by Jamie Trecker

Comment

The USA is the strong favorite in what is a comparatively weak group A, with Trinidad and Tobago rounding out the field. Far stronger is Group B, which sees Mexico, Canada, Honduras and Jamaica battling for two slots to the hexagonal. Group C is by far the weakest, with El Salvador and Costa Rica expected to easily slip past Suriname and Haiti.

The USA hasn't won a game in twenty years on Guatemalan soil. But, since that match (a 1-0 win in January, 1988) the Americans also haven't lost to the Chapines, running off nine straight wins at home and coming away with four draws on the road.

Despite this track record, no World Cup qualifier can be taken for granted. This is the first time through the qualifying grind for Bob Bradley at the helm, and as Bruce Arena found out in 2000, starting with two games on the road can leave you staring up the rest unless you can succeed away from the comforts of home. Arena's first team drew in Guatemala, then lost in Costa Rica at the start of its eventual run to the Korea/Japan quarterfinals.

Still, the Americans are such heavy favorites that the one thing Bradley must do is control his team's discipline and overconfidence. Unfortunately, while the Americans are gracious winners, they have sometimes shown themselves to be arrogant in defeat, which has only added to an already checkered reputation in Central America.

Bradley has kept faith with the same lot that trooped through a difficult summer program, with two losses against England and Spain and a tenacious draw at home against Argentina. Yet, it seems that those exhibition games, which ably showcased the Americans' many weaknesses against top-level competition, have not been taken to heart.

Two of the most effective players in those three games — Freddy Adu and Danny Califf — are absent, while three players who showed that they couldn't perform remain in the whites. The mistake prone-central tandem of Carlos Bocanegra and Oguchi Onyewu and toothless forward Eddie Johnson are all on the team sheet. Onyewu, good for one bad foul a game, also comes in carrying a caution.

Adu was likely excused so he could recover after the Olympics and report to Monaco, which is just plain foolish. It is difficult to see why the Americans' most creative player and best holding midfielder is absent for a critical game, and it's worth noting that the played-out Michael Bradley wasn't given the same leave despite his clearly diminishing performance in China.

Johnson might be the biggest mystery, considering that Bradley had the option of taking FC Dallas' Kenny Cooper. Cooper, who has had a standout season in MLS and attracted foreign interest, was left idle in favor of a player who is often left on Fulham's bench. And, as for Califf, the best one can say is that at least Bradley took Jay DeMerit along, though that won't help the Denmark-based back.

What is good is that Bradley had realized his team needs a deep-lying defensive midfielder, and he has chosen Pablo Mastroeni to plug that gap. Sacha Kljestan is coming off a solid performance at the Olympic Games and if he can hold onto the ball, may blossom into a regular. Steve Cherundolo and Heath Pearce have been solid on the flanks, while Frankie Hedjuk provides late speed.

The odd men out are likely to be Brad Guzan, Eddie Lewis and Brian Ching. Maurice Edu will surely get in the game because he is angling for a work permit with Glasgow Rangers, despite that not being what World Cup qualifiers are played for.

THE ROSTER

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa, England), Tim Howard (Everton, England)

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes, France), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover, Germany), Jay DeMerit (Watford, England), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege, Belgium), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock, Germany)

Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers, Scotland), Michael Bradley (Heerenveen, Netherlands), Maurice Edu (Rangers, Scotland [pending]), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Eddie Lewis (Derby County, England), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado)

Forwards: Brian Ching (Houston), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles), Clint Dempsey (Fulham, England), Eddie Johnson (Fulham, England)

Jamie Trecker's newest book, "Love and Blood: At the World Cup with the Footballers, Fans and Freaks" is out now from Harcourt. Jamie is assisted by Jerry and Janice Trecker. Contact Jamie at jamie.trecker@gmail.com and visit his blog and website at www.jamietrecker.com.

The views and opinions expressed by Jamie Trecker do not necessarily reflect those of the Fox Soccer Channel or FoxSoccer.com.