The United States emerged as one of the surprises of the 2002 World Cup finals but now appear to have the experience and talent to do well without causing gasps of surprise.
After being ranked 32nd and last in France in 1998, the US combined timely scoring, superb goalkeeping and a bit of luck to reach the quarter-finals where they fell to eventual runners-up Germany.
Listed as eighth in the world in FIFA's rankings for November, the once-considered plucky US are no longer the odd men out in the World Cup pack.
Their top players now regularly appear in Europe, they pose more of a realistic threat to the older-established nations and they have lost the naivety that once surrounded them.
They will be expected to get results at Germany 2006 -- their fifth successive finals -- but much remains to be done before next June.
The US finished top of the final CONCACAF qualifying group for the first time in 71 years, due mainly to the overall weakness of most of the other teams in it.
If they are to have any success in Germany though, the US must have midfielders Claudio Reyna, DaMarcus Beasley, Landon Donovan and Pablo Mastroeni on form.
If John O'Brien avoids injury, he could reprise the versatile role he undertook in 2002. Donovan could be moved to forward where he may partner Eddie Johnson or stylish veteran Brian McBride, competing at the highest level in the English Premier League with Fulham.
Bolstered by goalkeeper Kasey Keller, who continues to play some of the best football of his life in the Bundesliga, the defence will face tougher competition than it is accustomed to in regional play.
The ageing Eddie Pope may not be able to anchor the centre of defence, but will the inexperienced Oguchi Onyewu or Jimmy Conrad be able to manage?
Midfielder Eddie Lewis will likely be converted to a left-sided defender and provide vital two-way play out of the back.
Although manager Bruce Arena has more depth than he did four years ago, it remains to be seen if any newcomers will make their mark the way Beasley, Donovan and Mastroeni did in 2002.
© 2024 Rediff.com -