(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Oguchi Onyewu and the United States will face Luca Toni and Italy for the first time since their 1-1 draw at the 2006 World Cup.
The United States men’s national team will battle Italy today in their first group stage match of the Confederations Cup (2:25 p.m. ET, ESPN).
This meeting marks the first time the two countries have seen each other since a memorable 1-1 draw in the 2006 World Cup. The United States was the only country that didn’t lose to Italy on its way to the championship.
Three years and many matches later, the two countries rematch in South Africa. The United States and Italy have experienced considerable turnover from their respective World Cup rosters, but each country retains some familiar faces.
U.S. Captain Carlos Bocanegra is listed as questionable for today’s match with a hamstring strain and Watford defender Jay Demerit is ready to replace Bocanegra. Italian striker Luca Toni is expected to get the start over the promising Guissepe Rossi and Alberto Gilardino.
U.S. Coach Bob Bradley’s will need to choose between matching up with Italy’s 4-3-3 or employing a more conservative 4-4-2.
Benny Feilhaber’s second-half showing against Honduras gave the U.S. the creative midfield presence they have sorely needed. Michael Bradley and Ricardo Clark provide better defensive tenacity, but Feilhaber’s ball skills are unmatched by those two.
So who will be in the starting 11? Here is a potential squad Bob Bradley will start today (assuming Bocanegra is out).
4-3-3
GK – Tim Howard
RB – Jonathan Spector
CB – Oguchi Onyewu, Jay Demerit
LB – Jonathan Bornstein
RCM – Ricardo Clark
CM – Benny Feilhaber
LCM – Michael Bradley
RW – Clint Dempsey
ST – Jozy Altidore
LW – Landon Donovan
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