The excitement is building as we get closer to opening match of the 2010 World Cup. Continuing on with the nations in Group C, The United States is the final Group C team we will breakdown.

Official Name: United States Soccer Federation


Nickname: Stars & Stripes

FIFA Confederation: CONCACAF (North & Central America, Caribbean)

FIFA Code: USA

How They Qualified: 1st place in CONCACAF hexagonal final stage

World Cup Appearances (Including 2010): 9

Best WC Finish: 3rd place, Uruguay 1930

World Cup Record (MP: Wins - Draws - Losses): 25: 6W - 3D - 16L

Head Coach: Bob Bradley

Most Capped Player (# of caps): Cobi Jones (164)

All-Time Goal Scoring Leader (# of goals): Landon Donovan (42)

Brief Footballing History:
Despite soccer's standing as the 4th or 5th sport in the US, its history is surprisingly rich. Beginning with the 3rd place finish in the first World Cup in Uruguay 1930. At the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, the US pulled off one of the great upsets in tournament history by beating England 1-0 in a Group 2 match. The goal by Haitian born Joe Gaetjens sealed his place in US soccer lore.

Since 1950, the US missed 9 straight World Cups before breaking through for Italy 1990. Qualifying for Italy 1990 began a streak of 6 straight WC qualifications as the Stars & Stripes finally found themselves on equal footing with México for the title of CONCACAF's Most Dominant Team.

Player To Watch:
The United States is a land rich with immigrants, often times prospective national team players have to choose between the nation of their birth and the home nation of their parents. This is the case for the player to watch, José Francisco Torres

Photo by ISIphotos.com
Known as "El Gringo", Torres was born in Texas to a Mexican father & American mother and plays professionally for legendary club Pachuca in Mexico's highest division. His talent as a midfielder was monitored by the US and Mexican national teams and Pachuca while he was in high school. He decided to play for the US and his presence gives the team a young, skillful midfielder to link play between the backline and Landon Donovan and the forwards up top.

Outlook:
If current trends hold, the US will advance past the group stage. The US has advanced out of the group stage in 1994 & 2002, so 2010 can hold the same fate. Their loss to Brazil in the 2009 Confederations Cup final and defeat to Mexico in the 2009 Gold Cup final has raised legitimate questions about coach Bob Bradley's tactics and his abilities to inspire his team in big game situations. It all comes down to Bob Bradley and his coaching abilities if the US are to advance out of this group.

WC Group Schedule:
June 12 vs. USA
June 18 vs. Algeria
June 23 vs. Slovenia

Group C is done and now it is on to Group D.