By Paul Brown

Brad Friedel welcomes Brad Guzan back for pre-season training today - after watching USA fans fully embrace their team's football fortunes for the first time during the World Cup.

Football - or soccer as it is known in the USA - certainly doesn't top the list when it comes to popular sports across the pond - with baseball and basketball enjoying cult status.

But Friedel insists his country showed serious interest in the performances of their national team during the summer showpiece, as Bob Bradley's men topped their group and progressed to the last 16 of the competition in South Africa before being eliminated by Ghana.

Friedel, himself, was hooked on watching events unfold and kept in regular contact with his compatriot Guzan as USA impressed many with their never-say-die performances.

He said: "I was in contact with Brad throughout the summer.

"I'm sure he's rested up now and ready to go. All the banter will start up with him again now.

"I watched just about every game of the World Cup. I thought the USA performed very well - they topped the group.

"People thought it was going to be a walk in the park but no group in the World Cup ever is. It was a little bit disappointing from England's standpoint but that was to our benefit.

"We could have been knocked out in the game against Slovenia but scored a last-gasp goal in that one and the same against Algeria.

"The country really got behind the team and probably for the first time ever there was euphoria as we qualified and got through to the next stage.

"Soccer is slowly but surely getting on the map over there."

Friedel thinks the England stars will be disappointed at exiting the competition so early but believes the Three Lions will come roaring back when Euro 2012 qualifying begins.

He added: "For as good as their players are individually, it will have been disappointing for them. I don't know the ins and outs of it though.

"It was a shame for them but at the same time I was watching the USA and following them more so than England.

"It's hard for me to comment on why things went wrong but they did. However, they do have some good players and they are going to bounce back for the Euros I'm sure."