U.S. can advance at World Cup by beating Algeria; Americans hope Jozy Altidore's stomach settles

As if he needed more problems while trying to coax some goals out of his forwards, United States coach Bob Bradley faced yet another potential headache Tuesday.

Striker Jozy Altidore, forced out of training two weeks ago with a mild ankle sprain, sat out practice with an upset stomach. Bradley said he expects the former Red Bulls striker to play Wednesday against Algeria in a vital World Cup Group C match.

"Jozy just wasn't feeling well," Bradley said. "He'll be fine tomorrow."

But if the 20-year-old Altidore can't play, Bradley will have to do some last-minute tinkering up front because Robbie Findley, easily the fastest player on the team, will serve a one-game, yellow-card suspension.


Brian McBride scored the last World Cup goal by an American forward, eight years ago in the eighth minute of a 2-0 second-round win over Mexico. Since then, the U.S. has gone 622 minutes without a forward scoring.

Bradley would take goals from anyone, especially since the U.S. has a tendency to give up the first score, chase the game and wind up with a tie, as the Americans have done in their first two group matches.

The U.S. (0-0-2, two points) would prefer to avoid another tie because a win over Algeria (0-1-1, one) would clinch a berth in the second round.

A draw also would be sufficient for the U.S. (0-0-2, two points) to advance as long as England (0-0-2, two) loses to group leader Slovenia (1-0-1, four) or ties the Eastern European country and the U.S. maintains its edge in total goals (three to England's one).

Needing a win to have any chance of advancing, scoreless Algeria will have to break out of the defensive shell it used in its 0-0 draw with England.

"It'll be interesting to see how they approach the game," midfielder Landon Donovan said. "They have no choice but to win. There are scenarios where we could tie and advance, so their approach to the game would most likely be an aggressive approach to get a goal and win the game. But they're a team that can be unpredictable. On their day they're a very good team."

The U.S. needed a win against Ghana in 2006 in Germany to advance, but lost, 2-1, and the team was left winless (0-2-1).

"We obviously had a bad outing in 2006. We weren't happy with how things worked out," U.S. captain and defender Carlos Bocanegra said. "We have a great chance to get a win and advance to the second round. It's important for us because we had that disappointment in '06. It's not extra motivation, but it's in the back of our minds."

The Americans were in a similar position at the Confederations Cup here last June.

They advanced in unlikely fashion, defeating Egypt, 3-0, while also benefiting from Brazil's 3-0 rout of Italy. The Americans eventually reached the final, losing to the five-time world champion Brazilians.

The U.S. doesn't need a miracle this time. A win would be enough.

"We've been there before and we're prepared," Bocanegra said.