USA Starting XI Options for the 2014 World Cup

 

 

Joe Benny Corona. (Photo: MexSport)
Joe Benny Corona. (Photo: MexSport)

 

 

The typical United States Men’s National Team Starting XI as picked by Jürgen Klinsmann will be a recipe for defeat in the 2014 World Cup, and the United States has progressed too far as a footballing nation and developed too many technically-skilled players to field mediocre starting line-ups, especially in Brazil with Neymar on the rise. The United States needs to take advantage of its new talents and all of its progress over the past 20 years, so that the USMNT can play to win.

 

Whether one proposes using a greater number of the United States’ more-skilled proven players at the same time or whether one favors inserting some of the new American talents, something has to change in Klinsmann’s line-ups, and the United States has plenty of Starting XI options.

 

Below are some ideas ranging from experienced Starting XIs to even a Starting XI if all of the core group of American players are unavailable.

Option 1:

4-2-3-1 Formation with Experienced Players:

 

GOALKEEPER: Tim HOWARD

RIGHT BACK: Jonathan SPECTOR

CENTER BACK: Michael OROZCO

CENTER BACK: John Anthony BROOKS

LEFT BACK: Eric LICHAJ

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER: Geoff CAMERON

BOX-TO-BOX MIDFIELDER: Michael BRADLEY

RIGHT ATTACKING MIDFIELDER: Landon DONOVAN

CENTRAL ATTACKING MIDFIELDER: Benny FEILHABER

LEFT ATTACKING MIDFIELDER: Clint DEMPSEY

STRIKER: Jozy ALTIDORE

 

Option 2:

4-2-3-1 Formation with Experienced and New Players:

 

GOALKEEPER: Tim HOWARD

RIGHT BACK: DeAndre YEDLIN

CENTER BACK: Andrew FARRELL

CENTER BACK: Shane O’NEILL

LEFT BACK: Chris KLUTE

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER: Geoff CAMERON

BOX-TO-BOX MIDFIELDER: Michael BRADLEY

RIGHT ATTACKING MIDFIELDER: Joe Benny CORONA

CENTRAL ATTACKING MIDFIELDER: Benny FEILHABER

LEFT ATTACKING MIDFIELDER: Clint DEMPSEY

STRIKER: Jozy ALTIDORE

 

Option 3: 

4-2-3-1 Formation with Experienced and New Players and Juan Agudelo as the Striker:

 

GOALKEEPER: Tim HOWARD

RIGHT BACK: DeAndre YEDLIN

CENTER BACK: Andrew FARRELL

CENTER BACK: Shane O’NEILL

LEFT BACK: Chris KLUTE

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER: Geoff CAMERON

BOX-TO-BOX MIDFIELDER: Michael BRADLEY

RIGHT ATTACKING MIDFIELDER: Joe Benny CORONA

CENTRAL ATTACKING MIDFIELDER: Benny FEILHABER

LEFT ATTACKING MIDFIELDER: Clint DEMPSEY

STRIKER: Juan AGUDELO

 

Option 4: 

4-1-3-2 Formation with Jozy Altidore and Juan Agudelo as Strikers:

 

GOALKEEPER: Tim HOWARD

RIGHT BACK: Andrew FARRELL

CENTER BACK: Geoff CAMERON

CENTER BACK: Shane O’NEILL

LEFT BACK: Chris KLUTE

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER: Michael BRADLEY

RIGHT ATTACKING MIDFIELDER: Joe Benny CORONA

CENTRAL ATTACKING MIDFIELDER: Benji JOYA

LEFT ATTACKING MIDFIELDER: Clint DEMPSEY

STRIKER: Jozy ALTIDORE

STRIKER: Juan AGUDELO

 

Option 5:

4-3-2-1 Formation with One Defensive Midfielder and Two Box-To-Box Midfielders:

 

GOALKEEPER: Tim HOWARD

RIGHT BACK: DeAndre YEDLIN

CENTER BACK: Andrew FARRELL

CENTER BACK: Shane O’NEILL

LEFT BACK: Chris KLUTE

BOX-TO-BOX MIDFIELDER: Benji JOYA

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER: Geoff CAMERON

BOX-TO-BOX MIDFIELDER: Michael BRADLEY

RIGHT ATTACKING MIDFIELDER: Joe Benny CORONA

LEFT ATTACKING MIDFIELDER: Clint DEMPSEY

STRIKER: Juan AGUDELO

 

Option 6: 

4-2-3-1 Formation with Experienced and New Players and Juan Agudelo as the Striker and Freddy Adu as the playmaker:

 

GOALKEEPER: Tim HOWARD

RIGHT BACK: DeAndre YEDLIN

CENTER BACK: Andrew FARRELL

CENTER BACK: Shane O’NEILL

LEFT BACK: Chris KLUTE

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER: Geoff CAMERON

BOX-TO-BOX MIDFIELDER: Michael BRADLEY

RIGHT ATTACKING MIDFIELDER: Joe Benny CORONA

CENTRAL ATTACKING MIDFIELDER: Freddy ADU

LEFT ATTACKING MIDFIELDER: Clint DEMPSEY

STRIKER: Juan AGUDELO

 

Option 7:

If Tim Howard, Geoff Cameron, Michael Bradley, Landon Donovan, Benny Feilhaber, Clint Dempsey, and Jozy Altidore are all injured or suspended:

 

GOALKEEPER: Brad GUZAN

RIGHT BACK: DeAndre YEDLIN

CENTER BACK: Andrew FARRELL

CENTER BACK: Gale AGBOSSOUMONDE

LEFT BACK: Chris KLUTE

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER: Shane O’NEILL

RIGHT ATTACKING MIDFIELDER: Benji JOYA

CENTRAL ATTACKING MIDFIELDER: Mix DISKERUD

LEFT ATTACKING MIDFIELDER: Joe Benny CORONA

STRIKER: Juan AGUDELO

SECOND STRIKER: Freddy ADU