Goalie: Tim Howard – 34 - Everton F.C. (England – EPL)
Howard has been the constant keeper when healthy since 2007. He is the best choice for Klinsmenn’s starting XI. However, the growth of his backup and fellow EPL player, Brad Guzan, has made the battle for the starting job very close as of late. Howard has the experience with a total of 72 international appearances. On the domestic level Howard is coming off of another great season with Everton F.C., finishing 6th in the Barclay’s English Premier League.
Howard’s ability to tutor his young backline will be an interesting story to see unfold. I can say confidently though, Tim Howard is and will be the go to guy in net for big World Cup Qualifiers matches this summer.
Defense:
DeMarcus Beasley – 31 - Puebla (Mexico – Liga MX)
DeMarcus Beasley, like Time Howard, has been on and off the US roster since 2001. He is reliable, has much needed experience and as of late reclaimed his stake in Jürgen Klinsmenn’s starting XI. A versatile player, he can play either side of the field and in almost any role. Lately his most valuable position has been as an outside back.
Beasley’s familiarity of playing in countless WCQ matches is the cornerstone for ensuring success. His surrounding casts of defenders are young. What they lack in experience he can make up. For now, he is a better choice than the other available options such the unpredictable Edgar Castillo or the attacking geared Fabian Johnson.
Omar Gonzalez – 24 – LA Galaxy (USA – MLS)
Gonzalez is shaping up to be a very good defender. He is still growing but needs to at a faster rate than possible. With a mere 8 appearances for the Red, White and Blues, he has been given the task to command the backline. For the past 12 years, Carlos Bocanerga had been the vocal leader of the defense. Without his presence the defense is looking for a new identity. Cue the lights. Enter Gonzalez. His performances as of late have been very bright and we can only hope his play will escalate as the WCQ progresses.
He showed against Jamaica that him and fellow center back Matt Besler have established a good relationship, communication and coverage wise. They are young and will make mistakes but these will be eliminated with time. His size will give him more confidence as well, when challenging opposing forwards on corners and free kicks.
Matt Besler – 26 – Sporting Kansas City (USA – MLS)
New on the international scene, Besler has only made 6 appearances for The Yanks. Winner of the 2012 MLS Defender of the Year, Klinsmenn has put much faith in him. His play against Germany was shaky but it was his first real test. He will not be facing forwards with the same talent of players like Andre Schurrle, Miroslav Klose or Lucas Podolski in WCQ. Seeing how Besler can hold up against Honduras and Panama shall be a large indicator in how much time he will see in the starting XI.
At 6’0, Besler is smaller than Omar Gonzalez but has decent speed. His willingness to step up versus Germany and Jamaica shows he is determined to win a starting XI spot. He is among the best defenders in MLS but the speed or physicality of international soccer is a whole new level. I believe he will raise to the occasion but may make a mistake or two in his next couple matches.
Brad Evans – 28 – Seattle Sounders FC (USA – MLS)
The quest for another solid outside back has been an issue for Jürgen Klinsmenn. Brad Evan’s plays as a midfielder for his club team, Seattle Sounders FC, but after his past to performances he has proven to be a suitable defender. His last minute goal against Jamaica and his overall good performance against Germany has put him my starting XI. His ability to play the ball out of the back and his confidence in his challenges was a vital part in helping secure the 4-3 win over Germany.
He plays hard, disciplined and has the tools of a midfielder. I am not sure if he is in the long term plans of Jürgen but for now he has earned the starting role. I could be wrong, as many plans have broken into the international scene at older ages and seen lots of success.
Midfield:
Michael “The Maestro” Bradley – 25 – AS Roma (Italy – Serie A)
Bradley has slowly become the new golden boy of USA soccer. His ability to control the tempo of the game mixed with his physical style of play is what has brought him onto the starting team sheet of his club team AS Roma. The USA talisman has over and over again scored goals when needed; dropped deep in the midfield as needed and if was asked would take a bullet for his country. Bradley’s play will determine how well the USA will fair in WQC. Without Landon Donavon, Bradley and Clint Dempsey will need to step up. Not only with there play but there leadership on and off the field. Landon Donavon has been the face of USA soccer since the 2002 World Cup. With his absence, Bradley is poised to move up the ladder of go to players. He has been solid since breaking into the starting XI under the previous coach, Bob Bradley, and hasn’t looked back.
“The Maestro” seems to be a fitting nickname for Bradley. His capability and power of slow the pace of game at any given moment or press on the attack has parallels to the conductor of an orchestra. Oh yeah, he plays in Italy too. With the talent of changing gears in a blink of an eye, Bradley’s habit of scoring thunderbolt-like shots from outside of the 18-yard box has bailed out the USA many times. He is clutch in big games, gets stuck in on defense and is not afraid to get forward. The skillset of his is of a complete midfielder. The best part of his game by far is he is continuing to get better.
Jermaine Jones – 31 – FC Schalke 04 (Germany – Bundesliga)
Jones is the unsung hero of this USA starting XI. His work rate is excellent. He fights for every ball and most of all he has the highest respect of all his teammates. Clint Dempsey said when interviewed about Jones, “He’s a battler.” Every good USA national side over the past years has had a tough “battler.” The likes of Alexi Lalas, Claudio Reyna and Cobi Jones all displayed similar drive and passion in there play.
Jermaine has exhibited on the domestic level in Germany how his physical play can help shape the speed of the game. Slotted next to Michael “The Maestro” Bradley, playing though the middle of the USA’s midfield is something most teams in WCQ will stay away from.
Graham “Zeus” Zusi – 26 – Sporting Kansas City (USA – MLS)
The first name I looked for when I read the press release of the USA World Cup Qualifying Roster was Zusi. I have been watching his play closely in the start of last season. His knack for assists resulted in accumulating 15, leading the entire MLS for the 2012 season. Zusi reminds me of a young Landon Donavon. He has a nose for goal, good speed and simply needs a chance to shine. I see Zusi emerging as a cornerstone of the USA starting XI for many years to come. The 26 year old has been use to stepping up when given a chance. He tallied the winning goals in the 2008 National-Semifinal and National Championship game for Maryland in the NCAA College Cup.
If the journey of the USA’s World Cup Qualifying matches was a novel, the main protagonist would Graham “Zeus” Zusi. The biggest attributes “Zeus” brings to the table are his suave passing, precise free kicks and finally giving the Red, White and Blues a good wide player. Often the lacking of a true winger-like-midfielder has required the USA to play more direct than they would like. By adding a player who can spread out the defense and provide good wide service opens up more space of the central players as well as the forwards. When we look back on the headlines summarizing the WCQ path of the USA, do not be surprised to see Zusi’s name often.
Brad Davis – 31 – Houston Dynamo (USA – MLS)
This is where my starting XI vastly differs from almost any other USA soccer writer, blogger or fan. Brad Davis has not really impressed anyone, except for me, in his appearances as of late. He played decent for 63 minutes against Belgium in a 2-4 lose. He was used as a sub against Mexico, which resulted in a 0-0 draw. Then, against Germany, he put in what I believe was a very good performance. He came on as substitute for Eddie Johnson at halftime. He was able to get forward, provided good service for Jozy Altidore and the other attacking players, along with Graham Zusi. He defending was disciplined and provided a good contrast in style to Clint Dempsey.
Putting Davis in the starting XI gives the USA another players who can provide decent and more importantly, constant, balls from out wide. The more reliable the service from the wide players, Zusi and Davis, the better the team plays. Stretching the defense gives more room for Altidore, Dempsey and occasionally Bradley to get up on the attack. Davis’s left foot has made him a living in Major League Soccer. He is the all time leader in assists for the Houston Dynamo and was named in the MLS Best XI for the 2012 season. It is still in question whether he will be able to step his play up to an acceptable one, on the regular, to compete internationally. If he can turn his play up, he could be a valuable asset for WCQ.
Clint Dempsey (Captain) – 30 – Tottenham Hotspur (England – EPL)
Goals on Goals on Goals. Dempsey has taken over the role of captaining the USA side with uncertainty over Carlos Bocanegra’s future and the absence of Landon Donavon. He had been under heavy questioning of whether or not he would be up for the challenge. So far he has silenced his critics. Scoring twice against Germany thus surpassing Eric Wynalda as the second most all-time leading USA goal scorer with a total of 35. Scoring 5 goals in the past 5 international matches, Clint has really turned his game up. We have always known how good Dempsey really is as he has been proving in the EPL for Fulham and now Tottenham. He had held the record for most goals scored by an American playing in Europe with 23 in all competitions. This was until last season when Jozy Altidore surpassed his total.
Dempsey has been filling the role an attacking midfielder/withdrawn forward exceptionally. Against Germany he provided continuously sound distribution of the ball to the wide players and added two phenomenal goals. The first, a perfect technically executed volley and the second a left footed strike from 20 yards plus. As long as Clint is scoring, the USA should have no problem cruising through World Cup Qualifying.
Forward:
Jozy Altidore – 23 – Alkmaar Zaanstreek (Netherlands – Eredivisie)
Jozy Altidore has established himself as the first choice striker of Jürgen Klinsmenn’s starting XI. He is coming off of a recorder-breaking season in the Netherlands, in which he tallied 23 league goals and 8 more in his team’s league cup. This total of 31 goals set a new record for American’s playing in Europe. Altidore seems to be on the verge of a transforming into a new player. His physical play against Germany included better holding of the ball as well as tallying a goal and an assist to Clint Dempsey. His willingness to work on his full skillset was also seen against Jamaica. He netted again but most importantly he was confident when in possession of the ball. Often the USA has been criticized, among many things, for not having a forward who can keep possession in the final and midfield third of the field. If Altidore can provide this, than the fluidity of possession and ball movement will improve greatly.
The other options Klinsmenn has at his disposal are in no comparison with Altidore and Dempsey. Eddie Johnson is unreliable and lacks composure in the 18-yard box. He gets caught ball watching to often which causes him to be called offside too much. Herculez Gomez is better suited to be used as a substitute. He provides a good work rate and good on field vision. Terrance Boyd is still growing but his time is not now. If Jozy’s new traits are here to stay then not only will the goals keep flying in but also a transfer to a big name club maybe in the near future.
The Rest of The Red, White and Blues
Goalies – Brad Guzan, Sean Johnson, Bill Hamid, Nick Rimando, Tally Hall
Defenders – Edgar Castillo, Clarence Goodson, Michael Parkhurst
Midfielders – Geoff Cameron, Joe Corona, Fabian Johnson, Maurice Edu, Stuart Holden, Danny Williams, Sacha Kljestan
Forwards - Terrence Boyd, Herculez Gomez, Eddie Johnson
FORMATION: 4 – 5 – 1
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