<TABLE id=AutoNumber1 style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" borderColor=#111111 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%">USA v Italy
- The USA have a young team in this tourney with only 2 players (Howard and Bocanegra) over 20 years of age and an average age of 24. It's a decent side overall but some real issues in defense. We're down to the 3rd choice RFB, Jonathan Spector, and have nobody at LFB with talent and now centerback Bocanegra may be out as well. If he misses that will be huge since he's played against Italy before and his replacement, Jay Demerit of Watford, is not very good and was just destroyed by guys on Honduras. Their other choice would be to use young Marvelle Wynne at RFB and move Spector to the middle. Either way only Onyewu is a true 1st choice player in the back 4 today...not promising when facing an up-tempo 4-3-3 of Italy. Similar situation in Italy with a likely inexperienced Gamberini pairing with Chiellini in central defense as their 1st choice pairing is doubtful. They had massive problems dealing with crosses from horrible New Zealand which should play right into the USA's hands, as we're very strong in the air and particularly adept at set pieces. Italy have been scored on in 6 of their last 7 games including 3 from NZ and 1 from Northern Ireland so the US should score as long as they don't go into a defensive shell to protect the fragile defense. If they do then you'll see a 1-0 or 2-0 Italy victory but if the US go out to win the game they will score and the over will hit. Under Bob Bradley the US are 5-0-3 12/7 against European clubs and the US have scored in 14 straight matches.</TD></TR><TR><TD width="100%"> </TD></TR><TR><TD width="100%">4u Over 2.25 at -102</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
- The USA have a young team in this tourney with only 2 players (Howard and Bocanegra) over 20 years of age and an average age of 24. It's a decent side overall but some real issues in defense. We're down to the 3rd choice RFB, Jonathan Spector, and have nobody at LFB with talent and now centerback Bocanegra may be out as well. If he misses that will be huge since he's played against Italy before and his replacement, Jay Demerit of Watford, is not very good and was just destroyed by guys on Honduras. Their other choice would be to use young Marvelle Wynne at RFB and move Spector to the middle. Either way only Onyewu is a true 1st choice player in the back 4 today...not promising when facing an up-tempo 4-3-3 of Italy. Similar situation in Italy with a likely inexperienced Gamberini pairing with Chiellini in central defense as their 1st choice pairing is doubtful. They had massive problems dealing with crosses from horrible New Zealand which should play right into the USA's hands, as we're very strong in the air and particularly adept at set pieces. Italy have been scored on in 6 of their last 7 games including 3 from NZ and 1 from Northern Ireland so the US should score as long as they don't go into a defensive shell to protect the fragile defense. If they do then you'll see a 1-0 or 2-0 Italy victory but if the US go out to win the game they will score and the over will hit. Under Bob Bradley the US are 5-0-3 12/7 against European clubs and the US have scored in 14 straight matches.</TD></TR><TR><TD width="100%"> </TD></TR><TR><TD width="100%">4u Over 2.25 at -102</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
