Selecting a USA Copa America squad (April 2016)
If you’re a fan of the U.S. Men’s National Team, then you should be concerned about how good the competition will be in the Copa America Centenario. Whether or not Lionel Messi, Luís Suárez, or Neymar play, most of the national teams are much better than the United States. The United States have a decent national team with certain players who are much better than the rest of the team, but with the best American footballers playing together, the United States can play better than ever under Jürgen Klinsmann’s tenure as coach.
In the last World Cup qualifier against Guatemala, Klinsmann made sure to not field an unbalanced lineup with players out of position, and several players like DeAndre Yedlin and Steve Birnbaum proved to be improvements to previous players at their positions. This is something positive for the United States. With Geoff Cameron partnering with Birnbaum in the center of the defense, the American defense looks more technical and less porous.
I’ve always contended that Klinsmann doesn’t ever have a first team in mind with substitutes for each position, and this causes him to select a roster that has too many players for some positions and not enough for others.
Looking at the American player pool and recent U.S. games, it is possible to propose a decent 23-man roster starting with the goalkeepers and on down to the center forwards.
Goalkeepers
Brad Guzan, William Yarbrough, David Bingham
Brad Guzan is the Number 1 right now as he’s younger than Howard and playing regularly in the EPL. The second-choice goalkeeper should be William Yarbrough who has performed solidly for the United States when given the chance, plus he’s a starting goalkeeper in Liga MX. Yarbrough is a reliable goalkeeper that’s good with his hands and feet, and he’s in good form. Maybe some of the other goalkeepers in the pool are just as good or better, but Yarbrough is a wise choice here. David Bingham looks like the third goalkeeper for now. He has been widely praised for his play in MLS. Clint Irwin has a case here as well.
Defenders
Center Backs (4): Geoff Cameron, Steve Birnbaum, John Brooks, Matt Miazga
Right Backs (2): DeAndre Yedlin, Fabian Johnson
Left Backs (2): Brek Shea, Jorge Villafaña
Cameron and Birnbaum seem like the best center back options right now, but Matt Miazga and John Brooks are quality center backs that also bring the combination of skill, athleticism, and defending. Let’s not forget the Miazga is on Chelsea’s roster, and Brooks is a proven Bundesliga center back who is a frequent scapegoat for USA fans.
If you follow American soccer, then the outside backs are self-explanatory. With two right backs and two left backs listed, this group is already better than Klinsmann’s normal treatment of outside backs as an afterthought. Yedlin and Johnson are the best starting options, but there is some concern that Johnson doesn’t always look like he has the stamina to track back on defense. Shea normally looks like he has more energy to chase down attackers out wide. Johnson is a much better winger than outside back, but he’s needed here on the roster to fit in the midfielders needed below.
Midfielders
Defensive Midfielders (4): Michael Bradley, Perry Kitchen, Fatai Alashe, Kellyn Acosta
Attacking Midfielders (4): Dillon Powers, Darlington Nagbe, Sebastian Lletget, Christian Pulisic
The midfielders included here are essentially two defensive midfielders, two box-to-box midfielders, two attacking midfielders, and two wings (Ethan Finlay listed in the forwards is a winger by trade as well and Sebastian Lletget is really a Number 10). With these eight midfielders, the American roster actually has the personnel needed to field a balanced and effective three or four-man midfield. Fatai Alashe and Kellyn Acosta are great examples of how Bradley is needed more as the defensive midfielder instead of the box-to-box midfielder which is where these two thrive, and Klinsmann rates both of them. Kitchen is a true Number 6, and he has shown himself to be a player with the requisite athleticism and skill-set to play the defensive midfielder role at the international level. Dillon Powers hasn’t been used by Klinsmann before, but can anyone who follows American soccer really doubt this player? One area where American soccer has improved is the arrival of midfielders like Powers who have a higher baseline of skill than most of the American players before them. For this writer, Sebastian Lletget is too talented to leave off. Lletget has really stood out in the American player pool as a talented, technical, and creative attacking player that can really play. The LA Galaxy midfielder/forward is a true Number 10 that can play wide or centrally and combine with talented players like Dempsey. Lletget is a goal-scoring playmaker with good vision and creativity, and the U.S. really needs those qualities. Lletget also plays as a second striker. During the month of April Christian Pulisic has proven to be a real talent for Borussia Dortmund. This player is much more than hype, as the Bundesliga player has displayed individual skill, quickness, and creativity against strong European club competition.
Forwards
Second Strikers (2): Clint Dempsey, Ethan Finlay
Center Forwards (2): Juan Agudelo, Rubio Rubin
With Juan Agudelo and Rubio Rubin as the center forwards, World Soccer Source is picking the skill and dynamism of those two over the familiarity with seeing Jozy Altidore’s name always on the team sheet. Altidore is a capable Number 9, but Agudelo and Rubin bring more skill and activity to the head of the attack. Ethan Finlay is needed to play as a second striker or as a wing on either side. Finlay brings plenty of passing ability and speed to the attack, and he also knows how to put the ball in the back of the net. Clint Dempsey is still the undisputed best American player, and he’s needed to score and lead the attack.
Article Updated on April 29, 2016