USA to Wear All Blue

The United States will wear blue shirts and blue shorts when they turn out against one of the mother countries tomorrow. Fabio Capello’s England will wear all white, ironic given the conduct that keeps getting their players in trouble.

The sides have never drawn with England leading the series seven to two. This will be their second contest in a World Cup and the second time in neutral territory, the U.S. having shocked England and the world with their 1-0 victory in the 1950 FIFA World Cup in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The name of Haitian immigrant Joe Gaetjens is still remembered fondly for it was he who scored the only goal. The shirt that USA will wear on Saturday is even modeled on the one they wore that day.

LA Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan lead the USA team with eight World Cup appearances while DaMarcus Beasley has six World Cup caps to his credit. That duo and Steve Cherundolo are earning a place in their third World Cup. Only Donovan and Fulham’s Clint Dempsey have scored at the finals before.

However sixteen players on the roster have scored at least one international goal, and six have scored in 2010: Jozy Altidore, Carlos Bocanegra, Edson Buddle, Dempsey, Maurice Edu, Herculez Gómez, and Clarence Goodson. Landon Donovan is the fifth most capped player in the tournament. Rigoberto Song (Cameroon) and Honduran Amado Guevara are tied for first with 136 caps.

The US squad is experienced. Only two players made their first U.S. appearance for Bradley within the last year. Aberdonian Stuart Holden debuted on July 4, 2009, with an Independence Day goal in Seattle in the Gold Cup, and Buddle in the match against the Czech Republic. There is a rumour that Holden will be made a Freeman of the City of Aberdeen if he scores against England. Certainly he’ll never have to pay for a drink again, which is highly important to people from Aberdeen.

Kick off is 11.30 am and there are viewing parties at all the pubs on our Seattle Soccer Bar Guide.

Radio Sounders USA v England Preview Podcast

Group C Preview