USA starting line up for campaign kick off against England

The starting line up of US for their Group C campaign opener clash against England in the ongoing FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

June 12, 2010 10:21 pm | Updated 10:21 pm IST

U.S. national soccer goalkeeper Tim Howard trains at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, South Africa, Friday, June 11, 2010. The U.S. will play England in a soccer World Cup Group C match on Saturday.

U.S. national soccer goalkeeper Tim Howard trains at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, South Africa, Friday, June 11, 2010. The U.S. will play England in a soccer World Cup Group C match on Saturday.

Profiles of the U.S.players lining up against England in Rustenburg

1 Tim Howard , Goalkeeper

Everton, Age 31 Caps 51

All-action custodian and these days the first choice. Started out as

a midfielder before taking up padded gloves. Played college basketball

and has appeared as an honorary Harlem Globetrotter.

2 Jonathan Spector , Defender

West Ham United, Age 24 Caps 25

Tough-tackling right-sider-cum-makeshift-centre-half. The youngest

American ever to play for Manchester United. A childhood friend of

Michael Bradley. Has never scored a goal.

3 Carlos Bocanegra , Defender

Rennes, Age 31 Caps 79

Captain America: inspirational centre-half-cum-raiding-left-back. Played

more than 100 games for Fulham. Recently voted eighth-sexiest sportsman

in the world. Favourite food: sushi.

4 Michael Bradley , Midfielder

B Mnchengladbach, Age 22 Caps 43

When Bradley plays well the USA tend to impress. A dynamic box-to-box

central midfielder also at home in a deeper lying anchoring role. The

son of the national coach, Bob Bradley, he is integral to his side's

challenge. Bradley is the heartbeat of Borussia Mnchengladbach and

no one would dream of painting him as the beneficiary of nepotism.

5 Oguchi Onyewu , Defender

Milan, Age 28 Caps 54

Defensive giant: the tallest outfield player in USA history at 6ft

4in. Spent most of last season recovering from a ruptured knee. Has

agreed to play for free during the final year of his contract at Milan.

6 Steve Cherundolo , Defender

Hannover 96, Age 31 Caps 60

Pint-sized full-back known for his forward raids. Played every game

at Germany 2006. Has spent 11 years in Germany. Name is pronounced

with an emphasis on "run".

7 DaMarcus Beasley , Midfielder

Rangers, Age 28 Caps 92

Left-sided raider playing at his third World Cup. Has scored more goals

in the Champions League than any other American. Was caught by TV cameras

furtively urinating on the pitch while warming up at the 2002 World

Cup.

8 Clint Dempsey , Midfielder

Fulham, Age 27 Caps 62

Crafty dangerman with an eye for goal. Scored his first international

goal against England in 2005. Once broke John Terry's cheekbone with

his elbow. Recorded hip-hop track Don't Tread under the alias "Deuce".

9 Herculez Gomez , Forward

Pachuca, Age 28 Caps 4

Journeyman poacher who has played for the San Diego Gauchos, LA Galaxy,

San Diego Sockers, Seattle Sounders, Colorado Rapids and Kansas City

Wizards. At Colorado had the honour of scoring first goal at Dick's

Sporting Goods Park.

10 Landon Donovan , Midfielder

LA Galaxy, Age 28 Caps 122

Jet-heeled wing-man. Has scored 42 goals in internationals, 17 more

than Wayne Rooney. Helped Everton beat Manchester United, Chelsea and

Manchester City during 10-game loan spell this year.

11 Stuart Holden , Midfielder

Bolton Wanderers, Age 24 Caps 14

Scots-born wingman and dead-ball specialist. Left Sunderland without

playing a game in 2005 after being beaten up in a bar. Impressive last

season for the Trotters. Grew up in Aberdeen and can still affect a

Scots brogue.

12 Jonathan Bornstein , Defender

Chivas USA, Age 25 Caps 32

Mr Versatile at left-back or in the midfield engine room. Scored the

goal against Costa Rica that meant Honduras qualified for the World

Cup, after which his name was chanted in the streets of the Tegucigalpa.

Insists on eating a foot-long turkey sandwich on Italian herb bread

before every game.

13 Ricardo Clark , Midfielder

Eintracht Frankfurt, Age 27 Caps 29

All-action defensive shield with a Rolls Royce engine. Unassuming off

the pitch but not afraid to put his foot in. His father is called Lancelot

and he likes the music of Bob Marley.

14 Edson Buddle , Forward

LA Galaxy, Age 29 Caps 43

Rangy hitman who made his debut seven years ago but still has only

two caps. Was named after Pel, whose real name is Edson Arantes do

Nascimento.

15 Jay DeMerit , Defender

Watford, Age 30 Caps 19

Reliable stopper with a prodigious leap. Star of the 2009 Confederations

Cup. Sang lead vocals on heavy rock track Soccer Rocks, which contains

the tactically awry lyric "opponents fear a slide tackle when I have

the ball".

16 Francisco Torres , Midfielder

Pachuca, Age 22 Caps 10

Jinking creator with a cultured left foot and tricks in his locker.

Has a Mexican passport and plays for Mexican team Pachuca. The lightest

man in the squad at 135 kilos, the same weight as a Bengal tiger, a

small moped or Charlize Theron.

17 Jozy Altidore , Forward

Hull City, Age 20 Caps 25

Muscular targetman. Has played for three European clubs (Sevilla, Xerez

and Hull City) since 2008, but scored only two goals. Had 208,834 followers

on Twitter last time we looked. Low-key tweet of the week: "Show some

love as we prepare for the big show! USA!! USA!!"

18 Brad Guzan , Goalkeeper

Aston Villa, Age 25 Caps 16

Agile stopper and penalty specialist who once saved four in a game

for Aston Villa in the Carling Cup. Born in Chicago. Loves U2. Not

to be confused with: Brad Friedel.

19 Maurice Edu , Midfielder

Rangers, Age 24 Caps 13

Flexi-player who can play as a feisty pivot or a driving central force.

Signed by Rangers for 2.3m and missed seven months last year with a

knee injury. Known as Mo. His father is also called Mo. His mother

is called Molly.

20 Robbie Findley , Forward

Real Salt Lake, Age 24 Caps 6

Up-and-coming rough-and-ready striking ace, reputed to be the fastest

man in the MLS. Has three cousins who are all professional sportsmen

in either basketball or the NFL.

21 Clarence Goodson, Defender

IK Start, Age 28 Caps 14

Hulking centre-half who cut his teeth with the Maryland Terrapins.

Dangerous from free-kicks and a surprising turn of pace for a big man.

Has a degree in "Art Studio" from Maryland University.

22 Benny Feilhaber , Midfielder

AGF Aarhus, Age 25 Caps 32

Wiry schemer who can lurk in the hole or raid from the right side.

Born in Brazil, aged six he moved to Scarsdale, linking him with dwellers

past and present Beyonc, Jay-Z and Yoko Ono.

23 Marcus Hahnemann , Goalkeeper

Wolverhampton Wanderers, Age 37 Caps 8

Excitingly bearded gloveman who excelled during Wolves' Premier League

survival season. Owns "at least" nine cars and keeps chickens. Favourite

band: Five Finger Death Punch.

Guardian News and Media 2010

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