Thursday World Cup Roundup: U.S. Looks Forward

As the people of earth begin to drop everything they're doing and turn their focus toward South Africa and the World Cup, FanHouse will deliver the news and notes you need as the planet's biggest sporting event approaches. There are just 16 days to go.

Up Front Reactions

A day after Bob Bradley unveiled the 23 players he's taking to South Africa, we're still trying to wrap our head around the situation up front. Four forwards, the quartet the U.S. will be relying on to convert those priceless scoring chances, with a combined 33 international appearances and nine goals (eight by Jozy Altidore). Carlos Bocanegra has 12 international goals on his own!

The best case scenario is that Altidore, Edson Buddle, Herculez Gomez and Robbie Findley are simply too naive to wilt under the pressure. Think 20-year-old Landon Donovan and DaMarcus Beasley in 2002.

Some quotes from the principles following Wednesday's roster announcement:

FINDLEY: It's huge. Back in the day I'd probably never have thought I'd be in this position. I'm very thankful I am and ready to get everything started, really. A lot of hard work has been put into this point and that has to continue. I give a lot of thanks to all the people who have helped me become the player I am today and helped me accomplish the things I have. I'm just very pleased with how this turned out.

GOMEZ: It's an unbelievable feeling, a dream I've had since I first touched a soccer ball and since I first knew what the World Cup was. To be at the world's largest stage is something really special. I can't really put into words what these last six months have been for me, what I've gone through and what I've seen

There's a lot of pedigree on this team and that's maybe one thing I was lacking. But I've never lacked work ethic, never lacked heart and never lacked belief. It's a very surreal feeling.

BUDDLE: I think I would say that until after [the Czech Republic] game, I wasn't sure it was a possibility. After I came out, I felt pretty good and I wanted to play some more and that was a good sign.

ALTIDORE: I'm just excited to say I'm going to the World Cup. We have still have some time to work on a lot of things and I honestly think we're going to be flying on June 12. Everyone is excited, there are no quitters here and everyone has been working hard on fitness. These are the recipes for success when you have guys that are so committed.

I think I've grown as a player, I think I've improved, but I'm lucky enough at my age that I have the time to keep on improving and I want to do that. I don't want to rest on my laurels; I want to keep getting better. This is a perfect opportunity for me and I just hope from here on that I keep raising the bar.

For more on Altidore, who will have quite a bit of responsibility heaped on his broad shoulders next month, check out these features from Sports Illustrated and our friend Liz Clarke at The Washington Post. Meanwhile, MLSSoccer.com says leaving Brian Ching at home is a bad idea.

Brazil is all business

The Brazilian national team has arrived in South Africa and will do its best to avoid the hysteria that usually follows the Seleção. "From the first day, we said the priority is the national team. Everything else comes later. We need to have a certain balance in when it comes to the work of the national team," no-nonsense coach Dunga told the AP.

In 2006, Brazil allowed fans to watch practices, and we've all seen photos of the horde of camera-wielding media chasing the players down for photos and interviews conducted directly into cell phones. This year, media will be allowed to view only a portion of Brazil's training sessions, and fans will be barred entirely.

"People often complain that we are being harsh. Sometimes you don't need to give access to everything we do," Dunga said.

Ghana's Essien To Miss World Cup

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien will miss the World Cup, the Ghana Football Association announced. The workhorse, the Black Stars' most recognizable player, has been working to regain his fitness following a January knee injury but won't be ready in time. Ghana is grouped with Germany, Australia and Serbia.

Slovenia's coach speaks

Slovenia coach Matja Kek admitted that, "However we look at it, we are not among the favourites in our group. But our aspiration is still to qualify for the second round," in an interview with FIFA.com. Before you write off the prospects for this polka-loving nation of just over 2 million people, consider that they finished above both Poland and the Czech Republic in their European qualifying group before besting Russia in a two-game playoff.

"The fact we only conceded four goals during the qualifiers certainly shows that the players fulfilled their defensive duties to the letter. But I would say that we remain first and foremost a well-organized team with an aspiration to play attacking football," he said.

See the entire interview here.

Kek played in both Slovenia and Austria and is most closely associated with Slovenian club NK Maribor, which he coached to three league championships.

World Cup final still not sold out

FIFA is pimping some 90,000 tickets that remain unsold, including for the opening game, the semifinals and the final. A little more than a third are available only to South African residents. Organizers will give them away if they have to -- anything to avoid unsightly empty seats on the all-important TV broadcasts.

More North Korean weirdness

Want to get your hands on the ultimate piece of World Cup kitsch? Good luck. Here's a fun story in The Wall Street Journal about a British shop's quest to locate North Korea's jersey. Shockingly, the team doesn't have an online store.

Turns out the shirt is being made by Italy's Legea. The very uninspired design can be seen on this PDF. Surprising they just didn't go with this shirt.

Refs face cut downs as well

FIFA has released two officiating trios after linesmen failed to pass their World Cup fitness tests. A trio featuring two Algerians and one Egyptian and another comprising three Paraguayans have been removed from the tournament's officials list and replaced by a group from Uruguay.

"It is one of FIFA's main objectives to significantly improve refereeing standards," it said. No word on how strict the vision tests are.

Dutch legend gives his take on U.S. development

Clarence Seedorf is a sage of the modern game. The Suriname native and former Netherlands international has won the UEFA Champions League with Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan -- the only player in history to win the trophy with three different teams -- but he missed out on the 2006 World Cup because of a personality conflict with former Holland coach Marco Van Basten. He's intelligent, outspoken in numerous languages and already has considerable TV commentating experience.

He's not part of the 2010 Dutch squad either, and so was in Washington D.C. this week for Milan's friendly against D.C. United. Following the home team's surprising 3-2 win, FanHouse asked Seedorf to share his views on American player development. The Netherlands faces a similar situation to the U.S., where the best players usually wind up moving abroad. Here, however, the popularity of the domestic league is more tenuous, and there is an argument that some of those players should stay and help develop the sport in the U.S.

There are only four MLS players on the final U.S. World Cup roster. Nine of Holland's final 23 plays in the Netherlands, with seven on the rosters of wealthier powers PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord and Ajax.

SEEDORF: I think it depends on where America wants to position itself in the world of soccer. I think the Dutch, if you want to make the comparison, they cannot compete with [the leagues in] England, Italy or Spain. So what they do is they produce players and they make sure these players will go international, and that will help them grow there national team.

So, it is not a problem in my opinion if the best American talents go abroad. I think it's a good thing. Because when you go to the World Cup you will compete with the best international players. So, if they are among them then they can grow with them and in the end it will help. The more players who play in Europe at a high level, a high level, it will help the national team.

Now for, let's say, football in the States, and how to grow the skills and the level of football here locally, I think there's a big debate ahead of you guys. The system definitely needs to change in my opinion, from what I've seen. There's not a real youth system in place that will provide constant inflow of talented players. I know until [age] 14-15 it's the most practiced game in the States, but then they choose to go into other sports. There's somewhere a gap that needs to be closed. But I think you will figure it out.