Making the grade, and the plane

The United States announced its final World Cup roster Wednesday.

While there were some positions up for grabs, primarily depth roles and the second striker along with Jozy Altidore, most of this team won their seats on the plan to South Africa during the qualifying round.

It was a given the likes of Tim Howard, Carlos Bocanegra, Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey and Altidore were locks to make the team. Still there were a few surprises, pleasant and otherwise, that made the final roster. A full breakdown can be found here.

My first thought when looking at the roster is the US may employ a 4-5-1 system for periods of the World Cup, leaving Altidore up front with either Dempsey or Donovan playing in the hole between the midfield and the 20-year old.

Based upon the form Edson Buddle and Herculez Gomez have shown with their respective club teams they deserved a spot on the team. Whether they deserve on the field June 12 when the Americans play England remains to be seen.

“As we move toward the World Cup, players that are on a roll come in handy,” Bradley told ESPN about taking Buddle and Gomez.

Their selection means Floridian Eddie Johnson did not make the final roster. The Flagler County product was a long shot after sustaining a hamstring injury during training camp then being ineffective in a May 25 appearance against the Czech Republic.

Not only did the Americans take just four forwards, but Bob Bradley selected nine midfielders. But with the choices available to him at forward, it’s hard to begrudge the coach with a 35-19-6 record as head coach of the national team.

What may be of bigger concern for the team is the defense. Despite three of the probable starters having World Cup experience, injury and ineffectiveness, or a combination of the two, may keep the U.S. from advancing past the group stage.

Captain Carlos Bocanegra is coming off a hernia injury. Right back Steve Cherundolo made his first appearance for the national team Tuesday after sustaining a shoulder injury in January. Then there is towering centerback Oguchi “Gooch” Onyewu who is returning from a knee injury suffered in the last qualifying match back in October.

Cherundolo and Gooch both played against the Czechs, turning in performances that may have left some fans wanting.

Cherundolo got forward well from the right and partnered with Stuart Holden to provide width and an offensive option going forward. Though he punted the ball in the air a little too much for my liking, Cherundolo was far better than the two men the Americans lined up at left back during the match.

It was mentioned during the telecast Onyewu only had 60 minutes of action for AC Milan before suffering his injury on Oct. 14. That said he was getting back into shape and adjusting to the physicality and speed of a game that cannot be replicated in practice.

Though Onyewu was beaten in the air for the Czech’s first goal in the 44th minute, he provided an otherwise solid performance for the 65 minutes he was on the field. The American defense was a lot rockier in the final 25 minutes—in part because midfielder Maurice Edu was at center back, but moreso because the 6’4” Onyewu was on the bench.

Once again the United States kicked off its “send-off series” with a loss. However, there are caveats to Tuesday’s 4-2 loss.

First, at least six starters were not on the field for the Americans, including Donovan, Dempsey, Altidore, Bocanegra and midfield bulldog Michael Bradley. Secondly, the Czechs are a much better team, and sparring partner for lack of a better term, than Morocco was in 2006. Finally, and it cannot be understated, the Czechs were trying to erase the sting of losing 2-1 to Turkey over the weekend.

Saturday the Americans will have their own crack at the Turks in the final match on U.S. soil before the team leaves for South Africa May 30.

Bradley told ussoccer.com that the team features a blend of World Cup experience as well as newcomers, all of whom have proven they deserve to wear the red, white and blue.

Now the bigger question is whether this team can win in South Africa.