Manager: Jürgen Klinsmann Best finish: Third (1930)
World Cup record: Played 33, Won 8, Drawn 7, Lost 18
History: You've a fine memory if you recall the time the United States reached the semi-finals of the World Cup back in 1930. Their best showing since was 2002 when a 3-2 win over Portugal helped them out of their group, beating Mexico in the last 16 before their adventure was ended by Germany (1-0) in the quarters. This will be a seventh successive appearance.
White board: Klinsmann is generally a 4-2-3-1 devotee, with Clint Dempsey playing off frontman Jozy Altidore. Landon Donovan's surprise omission opens the door for youngster Julian Green to impress. Almost 40 players featured in qualifying, so the manager mightn't know the rest himself yet.
All Star - Clint Dempsey Donovan was the poster boy of American soccer, but having not made the final cut Dempsey is now the undisputed star. He marked the award of the captaincy last year by scoring twice in a 4-3 friendly win over an understrength Germany to move second, behind Donovan, in their all-time top-goalscorers list. Nineteen appearances in 2012 and 2013, 12 goals.
County Colours - Derry: Loud, brash, tons of fun, but the accent grates after a while.
Pundit's Corner – Bubba Watson: "In the hoooooooooole Clint, in the hooooooooole!"
Prospects: They had a couple of hiccups in qualifying, losing away to Jamaica and drawing with Guatemala, results that aged Klinsmann a bit, but they topped the second group easily enough, four points clear of Costa Rica, winning their five home games. Group G is as tough as it gets, though, so they have their work cut out to even make it out.
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: 1 Tim Howard (Everton, Eng), 12 Brad Guzan (Aston Villa, Eng), 22 Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake).
Defenders: 2 DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders), 3 Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), 5 Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), 6 John Brooks (Hertha Berlin, Ger), 7 DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla, Mex), 20 Geoff Cameron (Stoke City, Eng), 21 Timmy Chandler (Nurnberg, Ger), 23 Fabian Johnson (Borussia Monchengladbach, Ger).
Midfielders: 4 Michael Bradley (Toronto FC, Can), 10 Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg, Nor), 11 Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes, Fra), 13 Jermaine Jones (Besiktas, Tur), 14 Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), 15 Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), 16 Julian Green (Bayern Munich, Ger), 19 Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City).
Forwards: 8 Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), 9 Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar/Ned), 17 Jozy Altidore (Sunderland, Eng), 18 Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes).
TEAM LINE-UPS
USA (v Ghana): 1 Tim Howard; 23 Fabian Johnson, 20 Geoff Cameron, 5 Matt Besler (6 John Brooks, half-time), 7 DaMarcus Beasley; 11 Alejandro Bedoya (19 Graham Zusi, 77 mins), 4 Michael Bradley, 15 Kyle Beckerman, 13 Jermaine Jones; 17 Jozy Altidore (9 Aron Johannsson, 23 mins), 8 Clint Dempsey.
USA (v Portugal): 1 Tim Howard; 23 Fabian Johnson, 20 Geoff Cameron, 5 Matt Besler, 7 DaMarcus Beasley; 13 Jermaine Jones (yc), 15 Kyle Beckerman; 19 Graham Zusi (3 Omar Gonzalez, 90 mins), 4 Michael Bradley, 11 Alejandro Bedoya (2 DeAndre Yedlin, 72 mins); 8 Clint Dempsey (18 Chris Wondolowski, 87 mins).
USA (v Germany): 1 Tim Howard; 23 Fabian Johnson, 3 Omar Gonzalez (yc), 5 Matt Besler , 7 DaMarcus Beasley; 19 Graham Zusi (2 DeAndre Yedlin, 84 mins), 13 Jermaine Jones, 15 Kyle Beckerman (yc), 14 Brad Davis (11 Alejandro Bedoya, 59 mins), 4 Michael Bradley; 8 Clint Dempsey.
USA (v Belgium): 1 Tim Howard; 23 Fabian Johnson (2 DeAndre Yedlin, 32 mins), 3 Omar Gonzalez, 5 Matt Besler , 7 DaMarcus Beasley; 19 Graham Zusi (18 Chris Wondolowski, 72 mins), 13 Jermaine Jones, 20 Geoff Cameron (yc), 4 Michael Bradley; 8 Clint Dempsey, 11 Alejandro Bedoya (16 Julian Green, 105 mins).
