Can the Youngsters Give the U.S. Attack a Boost?

In July, the United States Men's National Team entered Copa America with high hopes. Despite a number of the European-based players returning for the upcoming club season, Bob Bradley called up a number of Major League Soccer's youngest and finest: Eddie Johnson, Eddie Gaven, Justin Mapp, and Bobby Boswell, just to name a few. However this domestically-based national team was outscored eight goals to two in three matches with the only goals coming from Eddie Johnson and Ricardo Clark.

What was true during the World Cup proved true again. The American attack is notoriously impotent, especially in the absence of proven striker, Brian McBride. However during the Copa, a ray of hope emerged in Canada as the U.S. U-20 national team outscored their opponents 9-3 in the group phase of the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

The performance of American youth players has not only caught the eye of Bob Bradley, but in recent years has also drawn significant attention from smaller European clubs looking to bolster their rosters. Sal Zizzo learned this lesson after the U-20 Cup when he signed with German side, Hannover 96.

Charlie Davies (Hammarby-Sweden) and Kamani Hill (Wolfsburg-Germany) signed with their clubs during the second half of last season. Neither has seen too many matches for their respective clubs, but hopes remain high for these youngsters. Hill has earned nine Bundesliga appearances but has yet to score; while Davies has scored twice in seven appearances for Hammarby.

Zizzo, who has yet to make his debut for Hannover, will make his first appearance for the U.S. Men's National Team. He'll join a rather inexperienced forward line; combined Davies and Hill only have three appearances with the senior team.

The rest of the new U.S. roster is largely made up of European-based players, who thus far have a better track record for the U.S. In June, when the national team was predominantly composed of such players, the U.S. won the regional championship in fine form with little struggle or opposition. This may well be the best 19-man roster the American side can put together.

Sweden has brought in a number of their big club stars as this match will serve to keep the team warm for Euro2008 qualification. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan), Marcus Allback (Copenhagen), Markus Rosenborg (Werder Bremen), Freddie Ljungberg (West Ham Utd.), and Kim Kallstrom (Lyon) are all expected to play.

With only three Major League Soccer players on the roster (Landon Donovan, Pablo Mastroeni, and Jonathan Bornstein), the thought process is clear, Bob Bradley has brought in players who have experience with these big club players or against them. John Spector, an American defender, plays alongside Ljungberg at West Ham, and three other American defenders have experience facing Ljungberg in the Premier League: Carlos Bocanegra, Jay DeMerit, and Oguchi Onyewu, who played with Newcastle last year.

The Swedish team has players coming in from a host of leagues including: The English Premier League, The German Bundesliga, The Turkicell, The Italian Serie A, and The French Ligue Orange 1, but this U.S. roster is just as well rounded with more players from the Premier League and Bundesliga. In addition, Josh Wolff (Munich 1860-Bundesliga 2), Bobby Convey (Reading-Premier League), and Marcus Hahnemann (Reading-Premier League) will all return to the national team after time spent away with injuries.

Hahnemann gave a stellar peformance in goal for Reading this week against Manchester United, who despite spending the entire game in Reading's half failed to score. Hahnemann was one of the top keepers in the Premier League last season and is quickly being recognized as another top flight American keeper like Brad Friedl and Tim Howard.

With a solid core on defense and in the net, it will be up to the youngsters to score the goals. Zizzo, Davies, and Hill will have to find ways to combine with a young American midfield, which includes Benny Feilhaber and Michael Bradley, who have both played very well for the U.S. this year. If the rookies can step up as Feilhaber and Bradley already have, then the whispers of a "golden generation" may ring true.

The final pieces for a strong national team are finally falling into place, and American fans should be excited. It may take some time for these younger players to find their stride and place with the red, white, and blue, but given time and with veteran leadership from players like DaMarcus Beasley and Pablo Mastroeni, this could be the team to repeat the success of World Cup 2002.