2008 Woodie Awards
World prepares for Cup, United States for success
Mike Barrett
Issue date: 4/27/06 Section: Sports
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The U.S. team that had its best campaign last go around returns with an international ranking as high as four in some polls. It will have to rely on many of its talented players such as midfielders Landon Donovan and Claudio Renya, to get them past a tough group that contains such soccer powerhouses as Italy and the Czech Republic.
The team will look upon Renya, the team captain, to set the tempo for the team. Renya is one of the several returning players from the 2002 World Cup and has been one of the United State's premier central midfielders for several years.
Donovan was one of the keys for Team USA's success last World Cup, leading the team's offense in his first World Cup. He will be called on again, along with speedster DaMarcus Beasley, to lead the offense.
On defense, the men will have veteran Eddie Pope and the quick-footed Steve Cherundolo as their first line of defense before keeper Kasey Keller. Keller is coming off a strong 2005 season where he was named the U.S Soccer Federation's Male Athlete of the Year and will be depended on to bail the U.S. out of some tight spots.
"The United States will have some tough competition this year," Tom Mara, a sophomore from Rockville Centre, N.Y., said. "They will have their work cut out for them if they want to show the world that they deserved the rank they got coming into this year's cup."
Aside from the tough competition the United States will face in their own group, several teams stand in the way of the team winning its first World Cup. The strongest of these teams is the defending champions, Team Brazil.
Brazil is considered by many as the world's best team and there is more than enough evidence to support this. They possess some of the world's best players, such as Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, while also sporting a very deep bench.
"Although I am excited about Team USA and their chances, I think Brazil will repeat this year. They have great starters and a bench that could probably start on almost any other team in the world," SHU men's soccer defender Brian Downs, a sophomore from Jefferson, N.J., said.