Jozy Altidore Could Be the Key to US World Cup

• February
• 12

12:47 pm World Cup, Soccer

With the World Cup in South Africa little more than four months away, young American Jozy Altidore is earning a name for himself in the world’s best soccer league. Altidore made the move last August to Yorkshire side Hull City after being bought by Spanish club Villarreal for a MLS record breaking $10 million from the New York Red Bulls. In his first game for the Tigers, Altidore helped set up a goal for teammate Kamel Ghilas the first time he touched the ball in 1-0 victory over Bolton.

The next few months proved difficult for Altidore as Hull City got off to a terrible start. The club was only in its second year in the top tier league in English football and was looking like they would finish the year in one of the regulation spots if they didn’t turn it around soon. Altidore was disciplined by his manager Phil Brown for showing up late before a game and then writing about it on his Twitter page.

The 20-year-old acknowledged his mistakes and kept his nose to grind stone and earned his way back into the team.  In January, the Haitian earthquake struck and Altidore was given compassionate leave from the team as his family struggled to confirm if relatives survived the tragedy. Thankfully, all the members of Altdore’s family were eventually accounted for and he returned to Hull City at the end of the month.

A new spirit seemed to fill the forward as in his first start back from leave he played a tremendous game setting up striking partner Jan Veenegoor of Hesselink for the opening goal and drawing a penalty for Hull City’s second. Phil Brown was criticized in the media for subbing off Altidore in the 68th minute as the Tigers seemed to lose their bite once the US Men’s National Team star exited the game.

The Livingston, New Jersey native then put in a stellar performance against league leaders Chelsea, troubling the Blues defense all game drawing two yellow cards and setting up the corner kick that resulted in a Hull goal. The game ended in 1-1 tie earning Hull City a crucial point from one of the best team’s in the Premiership. It seemed Altidore had done everything on the field except score a goal for the Tigers when he netted for the first team in English Premier League play burying a 31st minute shot past Manchester City keeper Shay Given. Honoring his parents homeland of Haiti, the American dedicated his first EPL goal to the country of Haiti.

Altidore will most likely be starting for the United States on June 12th in South Africa when the Americans play their first game of the World Cup against England. The young professional looks to have found his feet in England and shouldn’t be intimidated when he takes the field against England’s Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard considering he played against all of them before. Altidore has the physical tools to become an elite goal scorer in the world and has made great strides in the last year. Don’t be surprised if Jozy Altidore turns out to be one of the breakout stars of this summer’s World Cup.