USA coach Bob Bradley is aiming to show Fabio Capello he can learn from the best by inflicting a first Wembley defeat on the England manager.
Bradley's side are due at the national stadium on Wednesday night for a
friendly game which Capello is expected to use to give debuts to a number of
fringe men.
The Italian is only just beginning a rebuilding job that has success in the
2010 World Cup finals as its goal and the Americans are also intent on making an
impact in South Africa.
And Bradley, who took over from Bruce Arena in 2006, revealed he had been
observing Capello's coaching methods for a long time.
He said: 'I have met him a few times over the years. The first was when he
was coaching AC Milan and they had a tour of the US. Then I had a university
team that I took to Milan.
'I had a chance to watch Milan train and try to apply some of the things I
saw. It was March 1994 - a long time ago and they had quite some team.'
That was certainly true as, within two months of the visit, Milan had thrashed
Barcelona 4-0 in the final of the Champions League.
That turned out to be the high point of a five-year first spell at Milan for
Capello and the England job is his first international assignment.
Bradley is confident of victory at Wembley but is equally sure Capello would
prove a long-term success in his current post.
He said: 'Are we expecting to win? We come with the idea of competing with a
good team and finding a way to win so I suppose the answer is yes.
'But Capello is a great manager. Certainly his understanding of the game and
his work for a number of different teams will pay off for England.
'It is only his third game and there is always a period of adjustment to a
new manager's ways of doing things.'
David Beckham is set to join up with the England squad on Sunday after playing for
LA Galaxy against Kansas City yesterday, with his club-mate Landon Donovan also
flying out to join the US squad.
Donovan will emulate Beckham by winning his 100th cap if he plays at Wembley
and Bradley is convinced both LA men still have much to offer despite
disappointing World Cups in 2006.
He said: 'David Beckham can still play a great ball. He can deliver short
passes and long passes and obviously free-kicks so he is still a very dangerous
guy.
'Landon is a smart player, one of our most important. Because he plays in
Major League Soccer people don't see him that often so this is a good
opportunity for him to show them what he can do.
'To play 100 games is an amazing achievement especially when you consider he
is only 26 years old.'
