While I was on Twitter, I saw one of US Soccer's posts and they were talking about the tourism guide that was on South African Airlines. The Confederations Cup guide on the plane said that the US "plays egypt in their final group match and it's unlikely that they'll andvance to the semis..."

Wow, welcome to South Africa!

The US got a tough draw and you can call it everything from bad luck to a fix in which FIFA wants to have the host nation in the second stage. Regardless of whether the US make the second stage or not, both Italy and Brazil as well as Egypt are going to have to earn every single point that they will earn.

Obvious?
There will be one player that the world stage will be looking at. For years they have heard great things about Landon Donovan; but the world is still not impressed. The former Bayer Leverkusen star is coddled in MLS and has everything in his arsenal to be a very good player in almost every league in the world. He will also have a chance to see this young man showcase his talent.

The Big Attribute
The US has the tools to make of the first South African trip a success. So although the hosts as well as the rest of the world are counting them out; they could have another coming. If there was a team that was looked at 1-23, it would be safe to say that the Americans would be the best athletes from top to bottom. They are also the most disciplined. So as much as the US "soccer media" went crazy after the Costa Rica loss, I still say that the match in San José was an aberration of sorts.

The Big Problem
If there is a problem with the US national team it is when an opponent punches them in the mouth and runs them ragged. The US also has a tendency to play a very robotic, you could even say predictable. Costa Rica showed what happens to the US when you go after them for the entire match. Honduras was also the example of how they can react if you take your foot off the accelerator.



GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa-Eng), Tim Howard (Everton-Eng), Luis Robles (Kaiserslautern-Ger)

DEFENDERS (8): Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes-Fra), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Danny Califf (Midtjylland-Swe), Jay DeMerit (Watford-Eng), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege-Bel), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock-), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United-Eng), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Freddy Adu (AS Monaco-Fra), DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers-Sco), Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach-Ger), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca-Mex)

FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Xerez-Ger), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Charlie Davies (Hammarby-Den), Clint Dempsey (Fulham-Eng), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)