This is what all soccer in the USA is about in the end. One tournament played every four years to see which country of the world has the best team play.

The sport has 208 countries who are members of FIFA (16 more than the number of countries that are members of the United Nations). The tournament is about how our team does on the world stage against other countries and their best players, coaches, training and playing systems. It is not league play over the course of a long season, it is one very short final tournament where most teams only get three games to play after waiting for four years to show what they have become as a nation. It is what makes football/soccer such a special sport, the World Cup Final Tournament. The stage this time is the World Cup Final Tournament 2014, in Brazil.

It is why we have the MLS league, MLS Reserve league, NASL league, USL leagues, Academy Development program, US Youth program, and US Youth National teams.

This tournament more than anything else sets the tone for what the rest of the world thinks about our football/soccer development progress as a nation. We surprised many people with our play in the World Cup Final 2002 in Japan/Korea, now ten years later we should be able to show that our progress is real and will keep moving forward to become one of the best in the world.

Our goals are set higher now.



We will start qualifying with three CONCACAF Group A games. One game vs all the teams in that group. There are three CONCACAF groups A, B and C. This group play is considered CONCACAF Qualifying Rounds 1, 2, and 3.

CONCACAF Qualifying Rounds 1,2, and 3

#1-June 8, 2012
USA vs Antigua & Barbuda, 7 PM ET at Raymond James stadium in Tampa Bay FL ESPN/ESPN3/Galavision

#2-June 12, 2012
US vs Guatemala, 10 PM ET at Estadio Mateo Flores stadium in Guatemala City
(*TV coverage unknown??)

#3-September 11, 2012
USA vs Jamaica, 8 PM ET Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus OH
ESPN2/ESPN3/Univision


CONCACAF Qualifying Round 4
Is a hexagonal stage with the top two teams from groups A, B, and C each playing one home and one away games (10 games each) against each other between the dates of February 6 - October 15, 2013. The top three teams from this group play go directly to the 2014 World Cup Final Tournament in Brazil.

The fourth place team goes into a two game home/away playoff vs the FIFA Oceania continental region for entry into the tournament final. Those games will be played between November 15-19, 2013.



FIFA World Cup Final Tournament Qualifying 2014

Nine Qualifying tournaments will produce 31 teams* for the final.
(*32 teams overall play in the final, Brazil is host and qualifies automatically).

Africa -CAF
52 teams will qualify 5 teams for the final.

Asia -AFC
43 teams will qualify 4.5 (4 or 5) teams for the final.

Europe -UEFA
53 teams will qualify 13 teams for the final.

North, Central, and Caribbean -CONCACAF
35 teams will qualify 3.5 (3 or 4) teams for the final.

Oceania -OFC
11 teams will qualify .5 (0 or 1) teams for the final.

South America -CONMEBOL
9 teams* will qualify 4.5 (4 or 5) teams to the final. (*Brazil also goes as the host country)




FIFA World Cup Final Tournament 2014
64 games played between June 12, and July 13, 2014

Klinsmann Announces First 16 Players to Report to Training Camp in Orlando

http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-Nation...in-Orlando.aspx

The United States will kick off the effort to qualify for its seventh-consecutive FIFA World Cup...

U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has named an initial squad of 16 players that will begin reporting to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla...

As many as 13 additions will be announced May 20 and will be a mixture of domestic and foreign-based players to round out the training camp The team will train in Orlando until May 25, when Klinsmann will select a final 23-man roster for the upcoming five matches.

The nearly month-long series of training and games has been designed to mimic the circumstances the team will face in a tournament format, with meticulous planning dedicated to technical aspects, travel, nutrition, logistics and the rhythm of team movement to create a performance-driven environment.

The team has lined up a series of friendlies in preparation for the start of World Cup qualifying. Following the match against Scotland, the U.S. continues its competition against the world’s top teams when it hosts five-time World Cup champions Brazil on Wednesday, May 30 in Landover, Md. For the last game before the start of World Cup qualifying, the United States will make a rare visit to Canada when it renews the rivalry June 3 at BMO Field in Toronto.

World Cup qualifying: U.S. men's national team roster begins to take shape

http://www.oregonlive.com/fifa-world-cup/index.ssf/2012/05/us-soccer-world-cup-qualifying.html

The only newcomer to the senior national team named Tuesday is midfielder Joe Corona, who impressed during the Under-23 side's failed Olympic qualifying effort in March.



The most surprising omission Tuesday was defender Timmy Chandler, who earned his first international cap early last year under Bradley and appeared to blossom as the first-choice left back under Klinsmann. He started six of the seven games Klinsmann coached last year and missed out on the February match at Italy with a hamstring problem. (Chandler declined and has said he needs a break from international soccer. Klinsmann has not closed the door on him).

The fact Eric Lichaj wasn't named Tuesday despite emerging as a regular starter at Aston Villa suggests Klinsmann is quite happy with his depth at outside back.

Tim Ream, who's done well in England at Bolton Wanderers, is a somewhat surprising omission.

DaMarcus Beasley, who plays for Puebla FC in Mexico, also appears to have missed the cut.

Midfielder Sacha Kljestan told Sporting News last week that he didn't expect to be called up despite his critical role in helping Anderlecht to the Belgian title.

U.S. MNT Treating Busy Stretch as ‘Five-Game Tournament’

http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-Nation...Tournament.aspx

The U.S. Men’s National Team is preparing for its busiest stretch of the year, extending from the middle of May to early June and encompassing a 30-day schedule with five games during an 18-day period.

“All of the focus is on fine-tuning what we want to do on the field and the way we approach things, and how we connect in many areas on the field,” Klinsmann said. “Everybody kind of knows more and more what the other person is doing. But we also want to help them off the field so they understand that there’s still a lot out there for them to improve their own personal game. We’re feeding them as much information as possible during those days.”

“It’s about how they can improve their day-to-day lives, as well as improve the way they read the game and study the game,” Klinsmann said.

“It’s not only for the players, but for the staff,” he said. “It’s about fine-tuning the team behind the team and the different areas we deal with on the administrative side and the scouting side. When you get three and a half weeks together as a staff and as a team, it’s tremendously important that everybody takes it seriously. These opportunities don’t come around often before a World Cup, and this is an important step toward being ready as a team.”

Timmy Chandler is a lazy bum!

I think that is maybe more accurate.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/20...e-named-us-camp

GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS (8): Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Alfredo Morales (Hertha Berlin), Oguchi Onyewu (Sporting Lisbon), Michael Parkhurst (Nordsjaelland)

MIDFIELDERS (9): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Chievo Verona), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Jose Torres (Pachuca), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

FORWARDS (7): Juan Agudelo (Chivas USA), Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Terrence Boyd (Borussia Dortmund), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Herculez Gomez (Santos), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

http://screencast.com/t/f0KtWlBCxMR

This has a few interesting points as to the positioning of the three central players.

One big piece of the dominance over Scotland in the friendly game was the play of the middle triangle of #4 Michael Bradley, #7 Maurice Edu, and #13 Jermaine Jones.

The chalkboard above has all three players, in all three parts of the triangle when they have the ball. You do not always see this with the central midfield players.

They are exchanging positions well and working off each others movements. They are not staying in zones. They all can play each role of the triangle depending on who is closest, and who is furthest away from the ball at the time of the transitions to attack.

JW7, great analysis.

USA vs Brazil

Wednesday May 30, 2012
ESPN2 8:00 PM ET

This should be a very good test for the US MNT as they get ready for the 2014 World Cup qualifying games ahead.

Brazil is also preparing their team for the 2012 Olympic games and their players will be giving everything they have to prove they belong in the starting line up.

Brazil Players

Head Coach: Mano Menezes

GK (3):
1-Jefferson (Botafogo) -4 caps/3 shutouts
12-Rafael* (Fiorentina)
22-Neto* (Santos)

DEF (8):
2-Rafael da Silva (Manchester United)
3-Thiago Silva (AC Milan) -Most capped player (25)
4-David Luiz (Chelsea) -Champions League final player
6-Marcelo (Real Madrid)
13-Bruno Uvini* (Tottenham Hotspur)
14-Juan* (Inter Milan)
21-Danilo (FC Porto)
23-Alex Sandro (FC Porto),

MIDS (8):
5-Sandro (Tottenham Hotspur)
7-Lucas (Sao Paulo) -Youngest player at 19, 11 caps
8-Romula (Vasco de Gama)
10-Oscar (Internacional)
15-Casemiro (Sao Paulo)
17-Wellington Nem* (Fluminense)
18-Giuliano (Dnipro)

FOR (4):
9-Leandro Damiao (Internacional)
11-Neymar (Santos) -Leading scorer with 8 goals
19-Alexandre Pato (AC Milan)
20-Hulk (FC Porto)

* Uncapped players


Brazil system: The system will be flexible and has the ability to react quickly to the other teams attacking tendencies. If a team does not use one part of the field then Brazil will leave that area less defended. The players will follow the ball's path up through the midfield and into the attacking third.

Note 1: Alves is out.

Note 2: Will Brazil play a narrow and long midfield and forward combination with fullbacks coming forward up the outside 4222, or a wider and shorter formation spread across the field width 451/433?
Q- Will the US play both Dempsey and Donovan out wide. That could be the decision maker for their shape.

Note 3: Expect the attacking and defending shape of Brazil to change during the game.


Brazil vs Denmark May 26, 2012
http://www.fullmatches.net/brazil-vs-denmark-26-may-2012-full-match/

.............................Jefferson.............................

....................Silva.................Juan.....................
.....Danilo..........................................Marcelo...

....................Sandro.........................................
.....................................Romuilo......................

.........................Oscar......................................
Hulk..........................................Lucas..............
......................Damiao.......................................