US coach evokes spirit of ´Bel Horizonte´

The United States coach Bob Bradley is out to prove that history can strike twice when his side face England in the first round of next year’s World Cup.

Sixty years ago the US stunned England with a 1-0 win in the group stages of the 1950 World Cup at Belo Horizonete in Brazil in an upset that has become known in the States as “the miracle on grass”.

Bradley, reflecting on Friday’s draw in Cape Town which pits his Confederation Cup finalists against Fabio Capello’s team at Rustenburg on June 12, said: “Belo Horizonte – every US soccer fan knows those details, and so we look forward to another opportunity (to repeat it).”

Bradley, speaking to the BBC, added: “It’s a good group, we have a fair chance to advance.

“It’s amazing to start against England, everyone in the United States will be excited.

“Algeria and Slovenia (the two other Group C sides) are not big name teams but they are sides who could very well qualify.”

The US manager believes his side’s experience of playing in the Confed Cup in South Africa in June, when the US led Brazil 2-0 at half time in the final only to go down 3-2, will stand them in good stead come the 2010 finals.

“The Confederations Cup was a great experience. The stadiums for the world Cup will be packed to capacity, the passion for the game here is fantastic.

“And with it being winter in South Africa and the cooler temperatures the games are fast and at a high tempo – fans around the world are going to enjoy it.”

For the record, in the 1950 World Cup both the US, who owed their famous win to Joe Gaetjens’ first half header, and England failed to make it into the second round.