Jozy Altidore’s status in question as U.S. prepares for final pre-World Cup tuneup
Reporting from Johannesburg, South Africa -- The Australians were complaining Friday about the threadbare state of the Ruimsig Stadium field in the South African town of Roodepoort.
The Americans, meanwhile, were sweating out an injury to starting striker Jozy Altidore.
The two national teams play each other at the stadium on Saturday in the final World Cup tuneup for both, but it is Altidore’s situation that is the more troubling.
The striker’s right ankle was hurt during training Wednesday, and on Friday evening U.S. Soccer still had him listed as “day to day.” He seemed an unlikely candidate to take part in the game against the Socceroos (5:30 a.m. Pacific, ESPN2 and Galavision), especially on a questionable surface.
Altidore did not participate in on-field drills during training in Pretoria on Friday. The injury occurred when he made contact with another player, whom U.S. Soccer did not identify.
The U.S. has played Australia only twice, losing one game and tying the other, but the teams have not met since 1998. However, as goalkeeper Tim Howard said Friday, the outcome is of minor concern.
“I don’t think the result is too much of an issue,” he said. “Obviously, we’d like to win, but no injuries and everyone feeling like they’re getting up to speed would be good.”
Defender Steve Cherundolo, one of three U.S. players along with Landon Donovan and DaMarcus Beasley taking part in his third World Cup, said the key is to be prepared for their opener against England on June 12.
“I’ve tried to paint a picture for the younger guys that really, the only thing that matters, and the only way to make this a memorable World Cup and a [memorable] World Cup team, is to focus on those first 90 minutes against England,” Cherundolo said Friday.
“Anything else doesn’t matter, it’s those 90 minutes, and we have to prepare for that. It’s difficult to know where you stand prior to that game.”
With Altidore probably sidelined Saturday, there is the opportunity for forwards Edson Buddle, Herculez Gomez and Robbie Findley to see some playing time alongside Clint Dempsey on the forward line.
A good performance by any of them — similar to Findley’s effort in the 2-1 win over Turkey last week in Philadelphia — could open the door to that player if Altidore still is sidelined in a week’s time when the U.S. plays England in Rustenburg.
“I’ve just tried to focus on being ready,” Findley said Friday, “whether it’s starting or coming off the bench. Hopefully he [Altidore] gets better real soon, and I’ll just be ready to step up if I need to.”
