2010 FIFA World Cup: Tuesday's Match Critical for U.S. Forwards

For as long as I have watched U.S. soccer, I’ve always had one gripe with the boys in red, white, and blue. Sure they defended and they hustled, they played with a blue collar attitude. But where was that brilliant striker? You know, the one all the top teams had, who could score consistently from the run of play and do it with style?

I never saw him. I saw many who were supposed to be that guy, but never were.

Guys like Freddy Adu, the boy wonder who at age 14 became the youngest MLS player of all time in 2004. Six years later, he’s notched just two goals for the senior national team, and has scored just once against an opponent of repute (No, Grenada, you don’t count).

Then it was Eddie Johnson. He actually gave the U.S. some real hope before flopping. In his first two appearances for the U.S. national team, he bagged four goals and had many dubbing him the next big thing.

Four club teams later, he’s on the outside looking in at the pre-World Cup training camp. Anyone else find it ironic that both he and Adu play for the same club team in the lowly Greek league?

Finally in the spring of 2009, people began talking about this kid out of Boston College who was scorching the nets in the Swedish league. I watched with guarded optimism as he began to gain more playing time in international matches. I kept trying to find flaws in Charlie Davies' game, but before long, I couldn’t find many.

He was quick, creative, and played with confidence. His finishing skills were top notch, and he proved he could set up scores, not just tally them. His pass to set up Landon Donovan's goal against Brazil in the Confederations Cup was a thing of beauty, and it was then that I really started to believe that this kid could really be that good.

But still I waited to pass judgment until he cleared the hurdles that had so cleanly tripped up those before him. Surely, when the U.S. took on Mexico at the infamous Azteca, Davies would turn invisible, and crumble under the building expectations in front of 100,000 strong. But then just eight minutes in, Davies broke through the Mexican defense and calmly slotted a one-on-one opportunity past the keeper. 1-0 USA.

Then in Fall 2009, he took his game to the top French league, and notched a brace in just his second game for FC Sochaux.

Davies had me thoroughly convinced of his abilities, and I was looking forward to seeing him play against the world’s top competition in June. Unfortunately, as we all know, that won’t happen, and now it's back to square one for the USMNT entering tonight's friendly against the Czech Republic.

It’s anybody’s guess as to who will snag the remaining forward spots alongside Jozy Altidore. U.S. head man Bob Bradley will likely choose to bring three more forwards to South Africa, and tonight’s match will be critical in determining which ones he will take, as Bradley is slated to announce his roster on Wednesday.

Bradley brought five forwards in addition to Altidore to camp: The aforementioned Johnson (Aris), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Edson Buddle (L.A. Galaxy), Herculez Gomez (Pachuca) and Robbie findley (Real Salt Lake).

Johnson is the only forward on the 30-man roster to set foot on the field at the World Cup, playing well in two matches at the 2006 competition. But from there, his club career took a wrong turn.

Johnson bounced around a handful of clubs, playing few minutes at each stop, before hitting stride late this season for Greek League club Aris. Once considered a rising star for U.S. soccer, Johnson brings speed and athleticism up front, but will need a good showing against the Czechs to convince Bradley he's still worth a shot.

Ching also brings a wealth of national team experience, having netted 11 goals for his country and traveling to the 2006 World Cup, though he never played in a game there. Though not a flashy or explosive player, Ching holds the ball well, and is familiar with Bob Bradley’s system, two things that will reflect positively on him when Bradley sits down to make his final decision.

He's been battling injury lately, so a strong performance Tuesday evening would help assuage any doubts about his fitness.

Buddle and Gomez are two interesting cases, both playing the best soccer of their lives after a number of forgettable seasons. If it comes down to one or the other, though, don’t be surprised if Bradley goes with Buddle.

The Galaxy man has proven that he can do special things when he is the recipient of Landon Donovan’s creativity, already netting nine goals early in the MLS season.

Findley seems to be the long shot of the group. Though he brings a measure of speed that the U.S. lacks up front, he performed poorly in friendlies against the Netherlands and El Salvador early this spring, and only just scored his first goal of the season in MLS on May 13th.

Still, a standout performance against the Czechs tonight could earn him a plane ticket.

Without Davies, Altidore is the only sure bet to make this roster.