Jozy Altidore
17. Jozy Altidore
Forward | Club: Sunderland (England)
Age | Hometown | Height | Weight | Goals | Caps |
24 | Boca Raton, Fla. | 6-1 | 175 | 21 | 69 |
Altidore was U.S. Soccer's Male Player of the Year in 2013, ending a prolonged international scoring slump in sensational fashion with four goals in June and a hat trick against Bosnia-Herzegovina in an August friendly. Even though he only scored twice in all competitions for club team Sunderland in 2013-14 (after setting a single-season record for an American abroad with 31 for AZ Alkmaar in 2012-13), once again raising questions about his consistency, he is looked upon to deliver goals as a reliable striker in Brazil.
OUTLOOK: For the U.S. to advance in a group with Portugal and Ghana, Altidore will have to be opportunistic and ruthless in front of goal. He showed last summer that he can do that in international competition, but CONCACAF and the World Cup are two different stages. He might not have much help if the U.S. plays a one-forward system, but Altidore has to score some goals.
John Hefti/Icon SMI
