The unsung hero of the USA's run to the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup, Pablo Mastroeni will again occupy the defensive midfield role for Bruce Arena's team in Germany. The Argentinian-born 29-year-old was a virtual unknown ahead of the last finals, having been forced to wait until June 2001 to make his international debut as his application for citizenship was processed. He has remained a regular in the squad ever since and was a member of the teams that won the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2002 and 2005. The tough-tackling midfielder began his professional career with the now defunct Miami Fusion before, in 2002, joining Colorado Rapids, where he is club captain.