By: COLIN REESE
Recently, World Soccer Source has been limiting opinion pieces on the World Cup roster and on the Starting XI to only focusing on players with a high chance of being selected by Jürgen Klinsmann.
Joe Corona, Mix Diskerud, and Juan Agudelo may or may not be likely roster selections, but fair or unfair, it certainly appears as if Benny Feilhaber is on the outside looking in.
Previously, World Soccer Source projected a likely 30-man USA provisional roster for the World Cup, a possible USA Starting XI, and a Best USA XI for the World Cup, but this USA XI will be the boldest USA XI possible with only likely roster call-ups.
While this USA XI is described as bold, it isn’t reckless. No one proposed for this line-up is some unknown or unproven player that observers haven’t seen play. These are all professional footballers that have all been praised by American experts and pundits. This isn’t a group of players that are all hype.
This USA XI differs from the previous one in that Geoff Cameron has been moved up to play as the defensive midfielder, so that he is more involved with the USA’s passing and with the battle for the midfield.
Below is that Bold USA XI (4-2-3-1):
GOALKEEPER: Tim HOWARD (Everton)
Tim Howard is the USA Number 1 for now, although Brad Guzan is just as good. Howard keeps the USMNT in big games by saving shots that he has no right to be able to save.
RIGHT BACK: DeAndre YEDLIN (Seattle Sounders)
The Future is now. The USA must start DeAndre Yedlin in the World Cup if it wants to have a right back with the speed and skill to keep pace with opposing attackers. Yedlin’s defending is better than advertised, and Yedlin’s attacking ability is a major plus for the USMNT, as it allows the United States to not only have width but also to put the opposition on its heels.
CENTER BACK: Maurice EDU (Philadelphia Union)
Looking at the attackers in Group G, it makes sense to use a fast and quick center back with strong defensive skills. Edu is more of a defensive midfielder or central midfielder than a center back, but Edu has quality experience at this position. This is a change that the USA needs to make, especially with Geoff Cameron needed to partner with Michael Bradley in the midfield.
CENTER BACK: Michael OROZCO (Puebla)
Michael Orozco should really be a starting center back for the United States. No other American center back except John Brooks starts as a center back in a league better than MLS, and Orozco has the complete package of defensive skills, speed, quickness, technical ability, and clean tackling. Orozco is a better and more experienced center back than Brooks.
LEFT BACK: Fabian JOHNSON (Hoffenheim)
With Chris Klute and Greg Garza never incorporated into the national team, Fabian Johnson needs to start at left back for the U.S. to have a fast and skilled two-way left back. Johnson is a better player and defender than DaMarcus Beasley.
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER: Geoff CAMERON (Stoke City)
Of all the defensive midfielders available to Jürgen Klinsmann and the United States, Geoff Cameron is the best one in a system where Michael Bradley is deployed as a box-to-box midfielder. Cameron is more technical and better defensively than both Kyle Beckerman and Maurice Edu, and unlike Beckerman, he has the quickness and speed needed.
CENTRAL MIDFIELDER: Michael BRADLEY (Toronto FC)
Michael Bradley as the box-to-box midfielder is a no-brainer. Bradley is the key piece to the USMNT along with Clint Dempsey, and as a Number 8, Bradley has more freedom to influence the game in the attack and defensively.
RIGHT WING: Landon DONOVAN (LA Galaxy)
Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan are the best American players ever, and Donovan has earned the right to start at this spot; his speed and quickness are still there. Donovan plays his best with players like Clint Dempsey, and throwing Joe Corona in as the Number 10 should allow Donovan to play the way that he wants to play even more.
NUMBER 10: Joe CORONA (Tijuana)
Joe Corona could be omitted from the World Cup roster, but he really shouldn’t. Corona is a technical and creative player that can play on either wing or as the Number 10, and like Dempsey and Donovan thrived with Feilhaber in the past, so too should they thrive with a playmaker of Corona’s caliber. Corona has proven himself on the club and international level against very good competition by any standard.
LEFT WING: Clint DEMPSEY (Seattle Sounders)
Clint Dempsey has played some of his best soccer out left where he has the freedom to roam and go where the game takes him. Dempsey is certainly a gifted attacker and goalscorer, but both he and Donovan could use someone like Corona to give them a real playmaker to combine with to put them in better positions to score goals.
STRIKER: Juan AGUDELO (Stoke City/Utrecht)
Like Joe Corona, Juan Agudelo might be omitted from the USA World Cup roster, but he really deserves to be on it. Looking at both Jozy Altidore and Aron Jóhannsson, Agudelo is a more dangerous and effective striker at the international level. If Agudelo has proven anything on the international level, it’s that he makes the American attack more dangerous and he threatens the goal more than other American strikers. A creative, fast, quick, and audacious striker in a 6’2” frame in many ways combines the strengths of Altidore with Jóhannsson’s. Starting Agudelo over both Altidore and Jóhannsson is a controversial pick, but it is an inspired and courageous pick.
