By: COLIN REESE
Who should the United States start in the Gold Cup, and what formation should the U.S. use?
The modern 4-3-3 formation seems best, particularly since a 4-3-3 is the same as the 4-2-3-1. Both formations use two midfielders tasked with the bulk of the recovery of possession in the midfield with three more attack-minded players behind an out-and-out striker or center forward.
The Midfield Three
Let’s start with the defensive midfielder anchoring the center of the Midfield Three.
Is it really necessary to have a midfield destroyer like Kyle Beckerman starting there when Michael Bradley thrives in this role?
Sure, Bradley has been outstanding with the freedom to go forward, but doesn’t also starting Mix Diskerud in the midfield afford Bradley defensive cover when he goes forward?
Alejandro Bedoya has shown a willingness to track back on defense and recover possession, so a Midfield Three of Bedoya-Bradley-Diskerud should provide plenty of defending and ball recovery.
The Front Three
If the Midfield Three is Bedoya, Bradley, and Diskerud, then what is the Front Three or attacking trident?
Jozy Altidore should start at center forward with Clint Dempsey at left wing, but who plays right wing: Fabian Johnson or Gyasi Zardes?
There’s no immediate answer to this question. On the one hand, Johnson is a naturally wide player that uses both feet interchangeably, but Zardes is an MLS forward on the rise that is something of a force of nature.
Just maybe Zardes combination of speed, running, raw athleticism, and attacking ability is more valuable that Johnson’s great wing play. Zardes has proven that he plays well in a wide role, and Zardes is more of a worker than Johnson with a bigger scoring threat.
The Back Four
How about the Back Four? Who should start in the defense?
DeAndre Yedlin and Greg Garza are the right back and left back with the qualities that the National Team needs, and Ventura Alvarado and John Brooks check all of the boxes for quality center backs.
There’s a widespread belief that Omar Gonzalez should start at right center back over Alvarado, but Alvarado is harder to wrong foot or beat for pace.
The fact that Alvarado was caught on the wrong side of his man on a header in a friendly is hardly a reason to declare Gonzalez the more solid defender.
Tactical Formation
As Brad Guzan is the clear starter in goal, then this USA XI is perhaps the best for this summer’s Gold Cup:
Guzan; Yedlin, Alvarado, Brooks, Garza; Bedoya, Bradley, Diskerud; Zardes, Altidore, Dempsey.
Conclusions
Two observations about this line-up warrant mentioning: 1.) Bedoya and Zardes provide a lot of running and defending on the right side of the field; and 2.) Dempsey’s natural inclination will be to drop deep making Zardes and Altidore a two-man striker force to stretch the defense and high press.
The United States is a national team with a roster and line-up still in flux, but this line-up sets the squad up to play a more modern and effective style of soccer that can help the United States to improve on the international level.