US Ready to Open World Cup Qualifying Against Barbados

The US opens qualifying for the 2010 World Cup with Barbados in a home and home series beginning Sunday.  After playing world powers England, Spain, and Argentina in the last three weeks, the US mens national team encountered some severe challenges. Suffice it to say, the sheer quality of these opponents tested the Americans' capabilities on both sides of the ball. But as the US begins its quest to qualify for the 2010 World Cup on Sunday against Barbados, a very different kind of trial is in store, with complacency probably the biggest hurdle to be overcome.

Barbados currently lies 100 places below the Americans in the FIFA World Rankings. Their roster is comprised mostly of domestic players, and of the rest, only a handful, including Crystal Palace midfielder Paul Ifill, have top flight experience in one of the world's top leagues. The team's performances in recent friendlies have not exactly impressed either, with a pair of losses to unfancied Bermuda, including a 3-0 thumping in the second match, doing little to instill confidence that they have any chance against the powerful Americans.

Bob Bradley indicated that he expects Barbados to play a typical Caribbean style, with the Bajans combining physical play with a smattering of individual flair, especially through captain Norman Forde.   But the most likely outcome is one in which Barbados tries to bunker in and nail the US on the break, and this could pose a bit of a problem for the Americans. For all of the benefits gained by playing teams like England, Spain, and Argentina, on none of those occasions were the Yanks expected to carry the game to their opponent. They were the ones content to try to soak up pressure and do the counterattacking. Now the Americans will be in the somewhat unfamiliar role of taking the initiative in attack.   Chances are that the form of Beasley, as well as the rest of the attackers, should be sufficient to dispose of the Bajans on Sunday. In fact, if the two-game series isn't wrapped up in the first leg that will qualify as a surprise.