by Giles Elliott, FOXSports.com

Yet the difficulty in the simple art of putting the ball in the back of the net will see fans suffer agonies of anticipation and frustration this weekend as the race for World Cup qualifying enters the final furlong.

With just a month left on the countdown clock for the 32 berths at Korea/Japan 2002, simple equations remain all over the world. In Europe, Denmark just needs to beat Iceland, Croatia to beat Belgium, Italy to beat Hungary, and they are there. In Asia, a win for China against Oman will see Bora Milutinovic prove his worth yet again.

Simple. Win a football match, become a national hero.

The USA and England find themselves in similar positions. Sven Goran Eriksson's England hosts Greece at Old Trafford on Saturday, needing only a win to book their ticket to Asia. The next day at Foxboro Stadium, three points against Jamaica will put Bruce Arena's USA team oh-so-close to the big dance. Both opponents, Greece and the Reggae Boyz, have little more than pride to play for, so will most likely set their stall out for a draw.

Score a goal, and you'll beat them. So easy and yet so hard.

Watching England over the last twenty years often has been an excruciating experience. For much of the '80s, strikers as uncomplicated (that's being kind) as Paul Mariner and Luther Blissett would strive in vain to put their heads on long balls played vaguely in their direction.

The appearance of Gary Lineker, second all-time top scorer for his country with 48 goals, improved matters, but the English were often reliant on midfield players like Bryan Robson and David Platt to come up with a precious, match-saving strike. Alan Shearer lit up the '90s with 30 international goals, but supporters lost their count, and patience, for the chances that went begging.

At crucial times, a good striker seems hard to find.

Eriksson's England now has two goal-getters set to inscribe their names high on the list of top scorers. Michael Owen has required just 32 games to become his country's current top scorer with 14 international strikes, overtaking Paul Scholes' 13 goals in 38 games. Owen's injury heaps the pressure on Scholes this weekend, as only Teddy Sheringham needs two hands on which to count his goals for the England team.

At least England has options. How Arena must wish for that.

US soccer historically has been plagued by a lack of goal-scorers. Bruce Murray was the first to master the art, netting 21 times between 1985 and 1993. All-time leader Eric Wynalda hit the target a highly respectable 34 times, the highlight a glorious free-kick to open the USA account against Switzerland in the '94 World Cup.

Those two apart, only Joe-Max Moore(22) has passed the 20-goal mark. Of Moore's current teammates, only Earnie Stewart (15) and Cobi Jones (14) are in double figures, but it has taken an almighty 142 games total. At the last World Cup finals, only Brian McBride (14 goals in 47 games) managed an American goal, and his presence is now sorely missed.

The first time I encountered American soccer, as a 17-year-old on tour in New England, several facets of the game on this side of the Atlantic became instantly clear. US school soccer players were technically superior to the English, in far better shape (for some reason, they didn't seem to drink or smoke as much), highly motivated, and very unlikely to beat us.

Apart from lacking a certain physical ruthlessness, the reason was simple -- they never went anywhere near the goal. An attacker would pass you (if allowed), bear down on the penalty area, and look for a teammate to pass to. How we laughed as we got our breath back.

Times are, however, a-changing.

First up, US soccer must throw away the playbook. Individuals must flourish. There might not be an 'i' in t-e-a-m, but there is an "i" in the best team in world football history. Brazil.

Second, soccer players cannot afford years of college. Stars, especially strikers, are made as teenagers. The bright hope of the current US squad, Landon Donovan, is the beacon for a new generation -- turning pro early, looking cool, making headlines. Now Donovan's on-field talents have to be given free rein against the Reggae Boyz.

Forget Cobi, think Kobe.

Goal-scorers are a breed apart. With "route one" fast disappearing from the game, you don't have to be tall or big. Look at Owen, Lineker, Marcelo Salas or Raul.

Speed helps, but what matters more is instinct. Sunderland's Kevin Phillips spent years working at an electrical retailers, metalworks and in the warehouse of a bakery, but never lost his eye for goal. Another former shelf-stacker, Derby's Malcolm Christie, now plays for the England Under-21 team. Put them in front of a net and they'll put the ball in it.

Once American kids are encouraged to trust their instincts, not the coaching manual, the same will happen.

Scorers also need arrogance. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has not scored 30 goals in 41 EPL games for Chelsea by being nice. Wynalda had more than his fair share of run-ins with coaches, but look who's top of the USA's all-time scoring list. And confidence, which any striker will tell you is another key to success, is not exactly in short supply on American soil.

England's momentous win in Germany a month ago will be worth nothing if they fail to beat Greece. And the outcome of Sunday's match in Foxboro will have a huge bearing on the future direction of the sport in this country. Just as France '98 was a coming out for Michael Owen, Korea/Japan 2002 could be the breakthrough for the new generation in US soccer -- Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, Bobby Convey, Santino Quaranta. The USA just needs some goals to get them there.

In Manchester and Massachusetts, someone's got to do it.

How? Shoot ... and score.