In 1950 the USA knocked England out of the World Cup. It wasn’t until 1990 before they qualified for another World Cup. This was a feat that probably wouldn’t have been possible if Mexico hadn’t been suspended for fielding an ineligible player in a youth competition. It was four years later when the USA qualified as hosts they finally won another match thanks in part to an unfortunate own goal.

That was then, this is now.

Since 1990, the USA has build its own top-flight professional league which continues to grow. While only four players on the squad currently play for MLS clubs, all but two have been on MLS club books at some point in their careers. Thirteen of the 23 on the squad have played in the English Premiership.

Since 1990, the USA has claimed four CONCACAF Gold Cups, made it to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 2002 and even made it to the semi-finals of the Copa America as an invited guest.

This ain’t your father’s USA side.

The guys who shouldn’t need any introduction:

Tim Howard – Would David James be starting if “Timmy” was English?

Clint Dempsey – How can you not love this guy?

Landon Donovan – May play for a club in a Mickey Mouse league but after not playing a match in more than two months showed up on loan at Goodison Park and went straight into the Everton starting XI against Chelsea a few days later.

The rest of whom I believe Bradley should be starting versus. England.

Carlos Bocanegra – The team captain who played four seasons with Fulham. Now leading Rennes

“Gooch” Onyewu – The big man at the back. Had a long career in Belgium, a cup of tea with the Geordies and now with Milan.

Jay DeMerit – Took a chance and turned a chance to play with a non-league club in England into a solid career with Watford.

Michael Bradley – Son of coach Bob Bradley who will make a bunch of crunching tackles and will probably be the first to draw a yellow. Currently with Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Jozy Altidore – Speedy striker who just finished a loan spell at Hull.

Steve Cherundolo - Outside back currently with Hannover.

Jose Torres – Creative midfielder type. Currently with Pachuca in Mexico. Probably won’t start but would if I were in charge.

Edson Buddle – Teammate of Landon Donovan and some English guy in LA. Started the new season by scoring nine goals in nine matches to earn him a chance at a spot in the squad. Scored twice against Australia in a friendly last week. Yes, he was named after Pele.

Others you may see:

Jonathan Spector – defender currently with West Ham

Clarence Goodson – defender currently with Start in Norway

Maurice Edu – midfielder currently with Rangers

DaMarcus Beasley – the other midfielder currently with Rangers

Stuart Holden – unlucky to be injured right after joining Bolton in January.

Herculez Gomez – unable to hold a spot with an MLS club he went to Puebla in Mexico in January. All he did there was to win a share of the Golden Boot for the recently finished Bicentenario season. He did coming on as a sub for most of his appearances. He as scored twice s a sub in the recent World Cup warm-up matches. Expect to see him in that role.

Don’t be surprised if Bob Bradley doesn’t give anything away, won’t name his starting line-up until he has to and that there’s a surprise or two with the team he fields.

USA fans have been looking forward to this match since the draw in December. A recent survey indicated that as much as 20% of the country will be watching the World Cup. ABC and ESPN, who will be broadcasting every match, are expecting to get massive ratings.

Saturday’s match is receiving much more attention from the traditional sports media than the sport usually receives. A kick-off time of 2:30PM Eastern, the history of our two countries and the fact that it should be a good match makes this potentially the most viewed match ever in this country.

Also, for those matches that will be played while we are at work, every match is available to be watched online. No need to sneak out of the office to watch a match.

What will happen? That’s a great question. One thing for certain, England won’t be lining up for shooting practice like they did prior to 1990. Ask any of the USA players and they’ll tell you that while they’d love to get a result against England, the important thing is to get out of the group stage.

After that, it’s just a knock-out competition. While both sides have some questions at the back, I think it’ll be played in the midfield with not a lot of scoring. If I lived in a country that allowed gambling on sports events, I’d put my money on a draw and both England and the US going through to the next round. But one thing is certain, unlike The Sun’s headline the day after the draw, it won’t be easy for England and they will still have two more matches the USA won’t knock them out this time.

Can’t wait for kick-off!

My website is at www.ericpz.com, where I'll be writing something about the match which should be up tonight.

I also run the website of the North American Supporters Club, which can be found here: www.itfcnasc.com

readtheleaguetable added 17:23 - Jun 10 Great post, PZ. Didn't know you were a poster here. A draw sounds about right to me, too, and yes I think both countries will advance. Those few English fans still taking the USA for granted might get a bit of a shock, but I think this team is high-profile enough now that there aren't that many who will still be taking them lightly. Things have moved on a long way since Gerry Baker's day ! I think Howard, Dempsey and maybe even a younger Donovan could make it into an England squad.

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legal_blue added 17:37 - Jun 10 No offence, but the USA is far, far from being a genuine contender on the world stage. I watched games in the first couple of seasons in the MLS, the standard was very low. Moreover, even by your blog, you define the quality of the US players by where they've played outside of the US. Of course, as Greece showed in Europe, mediocre players can collectively punch above their weight; I wouldn't exclude that possibility this time. I also don't see England coasting to victory, but England will win the game, I'm sure of that.

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Dale added 18:15 - Jun 10 Start is in Norway not Denmark.
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WickedBlue added 19:35 - Jun 10 I stated that this match worries me. Being half american I quite often follow what the USA team do. I remember when they had to beat Argentina by two goals to go through the Copa America....everyone said it was impossible the USA aren't that good...if I remember right the USA beat them 3-1. I am an England supporter have been all my life and will be cheering us on, but the World Cup is famous for throwing up upsets. So a word of warning, on paper this may be in bag....take it for granted and the USA will bury us. Good blog by the way.....

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PhilTWTD added 19:37 - Jun 10 Dale Amended.
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dobbie73 added 09:17 - Jun 11 Interesting blog! Nice to read something other than Keane out/Keane in .... In all my predictors and chats about the World Cup group stage, although I see England winning the group, certainly the USA can progress as runners up, of that I have no doubt. The fact that so many US players now play their league football at a reasonably high level gives strength to the national side, much like so many African players now play top-level league football. Suddenly Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast are talked about as pretenders to the throne, and although the USA is not quite there, it is well on the way. Good luck to ya anyway - just don't go beating us on Saturday!!

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SouperJim added 14:26 - Jun 11 I think most decent football fans realise that the USA are a reasonable side these days. Lets not get carried away though, a few squad players from Rangers, Fulham, Hull etc does not make a top international side. I look forward to the day the USA start punching into the top 10 rankings and I think it will probably come, but I think full-scale optimism is a little premature at this point. 3-1 England.

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dobbie73 added 16:02 - Jun 11 England 2-1 USA!
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WadzillaBhoy added 15:00 - Jun 12 The MLS maybe poor but most of the US squad play outside of the US. This game won't be a walk over.
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