Bob Bradley's dilemna: picking the US World Cup squad

Last night, the U.S. MNT played an exhibition game, losing 4-2 to the Czech Republic. The result itself was meaningless, but it did reveal several glaring problems the American squad will have to resolve before the World Cup starts next month in South Africa.

Defensive lapses led to all four Czech goals. One the first, defender Oguichi Onyewu , playing his first match since injuring his knee in an World Cup qualifier last October, failed to jump and his marker easily won the head ball. On the second, defender Heath Pierce overcommitted, clumsily lunging and missing, allowing a Czech player to cross to an unmarked teammate. Three defenders failed to clear the ball, resulting in the go-ahead score for goal number three. A poor decision in midfield, stripped Sacha Klejstan of the ball and defender Maurice Edu was easily beaten.

In about an hour, Bradley will announce the 23-man US squad headed to South Africa. A number of players appeared to aid their odds of making the team. Likewise, several other players did little to solidify their spot on the roster.

IMO, those players that now seem headed to South Africa include forward Hercules Gomez, who shared the scoring title in the Mexican League; midfielders Robbie Rogers and DeMarcus Beasley; and defender Clarence Goodson, who was involved in both U.S. goals.

OTOH, those players who probably saw their dreams of being on the World Cup squad dashed last night include forward Eddie Johnson, who seemed lost; Klejstan; and Pierce.

The US plays its first WC match on June 12 against mighty England. The other opponents in group play are Algeria and Slovenia, two teams that appear weaker on paper than the Americans, but consistency has never been the strong suit of US Soccer.

Bradley sat most of his starting 11, trying to figure out mainly which players coming off of injuries were fit and which reserves had the best form to make the squad. Bradley chose not to play keeper Tim Howard; defenders Jay DeMerit, Jonathan Spector, Carlos Bocanegra; midfielders Michael Bradley (the coach's son), Ricardo Clark, Bennie Felhaber, and Landon Donovan; forwards Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey.

I thought that in limited action that midfielder Jose Torres looked comfortable in the middle of the field as did Edu before he was switched to central defense in the second half. Holden and Rogers played hard, providing the team with hustle play, but the reality is that the U.S. simply lacks the depth that other nations have in selecting their WC rosters.

That means Bradley is going to take with him some unabashed clunkers like defenders Jonathan Bornstein and Steve Cherundulo.

My prediction for the squad:

goalkeepers: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, and Marcus Hannehman; defenders: Bocanegra, Bornstein, Cherundulo, DeMerit, Spector, Goodson, and Chad Marshall; midfielders: Beasley, Torres, Bradley, Rogers, Holden, Edu, Felhaber, Donovan, and Clark; and forwards: Altidore, Dempsey, Ching, and Gomez.

Regardless of whom Bob Bradley chooses, the US team has problems both offensively and defensively. On offense, the US plays to many long balls, avoiding patient and intelligent possession football. On defense, the team is vulnerable when opponents play the ball down the wings and cross and the defense is simply terrible on set pieces.

In order to advance out the first round, which experts have given the Americans favorable odds, the US needs to either avoid these kinds of mistakes or minimize them. The side needs three consistent performances and that is no certainty.