team.

Match Schedule

Sports Illustrated Profile

World Cup Preview: Argentina

In Group B with Nigeria, South Korea and Greece

Appearances: 14 (Champions in 1978 and '86. Last appearance in 2006)

Current FIFA Ranking (As of March 3): 9

Captain: Javier Mascherano (Defensive Midfielder)

Leading Scorer in Qualifying: 3 players tied with 4 goals: Lionel Messi (Striker), Sergio Aguero (Striker), Juan Riquelme (Midfielder)

Key Injuries: No significant injuries.

Key retirements since 2006: Riquelme (Retired in 2008), Roberto Ayala (Center back), Juan Pablo Sorin (Left back), Hernan Crespo (Striker)

Team Overview: Argentina did not have a fun time during World Cup Qualifying. They struggled through most of their games and did not secure their spot until the second-to-last game. Coach Diego Maradona has struggled to find a starting squad that works to his liking and he has tried to make it work while enduring calls for him to resign. The mercurial coach will have to find his magic quickly because Argentina holds high hopes for their soccer team. He does, however, have an extreme wealth of talent across the board and no team looks forward to playing them. One glimmer of hope for the Argentinians is that the last time they struggled this much was during qualifying for the '86 World Cup, which they ended up winning.


Sergio Romeo has taken over the reigns as starting goalkeeper under Maradona. The 23-year-old has made only four appearances with the team so there will be an unaccustomed pressure on his shoulders.

Romero will be counting on the likes of Nicolas Burdisso, Martin Demichelis and Gabriel Heinze, all seasoned veterans, to keep the opponent away from his net and out of trouble. The three veterans will be joined by talented youngster Nicolas Otamendi to try and stifle opposing attacks. The group struggled at times during qualifying stages, and at one game allowed six goals to Bolivia. They will have to play much better to stand a chance against the top teams in the world.

The midfield will be led by captain Javier Mascherano, who is thought by some former Argentinian players to be the best defensive midfielder they have ever had. Joining him will be the veteran of the team Juan Sebastian Veron and two youngsters, Angel Di Maria and Jonas Gutierrez. The group is talented but does not possess the world class passer that is necessary to get the ball to their talented strikers. This has led to many struggles in scoring goals.

The group of forwards that Argentina has is arguably the best and deepest in the world. They have five players playing at some of the best club teams in the world and they would all be strong candidates to start for other top national teams. The group is led by Lionel Messi, regarded by countless experts as the world's best current player. The 22-year-old has been incredible for his club team, Barcelona, but has struggled mightily to find the same form with his national team. Much of this can be attributed to the fact that he does not have passing ability of Andres Iniesta or Xavi Hernandez on his Argentinian team. He must play better in order for Argentina to succeed.

Maradona has a though decision on who to play alongside Messi. He could play Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero, Diego Milito, or Gonzalo Higuain. The problem is, all four are similar players and the best one to choose would be whoever has the most chemistry with Messi. Lately, that player has been Higuain. His height will provide the aerial attack that the other players, and Messi, lack. If Higuain does struggle as a starter, Maradona will have a quick trigger and wealth of talent to choose as his super sub. Aguero is the quickest, Tevez the most technically gifted with the ball, and Milito is a scavenger around the net.



Player to Watch: Gonzalo Higuain

Higuain had a choice three years ago whether to play for Argentina or for his father's birth country, France. He ended up choosing Argentina and they can count their lucky stars that he did. With all eyes turning to Messi during the World Cup, other players will have to step up their games. Look for Messi's striker partner to capitalize on his chance to excel on the world's biggest stage. Higuain provides the most diversity to partner with Messi despite the talents of Tevez, Aguero and Milito. He's the tallest of the three at six-feet tall and has the speed to match Aguero.

He has a knack for being in the right place at the right time and has great instincts around the penalty area. He has only played in four games for the national team but has scored twice in those games. He may lack the big game experience that Maradona is looking for but it would be a mistake not to start him.



Prediction: Quarterfinal loss to Germany

The final squad will not be announced until June 10 but here is a small list of players in the running to make the team.

Match Schedule

Sports Illustrated Profile