No matter where you go, no matter what language you speak, the game of soccer is there.  The field may vary, perhaps a concrete slab, a luscious grass field, or even a rocky and dusty back road.  Some players have nicely pumped jabulani balls, other have rags they balled up, but they both roll, and both players have a love for the game.  The only real difference is the word they us to describes that game.

In the US and Canada it’s soccer (New Zealand and Australia did use the “American term”, but both countries have returned to the English word citing that FIFA, the governing body of the game, refers to it as Football, so they should too).  In England and 42 other counties it’s football or in most Spanish speaking countries, futbol.  Of course there are variations, like the Czech’s who use the term fotbal, just a variation of the English word.  But why the difference, the battle between Europe and The States over the term soccer seems silly, but people are very adamant about it.  Even I have started to use the term football and I don’t really know why, maybe the more I read the more I hear the term.  It makes sense, it is the original name, right?

Maybe not as much as people think.  The word football and its etymology is not completely agreed upon, but it is widely believed it began in European Medieval times when peasants would play games “on-foot” as opposed to the games of the higher classes that were played on horseback.  Thus leading to the creation of the word “football”.  As the sport grew, the term applied to just the specific game that we know now.

So why did Americans coin the term soccer?  Well, for all of you that hate the term and American’s for using it, you may be pointing your finger at the wrong country.   Soccer actually originated in England as an abbreviation for the term “Association”.  It just so happened that American’s continued to use the term after Europe gave it up.  ”By the late 19th Century the English had started to use ‘soccer’ instead of football so it would not be confused with Rugby Football, which eventually became known as just Rugby.  The word soccer is sometimes accredited to Charles Wreford Brown who is said to have coined the phrase in 1880.”http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_origin_of_the_name_’soccer’_as_opposed_to_’football’

So why do so many continue to battle over the correct word for the game we all so dearly love?  Most likely because it give us one more reason to pick sides and yell and cheer when we end up playing against one another on the pitch, or should I say field…

Edson Buddle began his career in the A League in the US with the Long Island Rough Riders in 2000 after winning the 1999 NJCAA Division I National Championship with State Fair community College.

He quickly made the transition to MLS with the Columbus Crew, where he stayed until 2005 scoring 42 goals.  He then became somewhat of a journeymen and played with the Red Bulls, Toronto FC and now the LA Galaxy.  Since joining the Galaxy in 2007, he has scored 34 goals.  This season he has led MLS in scoring and won a spot on Bob Bradley’s squad against Brian Ching and Eddie Johnson.

The last midfield position along Bradley is most likely going to be Ricardo Clark.  Clarke has had a great career in MLS playing for the MetroStars, San Jose Earthquake, and the Houston Dynamo.  He recently made the leap to the EPL and is now playing for Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.

In 2006 Clarke won the MLS Best XI award for Houston and then won the MLS cup the same year and again the following year.  Since becoming a part of the USMNT Clarke has appeared in 29 matches and scored 2 goals.  He is not know for his huge scoring ability, giving reason to believe he is one of the midfielders that could be subbed out first if the US finds themselves down a goal or two.

Michael Bradley, son of coach Bob Bradley, is likely to be one of the inside midfielders supporting Dempsey and Donovan on the outsides.

Michael has been starting for the USMNT for some time now, and seems to have secured his position.  The inside mid spots are two of the most contested spots as the US has a great deal of talent that could be substituted in.

Bradley started his career with the Metro Stars in 2004 but did not play until 2005.   He then moved on to Heerenveen in 2006, where he put away 16 goals.  He is now playing in the Bundesliga with Borussia Monchengladbach and has played in 58 matches.

Carlos Bocanegra is the glue that holds the Mens National team’s defense together.  From 2000-2003 Carlos played with Chicago’s Fire; In 2000 he won the MLS rookie of the year award and in 2002 and 2003 he won the MLS Defender of the year award.

After MLS, he left for the Premier League and Fulham where he played until 2008.  Since then Carlos has been in Ligue 1 with Stade Rennais.  Throughout his career he has tallied 264 professional appearances. 

This is his second World Cup and at the age of 31 could possibly be his last.  He is no stranger to the Captain armband as he led Fulham for the first time in 2007 in a 3-3 draw against Wigan.

Carlos is the only part of our defense that does not worry me at this point.  His talent and experience is drastically needed right now and will hopefully rub off on some of the other players.

The last spot on the US defense will most likely be snagged by Jay Demerit.  Although there are still many questions on defense and since Gooch is injured who knows how everything will go down.  Bradley has been putting Jay on the pitch more and more in recent games, specifically in the Turkey and Australia games.

To me this signifies his approval of him, but nothing has been strong about our back line.  Carlos appears to be one of the only definites one defense.   I am not sold on Demerit yet, Bornstein still seems like a solid option as well as Spector.  In my opinion, Bornstein should take the place of Demerit.

Jozy Altidore for President!

This young man has wowed everyone from the US to Europe with his rapid talent and growth over the past few years.

Jozy started with the New York Red Bulls in 2006 but was not there long, leaving in 2008 for Villarreal.  With the Red Bulls he had 37 appearances and 15 goals.  In 2010 he played for Hull City while on load and appeared in 28  matches.  As a member of the Men’s National Team since 2007, Altidore has played in 25 games and scored 9 goals.

Due to his recent injury during training in South Africa it was uncertain if Jozy would be starting or even playing for the US in its opener vs England on Sat, but all signs point to a speedy recovery and high expectations that he will be leading the attack up top.

Gooch as his teammates call him in effing scary!

Onyewu has been troubled with an injury since last October and has not played a full match for Bradley since that time.  He has seen the field, but with limited action.  It is still a question mark as to whether or not Gooch can handle the rigors of a full 90 minute match.  His performance of late has been somewhat shaky.  He has also been a target for calls as his strength and stature have led him to be singled out for whistles, even when no fouls were committed, ultimately leading to a high number of cards and suspensions.

His career has become increasingly important for US hopefuls as he had moved to a starting position with Italian superpower AC Milan.  Unfortunately that was a short-lived dream as he was only able to appear in one match before injury.

Bradley has a tough choice to run out his defense, which has also been somewhat weak in preparation for the upcoming games.  With Gooch’s injury it will most likely be a last-minute decision as to whether he starts.

Steve Cherundolo is another corner-stone to the US’s defense and should be starting in the right back position.  Steve is a true success story for US soccer players and fans.  After playing in College, Steve immediately left for Europe playing for Hannover in 1999 and still debuts there today.

Although Bradley has a good selection of defenders to choose from, Steve seems to be one of the players that stands out and should be one of the starting 11.

Enough Said

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21 Goals in 110 matches with Fulham

18 goals in 62 matches with the USMNT

outside presence to help Jozy eliminate defenders