World Cup Betting: USA face injury crisis

Teams / Ben Lyttleton / 27 April 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

Bob Bradley has much to consider before USA's match with England on June 12

The USA look certain to be without key man Charlie Davies at the World Cup - good news for England who they play on the June 12 - and Bob Bradley faces increasing selection dilemmas all over the field, says Ben Lyttleton.

"Davies' absence is not a simple problem for the USA, who are [6.2] to beat England in their World Cup opener and [1.81] to qualify from Group C. Other injury problems have left them with dilemmas elsewhere on the pitch too."

The news that American fans were fearing came through late last week when Sochaux president Alexandre Lacombe stated that striker Charlie Davies would not play for the club again this season. Davies was involved in a horrific car accident last October, which killed one passenger and left him with a broken leg, a dislocated elbow, a broken nose, multiple facial fractures and a ruptured bladder.

He focused his rehabilitation on the dream that he might be able to recover in time to play at the World Cup, but Sochaux's senior doctor Philippe Pasquier said that it would be a long-shot for Davies to make it in time.

"That he has come this far is miraculous but he still has a long way to go as the injuries were so severe," he told SI.com.

Aside from the blow to morale that Davies' absence would give to the USA camp in South Africa (and he still might join them in a non-playing capacity if he is ruled out), its impact on the pitch is just as crucial. Davies was the surprise star of USA's run to the Confederations Cup final last summer, scoring a goal against Egypt and setting one up in the final against Brazil.

But his most important contribution came in the semi-final win over Spain, when his bending runs behind full-back Sergio Ramos stopped the Real Madrid man bursting forward and left Spain with fewer options from the flanks. USA coach Bob Bradley would certainly have used the same tactic in their opening match against England on June 12, with Glen Johnson's forward runs a potential weakness to Fabio Capello's side.

There is no obvious replacement for Davies in the USA squad. Eddie Johnson (Aris) and Kenny Cooper (Plymouth) have struggled following moves to Europe, while Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids) has yet to score from open play this season. Bradley has even been linked with asking veteran Brian McBride, who has not played international football for four years, if he would consider returning. The likeliest solution is that either Landon Donovan or Clint Dempsey would switch from their midfield slots to play just behind Jozy Altidore, but that leaves a gap to fill in midfield.

It's not a simple problem for the USA, who are [6.2] to beat England in their World Cup opener and [1.81] to qualify from Group C. Other injury problems have left Bradley with dilemmas elsewhere on the pitch. Stuart Holden, the Bolton winger, was looking a certainty to start for the USA until he broke his leg in the March friendly against Holland. Holden is hoping to return for Bolton's last two games of the season, which should earn him a call-up to Bradley's 30-man preliminary squad that meet in the middle of May, and he will still have time to prove his fitness before the tournament.

The same is true of USA's most important defender, centre-back Oguchi Onyewu, who has resumed training with AC Milan but hasn't played since tearing his knee ligaments last October. He is unlikely to play before the end of the season as well, but will be in Bradley's final 23.

All of which means that the USA side that takes on England on June 12 will look slightly different to the team that did so well last summer in South Africa. When the draw was made, England were expected to top the group and now, given the USA's problems, their odds have shortened to [1.37] with the USA [5.9]. England are [1.61] to beat USA in their opening game.

There is no doubt that the USA have a talented group of players but, with Davies' absence almost certain, their fortunes in South Africa still depend on other key players recovering from injuries.

Tags: Bob Bradley, Charlie Davies, Clint Dempsey, England, South Africa 2010 betting, USA, World cup football betting