USA head coach Bob Bradley sprang few surprises when he named his 23-man squad for next month's World Cup in South Africa.
The US, who lost 4-2 to the Czech Republic in a friendly on Tuesday night, open their campaign against England on June 12 in Rustenburg before facing Slovenia on June 18 in Johannesburg and Algeria on June 23 in Tshwane/Pretoria.
Bradley cut his training squad from 30 to 23 ahead of the June 1 deadline, he said, in order to begin team-building. The most surprising omission was striker Brian Ching, who won his 45th cap as a second-half substitute against the Czechs in East Hartford.
Instead, Bradley went for the pacier Real Salt Lake frontman Robbie Findley in a forwards unit that also includes the versatile Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Mexico-based Herculez Gomez and Major League Soccer leading scorer Edson Buddle, the latter two winning their third and second caps respectively on Tuesday night.
"It's important in any team-building process to get to the final 23, and clearly there were some tough decisions to make," Bradley said.
"We are confident that this is a group of players that will work together and be committed to doing whatever it takes to be successful.
"We feel the roster has a good balance of players who have been a part of previous World Cups, those who have gained great experience in qualifying and Confederations Cup and some newer faces that have proved they belong.
"We are extremely excited to play the final send-off match in Philadelphia and then begin the great challenge of playing in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa."
Source: PA
