United States: World Cup Soccer

Ranked as number five in the world, the United States soccer team is one to be reckoned with. However, it is questionable whether they have what it takes this year to get the finals of the World Cup soccer tournament. The United States has never got past the quarterfinals in the World Cup tournament, which is not good.

One player the United States is counting on to help them through the tournament is Landon Donovan. He really pulled the team through the qualifying rounds with ease, so he is expected to do the same at the international level of the World Cup soccer tournament. Claudio Reyna, Eddie Pope, Brian McBride and John O'Brien are all expected to make strong showings, although they are all getting older and their age is a concern to many critics. With the demanding schedule of the World Cup soccer tournament, age does make a difference. The body needs to be at its prime to be able to function at its best through a schedule like the World Cup’s.

With a long standing coach like Arena, this is a team that may have a chance to do better than before at the World Cup. However there is a lot of doubt surrounding them and some critics even laugh at the fact that they are ranked as high as fifth world wide. So, the United States soccer team has a lot to prove in the World Cup 2006 and it will be interesting to see if they have what it takes to do it.

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