Wednesday's Most Important American

In the leadup to the USA - England match opening Group C of the World Cup, we will continue with a look at another US under-the-radar player that will make a difference. Today, the lucky lad is Robbie Findley.

Findley was a late addition to the US squad, and likely owes his presence in South Africa to Brian Ching's late-season injury and lingering questions of his fitness. But his addition couldn't have come at a better time. With star striker Jozy Altidore nursing a training injury, Findley got an opportunity to start against Australia in the final US friendly before the World Cup.

And what a start it was. The US got a comprehensive 3-1 victory over the Socceroos, and Findley's presence was a huge factor. Although he didn't score (Edson Buddle got two, and Herculez Gomez got a late add-on), his presence changes the way the US team can attack opponents.

Findley's main weapon is his speed. The effect that has on the Yanks was apparent in the friendly before Australia, when they played Turkey in Philadelphia. At the half, the US was down 1-0 and looked pretty toothless up front. Bob Bradley put Findley on at the half, and it made all the difference. Clint Dempsey, who scored the game-winner in the US 2-1 victory, observed that it was Findley's speed that stretched the Turkish defense and provided the space needed for Dempsey and Altidore to score in the second half.

Findley plays his club soccer for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer. In last year's MLS playoffs, he scored the decisive goal against the Columbus Crew in the semifinal to advance underdog Real Salt Lake to the MLS Cup final against the LA Galaxy. In that game, he scored a second-half equalizer to send the game into extra time, then to penalties, which Real Salt Lake ended up winning.

Findley has dual citizenship with the US and Trinidad and Tobago. While US soccer has struggled to keep some of their best dual-eligible players in stars and stripes (see: Rossi, Giuseppi), Findley's decision to play for the US has reaped great rewards.

Ever since the tragic injury to Charlie Davies, US soccer fans have been worried about how their team would be able to replicate the success they had at the Confederations Cup in 2009, beating Spain and falling in the final 3-2 to Brazil. In that tournament, Davies was arguably the American's most important player, with his speed and vision creating scoring opportunities for everyone else. Without Davies, the fear is, the US will be unable to replicate that success.

But, remember, prior to the Confederations Cup, Davies was an unproven commodity. Just like Findley is now. While as an American fan I would dearly love to see Davies on the pitch against England on Saturday, Findley does bring a lot of the same qualities to the team. With Findley on the pitch against Turkey and Australia, the US looked for the first time since Davies' injury like the team that was in the Confederations Cup final.

Yes, I know, the World Cup is a completely different animal from the Confederations Cup. I know a group stage game against England is a completely different animal from a friendly against Australia.

But Findley gives the Americans the secret ingredient - speed at the front - that has been lacking. Given that Landon Donovan will be, in all likelihood, dealing with Ashley Cole the whole game against England, the US will probably have to look for scoring options elsewhere. With Findley's speed and a makeshift English central defense, and Altidore and Dempsey lurking in the background, the table could be set for a sixty-year itch to be scratched on Saturday.