Team Profile:USA
How they qualified
The Americans had an ominous start to their final round of qualifying in the CONCACAF zone, losing out 2-1 on the road in Honduras. The result had many in the US media questioning Jurgen Klinsmann’s approach and tactics. All that suspicion quickly melted away, however, as the German proved totally up to the task, guiding the ‘Stars and Stripes’ deftly to a first-place finish in the six-team hexagonal.
He experimented with old players in new positions, new players throughout the squad, changed formations freely and generally created a new atmosphere of confidence and competition in the team.
They won an astounding seven of their ten games, scoring a hexagonal-high 15 goals, conceding only eight, losing only once, and finishing four full points above runners-up
Costa Rica in the final standings. If the trajectory continues for Klinsmann’s rampaging side, the sky might just be the limit in Brazil.
World Cup history
The Americans will be playing in their 10th World Cup, and seventh in succession. The first US team to turn up at a FIFA world Cup earned the dubious nickname of the ‘shot-putters’ for their muscular and burly nature, but 3-0 wins over Paraguay and Belgium in 1930 was enough for a third-place finish, to this day the best placing for any team outside of Europe or South America. Four years later they made a first round exit, but they caused a grand sensation in Brazil in 1950 after beating mighty England in Belo Horizante in an upsets for the ages.
Another first-round exit came in 1990, but as hosts in 1994 they managed to reach the knockout rounds, a result that paved the way to more consistency. And after a preliminary round exit at France 1998, they were eliminated at the quarter-final at Korea/Japan 2002 after losing to Germany. Four years later, they went out in the first round again, but reached the Round of 16 South Africa in 2010 after they were eliminated by Ghana.
The Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann
Klinsmann's appointment as U.S. manager presents a massive opportunity for the former German international on several fronts. Not only is he aiming to drive the U.S. into the elite level of international football, but it's also a chance to hit back at his critics who consider him a managerial lightweight after his difficult spell in charge of Bayern Munich.
As a player, Klinsmann won nearly every trophy available.
At Inter Milan, he won a Supercoppa Italiana in 1989, as well as the UEFA Cup two years later. But it was at German giants Bayern that he won his only league title, claiming the Bundesliga championship in 1997 and another UEFA Cup crown a year earlier.
However it was at international level that the striker arguably enjoyed the most success.
He earned 108 caps and scored 47 goals, which made him Germany's joint-second top scorer alongside Rudi Voeller at the time of his retirement. He reached the pinnacle of the game in 1990 when helped Germany to a World Cup title, and later led Die Mannschaft to victory at Euro '96.
Klinsmann was named manager of Germany in 2004 after the country's poor showing at that year's European Championships. He introduced reforms in the German team and led his country to the semi-final of the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Three years ago, he was appointed USA manager and introduced a more attack-minded style, which initially brought little results. After dropping its opening match to Honduras, the results began to arrive, with the team enjoying a 12-game winning streak which saw the Americans qualifying for Brazil in comfortable fashion.
