A sixth World Cup appearance in succession for USA, but their team is very unsettled as 2010 approaches.

Target man: Landon Donovan's goals will be needed by USA once again at a World Cup

USA's World Cup record: 1930 3rd, 1934 1st rd, 1950 1st rd, 1990 1st rd, 1994 1st rd, 1998 1st rd, 2002 QF, 2006 1st rd.

How USA qualified for World Cup 2010: CONCACAF group winners.

The Coach: Bob Bradley. Appointed: 2006. WC experience: Player: None. Coach: None.

Before taking over the national team in December 2006, he had previously coached in the American college game and later in Major League Soccer, managing the Chicago Fire, MetroStars, and Chivas USA over nine seasons.

The Country: The USA had to work hard to seal qualification with a 3-2 win over Honduras, but Bradley's side did enjoy the luxury of having a game to spare.

Afterwards Bradley said: "We're very proud. We understand the responsibility we have every time we step on the field for our fans, for our country."

Their qualification was not a surprise; they have featured in each of the previous five World Cup finals. But Bradley is struggling to get a settled side. In the qualifiers he used no fewer than 43 different players, many of whom are well known in this country.

One man who should feature is veteran Los Angeles Galaxy striker Landon Donovan, who was recently named the USA national team's 2009 Player of the Year, the sixth time he has won the award in the last nine years.

The 27 year-old, with a record total of 42 international goals in 120 appearances for the USA, beat Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard into second place with Hull striker Jozy Altidore third.

The accolade caps a year in which Donovan helped his country beat European champions Spain to reach the Confederations Cup final in South Africa before scoring in the final defeat to Brazil, and also netted five goals as the US qualified for next year's finals. It is the third year in a row Donovan has landed the award and, in collecting his sixth in total, the Galaxy striker was also named Player of the Decade.

Telegraph verdict: But Bob Bradley's side showed in the Confederations Cup that they are well-organised and highly motivated and were unfortunate to lose out, eventually running out of steam. In Landon Donovan they have a player at the top of his game who could, also, be a surprise star in South Africa.