United States Football Team

The United States Football Team will be appearing at the Finals for the fifth time in succession at Germany 2006, and now seem to be emerging as a force to be reckoned with at International level. I know they call the game "soccer" but let's not hold that against them.

Qualification was easily achieved by the US, and they even finished as group leaders for the first time ever. Impressive stuff from the Stars and Stripes.

The draw for the finals in Germany could have been kinder to them, and they face a battle in every one of their group games to qualify. World Cup Group E will see them challenge Italy, the Czech Republic & Ghana in a group that is not for the faint hearted. Anything can, and probably will happen in this group.

The U.S. football team possess quite a few names we've become familiar with - Brian McBride & Claudio Reyna turn out regularly in the Premiership, and DaMarcus Beasley is fast becoming a World star, expect him to be high profile in the Stars & Stripes camp.

The United States Football Team is managed by the impressively named Bruce Arena, and they are ranked at number 7 in the World by FIFA.