USA World Cup Betting – Attack-Minded Americans Need To Focus On Defense In South Africa

Team USA’s online betting odds aren’t that great, as they’re one of the long shots in the World Cup in South Africa that kicks off on Friday. While the Americans many not win the title, they have the tools to make a run into the second round, and after that, anything can happen for this athletic side.

US Soccer Roster

Goalkeepers

1- Tim Howard
18 – Brad Guzan
23 – Marcus Hahnemann

Defenders

2 – Jonathan Spector
3 – Carlos Bocanegra (captain)
5 – Oguchi Onyewu
6 – Steve Cherundolo
12 – Jonathan Bornstein
15 – Jay DeMerit
21 – Clarence Goodson

Midfielders

4 – Michael Bradley
7 – DeMarcus Beasley
8 – Clint Dempsey
10 – Landon Donovan
11 – Stuart Holden
13 – Ricardo Clark
16 – Jose Francisco Torres
19 – Maurice Edu
22 – Benny Feilhaber

Forwards

9 – Herculez Gomez
14 – Edson Buddle
17 – Jozy Altidore
20 – Robbie Findley

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The best finish for the Americans came at the inaugural World Cup in 1930 in Uruguay, and this is their ninth appearance in this tournament. At Germany 2006, the Americans were bounced in the first round, finishing at the bottom of Group E with losses to the Czech Republic and Ghana, along with a 1-1 draw against Italy, the eventual World Cup champions. But they had a stellar qualification campaign, going 6-2-2 in the decisive fourth round to book their ticket to South Africa.

Team USA’s main attacking players will be Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey, who both play in England and have been in some high-profile matches, which is good for the team’s World Cup betting odds. Donovan has been the face of Team USA since breaking out in 2002, while Dempsey was a part of a Fulham squad that overcame the odds to make it to the final of the Europa League final, only to lose to Atletico Madrid in extra time. Jozy Altidore was the leading scorer in qualification, but he hurt his ankle and may miss the opener against England, which could mean a place for Edson Buddle, who leads the MLS in scoring as a teammate of Donovan on the Los Angeles Galaxy. There may also be room for Michael Bradley (son of manager Bob Bradley) in the side as the 22-year-old midfielder got some great experience with Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany. Don’t forget about DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu, who are playing for Rangers in Scotland.

USA World Cup betting odds for the Americans will depend on their defense, led by keeper Tim Howard, who has played for Manchester United and Everton. Captain Carlos Bocanegra has been good since moving from Fulham to Rennes, while Jon Spector quietly put together a solid season at West Ham in England. Oguchi Onyewu is aiming to show he’s 100% recovered from a knee injury suffered in qualification, and he finished out the season with AC Milan in Italy. The main question is, will the Americans go with a defensive midfielder, and if so, who will it be?

The US national team was drawn into a group with England, Slovenia and Algeria, and they should have enough to finish second to the English, who they open up World Cup Group C betting against on Saturday, June 12 at 2:30 PM ET. The Americans have the nous to go forward, and they have a number of attacking players who have played against some strong defenses. But we’re skeptical about the defenses’ ability to stop the best in the world, and the England game will be a good test of the back four. It also helps that Howard, Bocanegra and Spector have experience against the English players. However, they’ll be facing a first-place team in the second round if they finish behind England, and that’s where the buck could stop because they could end up playing a team that plays possession soccer, and that will be the end of them. USA World Cup betting odds have them at +8000 to win it all, but honestly, it would be a bigger sports betting upset than that if the Americans were to win the World Cup.

Bet on Team USA to reach the second round, but not much further.