"Captain America," Dempsey has lucky numbers and refuses to 10

Confidence Man Klinsmann, winger rejects number after cutting Donovan. German leadership does promise to change selection                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Dempsey during training in the U.S. 
(Photo: Getty Images)

The American sports tend to show a strong association between athletes and the numbers they use in the field or on the court. Michael Jordan, basketball star, was a fan of the 23 teams that played.In football, Tom Brady never got rid of 12. On "soccer", 10 is usually the most desirable shirt and socks by attackers. Only Clint Dempsey, best player in U.S. team does not follow this pattern. The captain of the team coached by Jurgen Klinsmann staff have an aversion to the number from the beginning of his career.

Cutting Landon Donovan, owner of the shirt in the 2010 World Cup, opened a competition number at the World Cup in Brazil. Leader and team captain, Dempsey had a preference to change my shirt.Not wanted. The attacking midfielder will be 8, just like last Cup. The 10 gets Mix Diskerud, a Norwegian naturalized American - and reserves in team Klinsmann.

- When I started his career at New England Revolution (Major League Soccer club), I could choose between numbers 2 and 10 A 10 gave no luck for those who played in New England, so I opted for the 2 and did not want to another number. - Dempsey said in an interview during the week in São Paulo.

After this occurrence, occurred in 2004, he used very few times the number 10 - just for lack of options. The lucky numbers Clint Dempsey are 2 (clubs) and 8 (in the selection).

- When I was a kid, had great identification with the number 2 In the selection I also wanted to use, but when I was summoned for the first time, a more experienced player was the owner of the shirt.. I got the 8 and made a goal. Got lucky - told the American striker.

Dempsey plays for Seattle Sounders, another club from Major League Soccer, which uses the coveted number 2. There the captain's armband is also his. The leadership earned him the nickname "Captain America." On his back is primarily a mission to get Americans to a difficult place in the quarter-final of the World Cup, a group that includes Ghana, Portugal and Germany.

With the nickname "Captain America," Dempsey has mission to bring U.S. to the round (Reuters)

The prestige is so great that the player made the cover of Sports Illustrated in June, in a special World Cup that featured three other alternate covers - "only" with Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez. Within the cast, this whole leadership is confirmed by Klinsmann.

- Many of our chances pass by his performance. Alongside Bradley (middle) and Howard (goalkeeper), are references to the younger. Therefore, Dempsey must be 100% to help us in the Cup - said the commander.

The youngest of the cast say it's Dempsey who supports them. The midfielder Julian Green, 19, a German national and had doubts about which selection advocating internationally. The uncertainty ended when he was auditioning in the U.S. and received an official shirt of Americans at the hands of the captain.

- He said he would be very good to me in selecting. Showed that I was important, and it made much difference to me - Green confirmed.

With 2, 8 or 10 who did not get lucky, the U.S. rely on Dempsey to make a good run in the Cup.Therefore, every care is taken with the attacking midfielder. In May, before the friendly against Azerbaijan, was spared because of minor aches in the groin. Klinsmann not want to run the risk of losing its most valuable player during the tournament.