A healthy Spector anxious for World Cup opportunity

This time everything seems to be falling into place for Jonathan Spector.

He's fit and healthy, and he's a strong candidate for a starting spot somewhere on the United States' back line as the World Cup draws ever nearer.

The Arlington Heights native just returned home for nearly a week of rest, relaxation and catching up with friends and family before leaving town Sunday to join his U.S. teammates in camp at Princeton, N.J. After a couple of warmup matches, they'll leave at the end of the month for what they hope will be a long and successful stay in South Africa, just like last summer's run to the Confederations Cup final.

At 24 years old, Spector has overcome injuries to establish himself as an able defender in the soccer world and a regular on the U.S. team.

"I missed out on the last World Cup," he said. "I dislocated my shoulder just beforehand, and then missed out on the (2008) Olympics due to a hip problem, which I had to have surgery for as well, so it's nice not having any issues leading up to this one.

"I'm extremely excited. It's a great opportunity to represent my country, which is always a big honor, and especially in this case on such a big stage."

Spector has seen the stage before, just from a different vantage point. When the World Cup came to Chicago in 1994, he was there for a few games with his family, and he caught soccer fever for good.

"I would have been 8 at the time. That was something I was excited about," he recalled. "And from that point onward after seeing what it was all about, it's something I always dreamed of doing."

It's no longer a dream, of course. He's made coach Bob Bradley's 30-man provisional roster, to nobody's surprise, and he seems certain to be among the final 23 picked to board the plane to South Africa on May 30.

Quite an accomplishment for a young man who played two two seasons for St. Viator High School, and with club teams Schwaben AC in Buffalo Grove and the Chicago Shockers before attending Bradenton Academy and leaving to play professionally in Europe.

Spector, who plays for English Premier League club West Ham United, can't wait for that first USA game June 12 against England.

"There's a little bit of trash talk, as you would expect," he said. "Friendly, though, of course. I could be playing against some of my club teammates. Robert Green could be in goal, Matthew Upson could be there, and Scott Parker as well has been called in. It would be nice to play against them and to win that game."

It's been the same way with West Ham's fans, some light trash talk, nothing ugly.

"The fans have wished me luck for the World Cup apart from one game usually," he said.

If it sounds like a lot of pressure, the easy-going Spector said it's no big deal. He's never wilted in the face of pressure, and he and his teammates welcome it.

This World Cup will earn more media coverage in this country than any previous World Cup. Spector and his U.S. teammates see this as a chance to grow the sport in the United States.

"There's obviously going to be a lot of media attention, and the only way to capitalize on that is to be successful down there," he said.

"There's certainly pressure in that sense, and we know that, but it's something we want. We've brought it on ourselves."

By now he's likely settled into training, making sure he's still sharp and fit, getting reacquainted with his countrymen as they prepare for a tournament they hope will be historic.

This is Jonathan Spector's time.

"For me personally, obviously missing out on the last World Cup and the Olympics, those were two really massive disappointments for me in my career, so the chance to play in this one," he said, "it's so close. Obviously, the excitement and everything, I'm really, really looking forward to this one."