EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — Since losing forward Charlie Davies to a near-fatal car crash, U.S. National Team fans have wondered just who would start at striker in next month’s World Cup. In quiet, forthright moments, the team would tell you they were wondering exactly the same thing.
An unheralded and inexperienced strike force has tried to at least quiet some of those questions during last week’s training camp. And they’ll try to answer them in a trio of World Cup tune-ups, with the United States playing host to the Czechs last night and coach Bob Bradley announcing the final cuts on today’s 1 p.m. SportsCenter on ESPN.
“Coming in, they were the question marks that everyone wanted to know the answer to. But they’ve all come in sharp,’’ said GK Tim Howard, a North Brunswick, NJ native.
“Those guys, the spotlight was heavily on them coming into camp, and to me they haven’t disappointed. The strikers have been really hitting the ball well, they really seem to be on the mark. That’s been impressive. Strikers are streaky, and if you catch them at the right time it’s like lightning in a bottle.’’
New Jersey-born Jozy Altidore, who played this season at Hull in the EPL, is a likely starter and Bring Ching the lone veteran, although a slow target man not ideally suited to play alongside Altidore.
New Rochelle’s Edson Buddle, Herculez Gomez, Robbie Findley and hamstrung Eddie Johnson form a strike force with pace and potential but little experience.
“The work rate’s been great from the entire group,’’ right back Steve Cherundolo said. “Every single forward has been sharp and really pushed the defenders.’’
None have been sharper than the Galaxy’s Buddle and Pachuca’s Gomez, who’ve got a combined three caps between them but each of whom led their leagues in scoring and may represent that bottled lightning Howard spoke of.
“I never saw it coming, my being here. Being here is a surprise,’’ said Buddle, a Port Chester grad. “If I get my chance I just want to play hard and walk off the field knowing I gave it my all.’’
Buddle tops the MLS charts so far with nine goals and two assists in just nine games for leaguer-leading L.A. Gomez had just signed with Puebla in January but still managed 10 goals in the 2010 Mexican Clausura, the first time an American had ever led a foreign league in scoring before switching teams last week.
“This week has given us all a lot of confidence going forward in our attacking options. All the guys who’ve come in have done fairly well, better than expected or hoped. That’s been encouraging,’’ said Donovan, who plays with Buddle in L.A. now and with Gomez from 2003-06.
“Almost every guy here I’ve played with to some extent at some level, and I’d feel confident with any guy playing at this point. I think we’re further ahead than we expected.”