Reality has set in (II)

(This is the second part)

Most of the U.S. regulars have played in England: goalie Tim Howard, defenders Carlos Bocanegra, Jay DeMerit and Jonathan Spector; midfielders Stuart Holden, Clint Dempsey, and Donovan; and forward Jozy Altidore. That experience can help adjust to individual tendencies; the team itself is another matter.

England under Capello often looks different than past versions. Some of England’s success – it cruised through the qualifying phase with nine wins and just one loss – is credited to Capello’s influence in broadening England beyond its traditional strengths of hard running, aerial prowess, and determination. Still, having at least three potential game-breakers in Rooney, Gerrard, and Lampard is one of the best tactics of all.

“What you expect is that the team will be well-prepared, tactically they’ll be right, their mentality will be right,” says U.S. coach Bob Bradley. “He certainly sets a good tone with his team in terms of how they need to play, how they go about their business and I think that certainly, when you look at their qualifying, that has been positive.”

If 6-foot-7 Peter Crouch starts alongside Rooney, crosses and set plays will be that much more dangerous. Jermain Defoe brings blistering pace, Emile Heskey is a tank of a man who runs pretty well. Both teams have good attackers and potent midfields; England has the edge in defense, Howard is a much better keeper than any of the English choices, yet – like many of the Americans – he is playing in his first World Cup.

No matter who Capello deploys, the Americans will know what’s coming in what is being billed as -- but really isn’t -- the game of their lives. There are at least two more to go.

“Players have had different moments in their careers when they’ve been tested in those ways,” says Bradley. “Might have been a match already with the national team, might be experiences they’ve had with their club teams. I think the fact that we have players like Landon who have been in big games, have played in the World Cup and tasted success, that gives our team a level of experience that helps in big games.”