It’s not so much where the U.S. men’s national soccer team is playing this weekend — making a historic trip to Cuba for the first time in 61 years — but who is playing, as U.S. head coach Bob Bradley is rapidly developing a track record of pedigree over performance in his player selections.
While Bradley inexplicably is yet to call in forward Kenny Cooper (13 goals for FC Dallas) for World Cup qualifying, this weekend in Havana he’ll have Eddie Johnson, who plays in England but whose entire international reputation rests almost solely on a hat trick in a blowout win over lowly Panama four years ago.
Meanwhile, Steve Cherundolo, who got sent off two weeks ago at Guatemala for two awful and unnecessary yellow cards, and Michael Orozco, whose rash elbow earned him a red card in the U.S. Olympic team’s deciding game against Nigeria — are also back in camp.
So is Bradley’s son, midfielder Michael Bradley, who has started every national team match since February. He also started every meaningful match for the U.S. Olympic team, except the Nigeria match, which he missed after picking up a yellow card against the Netherlands — for time-wasting.
“I think it’s important for players to understand the need for concentration, the need for discipline on the field,” said Bradley. “When there are situations when that is not handled well enough, that requires extra special attention.”
But evidently not exclusion.
