By: COLIN REESE
World Soccer Source backs eight midfielders for the World Cup roster, and these eight midfielders are limited to players with a reasonable chance of being selected by Jürgen Klinsmann, which likely excludes Benny Feilhaber.
Given his skill, form, and experience, Feilhaber is still a possible though unlikely selection for the 2014 World Cup.
With the caveat that Geoff Cameron and Maurice Edu are both midfielders and center backs and with the caveat that Cameron is listed as a defender, here are the eight USMNT midfielders that World Soccer Source backs for the World Cup supported by explanations.
Below are three defensive midfielders and five attacking midfielders:
1. Michael BRADLEY (Toronto FC)
Position: Defensive Midfielder/Central Midfielder
Michael Bradley can play both as a defensive midfielder and as a box-to-box midfielder. His ability to either play deep in the midfield to protect the backline and to be one of the orchestrators of the USA’s passing from the back is just as important as his ability to play a box-to-box midfielder role where he’s more involved in the attack.
2. Jermaine JONES (Besiktas)
Position: Defensive Midfielder/Central Midfielder
Jermaine Jones doesn’t partner well with Bradley at present, but this is fixable. Jones can play the Number 6 role really well when Bradley isn’t playing because Jones knows that he has to play deeper. When Jones and Bradley play together, then both want to play the Number 8 role, and Bradley is always the one that has to sacrifice or is willing to sacrifice his attacking skills for the sake of the team’s defense. Jones’ technical ability, athleticism, and intense tackling will be important for the United States.
3. Maurice EDU (Philadelphia Union)
Position: Defensive Midfielder/Central Midfielder/Center Back
Maurice Edu is a key roster inclusion for the United States because Geoff Cameron will be needed in the defense most of the time, and if Bradley or Jones are unavailable then Edu is the logical replacement, if Cameron is in fact playing center back or right back. From a technical standpoint, Kyle Beckerman is a skilled player, but unfortunately, a strong argument can be made that Beckerman’s lack of speed and quickness makes him vulnerable to not only being beaten but also tackling players from behind when beaten. Edu’s technical ability and passing are much better than he gets credit for. If one combines his athleticism and defending with his sound technical ability, then Edu is a better package of qualities than Beckerman.
4. Clint DEMPSEY (Seattle Sounders)
Position: Attacking Midfielder/Second Striker
Clint Dempsey is an obvious selection, and he’s an attacker than can play either as an attacking midfielder out wide or centrally or as a second striker. Dempsey’s style of play makes his actual position on paper less important than him having quality teammates to combine with to keep possession and create scoring chances. Clint Dempsey, like Landon Donovan, is the best American player and the best American player at putting the ball in the back of the net.
5. Landon DONOVAN (LA Galaxy)
Position: Attacking Midfielder/Second Striker
Like Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan is an attacking player that can play any attacking role except for the Number 9 position. Whether out wide or in the center, it’s only important that Donovan have technical and quality players around him than he can combine with to play the fluid style of one-to-two touch soccer that he and Dempsey like to play.
6. Mix DISKERUD (Rosenborg)
Position: Playmaker
With Benny Feilhaber on the outside looking in for whatever reason, both Mix Diskerud and Joe Corona are worthy of roster spots with or without Feilhaber on the roster. Diskerud has a creative skill-set as a playmaker that can help Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, and Jozy Altidore to play better. Diskerud has proven that he has a special skill-set, and he’s proven that he can excel against high-level international competition. With Dempsey, Donovan, and Green on the roster as wings, Diskerud is needed more than Graham Zusi no matter how much Zusi continues to improve.
7. Joe CORONA (Tijuana)
Position: Playmaker/Wide Attacking Midfielder
Joe Corona has proven himself on the club level and the international level, and his technical ability and creativity are undeniable. This is the roster spot that many people believe belongs to Alejandro Bedoya, but Bedoya doesn’t bring the same ability to play as well on either wing or to play as a Number 10. Corona is a goal-scoring attacking midfielder. The USA needs Corona more than Bedoya because Corona can not only replace Dempsey or Donovan on the wings, but he can also play as a Number 10 in between them.
8. Julian GREEN (Bayern Munich)
Position: Winger/Second Striker
Julian Green is young and inexperienced, but he’s on the books at Bayern Munich. The hype surrounding him proved to be understandable against Mexico. Green is a skilled, two-footed, fast, and exciting winger that had no problem combining well with Dempsey and Donovan against Mexico. Green has the talent to play in the World Cup, and his ability to not only attack at pace but also to combine with other American attackers looked international-caliber. Green and Juan Agudelo are the soccer equivalent of basketball’s “instant offense.”
Conclusion:
These eight midfielders give the United States Men’s National Team three defensive midfielders, four wingers, and three Number 10s (with Joe Corona counting as a wing and as a Number 10),
This allows the United States to hypothetically start Jermaine Jones and Michael Bradley behind Landon Donovan, Joe Corona, and Clint Dempsey as the five midfielders with Maurice Edu, Mix Diskerud, Julian Green, and Geoff Cameron (listed as a defender) as substitutes.
In short, these eight players are a balanced combination of talented midfielders of different types that fulfill the USMNT’s needs.