USA v Grenada Preview

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Can Seattle Recreate Sounders Atmosphere for USA?

July 4 – Independence Day

US Coach Bob Bradley

Much has been written countrywide about the cauldron that Qwest Field has become for Sounders games. Today the US Men’s team visits and are hoping they will receive the same support from the city on July 4th. By doing so, they are taking on the twin threats of barbecues and people simply being out of town. Tonight’s attendance will be watched with interest and coloured pencils and charcoal dished out in readiness for people to draw conclusions.

The opposition are Grenada whose best known players are New England Rev’s Shalrie Joseph and Blackburn Rovers Jason Roberts. However, the former is injured and the latter opted not to play.

The USA have added seven Confederations Cup players to their 23 man squad making 30. Among the 30 is local favourite Brad Evans, who has been a stand out in Sounders season, and is playing under a coach who isn’t Sigi Schmid for the first time since college. Steve Cherundolo is the most capped player likely to appear.

Does the Gold Cup Replace Friendlies?

Because of travel distances, European sides have a great variety of potential opponents and styles to invite to friendlies that prepare them well for World Cup competition. In CONCACAF, there are far fewer nations, and many of the good ones are regular opponents for USA in qualifying anyway. So does a competition like this give Bob Bradley a chance to see how fringe players adapt to the step up to international football? The addition of newbies like Jay Heaps, Brad Evans and Logan Pause would seem to suggest so.

It will be interesting to see who is selected. Evans should play if only to defuse increasing cynicism about the reason for his selection. Evans has been a key player in Sounders season. His selection in the squad is on merit, and his place in the USA side equally so.

About Grenada

Grenada are ranked 88th in the world which is actually highly creditable for the small island. They are above El Salvador, Canada, Iceland, and New Zealand. Known as the Spice Boyz, they are undergoing a bit of a footballing purple patch at the moment.

Grenada Squad in Seattle Last Night
Photo: Greg Roth

Just 100,000 people make up the population, yet they have two international class players in USA-based Shalrie Joseph and Jason Roberts, who plays for for Blackburn Rovers in England’s Premier League. Both were in the Spice Boyz’ squad that drew with Costa Rica late last year, before dropping the second leg and going out of qualifying. The pair were not, however, available for the recent runners-up run in the Caribbean Cup in Jamaica, where player-coach Anthony Modeste’s youthful and largely home-based squad put in a stunning string of performances to make history for the country.

Over the last five months the Grenadians have moved up a staggering 20 places in the FIFA rankings, and this is their first CONCACAF Gold Cup. And after fellow minnows Guadeloupe reached the semi-finals of the last regional showpiece (in 2007), the Spice Boyz will be fancying their chances against regional giants Honduras, USA and slightly less fancied Haiti.

The match kicks off at 6pm and will be precede by Haiti v Honduras in the same group. That kick off is 4pm.