United States goalkeeper Kasey Keller praised the courage of team mate Brian McBride after the big striker's battling and bloodied World Cup display against Italy [Images] on Saturday.

McBride, who plays for Fulham in the English Premier League, ended the 1-1 draw battered and bruised and with three stitches in his face after an elbow from red-carded Daniele De Rossi that US coach Bruce Arena described as "vicious".

"Brian has titanium plates in his head already," said Keller, who also used to play in the Premier League.

"You need somebody who's going to put their head in places where others might not want to, that's a big part of it, especially when you know you are going to be under pressure against teams like Italy.

"He has a presence up front. He won lots of balls and allowed us to have a bit of possession.

"I just hope he can get a goal against Ghana which will mean he scored in three World Cups in a row," added the former Tottenham Hotspur keeper.

McBride scored in both the 1998 and 2002 World Cups.

The US must beat Ghana in their final Group E game to have any chance of reaching the last 16.