Who Should Make the USA Roster Against Mexico and Costa Rica in World Cup Qualifying?
The United States Men’s National Team soon faces off against Mexico and Costa Rica in World Cup qualifying, and those two national teams are both strong opponents who play better soccer. The United States needs to commit to fielding more skilled players and a playmaker, which Jürgen Klinsmann has been doing with Sacha Kljestan. World Soccer Sources rates Sebastian Lletget and Lee Nguyen better at the playmaker position, but Nguyen and Lletget can play together as Lletget is an excellent wing player who can beat defenders off the dribble and set up goals.
While our picks deviate from Jürgen Klinsmann’s likely picks, World Soccer Source backs these players as technical and athletic players with strong soccer minds. This isn’t a prediction; it’s an opinion. Much of Klinsmann’s core group of players is here minus Geoff Cameron who is said to be unavailable due to injury. Klinsmann’s picks have been better, but World Soccer Source still has a problem with the lack of attacking midfielders and skill players.
Goalkeepers- Tim Howard (Everton), Brad Guzan (Middlesbrough), William Yarbrough (Club León)
Say what you want about the overall skill level and soccer ability of the U.S. Men’s National Team, but they have always had goalkeepers. Ethan Horvath is another option as the third-choice goalkeeper. Who knows yet whether Yarbrough or Horvath is better?
Center Backs- Steve Birnbaum (DC United), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Andrew Farrell (New England Revolution), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City)
*Geoff Cameron is injured
These center back choices are set up to have Steve Birnbaum starting with John Brooks, and this is more or less the first-choice pairing with an injured Geoff Cameron. Omar Gonzalez is a proven center back, but his lateral quickness and overall athletic ability are below those of Birnbaum. Mexico and Costa Rica have quick and skillful attacking midfielders who should be able to throw Gonzalez off balance. Andrew Farrell is listed below under center backs instead of right back where he has been playing for the New England Revolution; Farrell is a center back by trade who also uses his speed and individual skill well as a right back. Omar Gonzalez was reportedly having knee pain, so perhaps having both Steve Birnbaum (who was injured) and Gonzalez on the roster is risky.
Right Backs- DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest)
DeAndre Yedlin and Eric Lichaj are the clear best right backs in the U.S. Men’s National Team pool, but Klinsmann has never really rated Lichaj for whatever reason. Almost no one agrees with Klinsmann in this regard.
Left Backs- Fabian Johnson (Borussia Monchengladbach), Robbie Rogers (LA Galaxy)
Right now, Fabian Johnson and Robbie Rogers are looking like the best left back options for the U.S. Jorge Villafaña has earned a spot on the national team, and Kellyn Acosta – a center midfielder by trade- has performed well when asked to play left back or right back.
Defensive/Central Midfielders- Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Perry Kitchen (Hearts), Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers)
World Soccer Source sees Michael Bradley as a defensive midfielder or Number 6 midfielder even if Sigi Schmid sees him as more of a box-to-box midfielder or Number 8. Perry Kitchen is the other defensive midfielder in the field who looks ready to back-up Bradley or start with him. Darlington Nagbe has performed well for the national team when given minutes, and his type of ball skills, speed, and non-stop running could really help the United States. Kellyn Acosta is another important player to include because he can play either as a defensive midfielder or box-to-box midfielder, and he has been one of the young standout American players for his overall ability and athleticism. Acosta would be a strong partner for Bradley as Acosta would stay back and defend when needed or advanced forward when needed; this allows Bradley to alternate between playing deep in front of the defense or bombing forward with possession.
Attacking Midfielders and Wings- Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Monchengladbach), Kelyn Rowe (New England Revolution), Ethan Finlay (Columbus Crew)
These attacking midfielder and wing positions have been a major weak point for Klinsmann, and a lack of talented options has not been a problem. Klinsmann has simply refused to use a playmaker until very recently, but there are capable players in the pool. Lee Nguyen, Benny Feilhaber, and Sacha Kljestan were all specifically mentioned by Sigi Schmid in an interview with Alexi Lalas for the Mutant Gene Podcast as suitable playmakers for the national team, and now the United States also has Sebastian Lletget who can also play on either wing, in central midfield, or as a second striker. World Soccer Source sees Lletget, Nguyen, and Christian Pulisic as perhaps the ideal line of three attacking midfielders in front of Bradley and Acosta as the holding midfielders. Kelyn Rowe and Ethan Finlay provide needed depth in the wings, and they can both play on either side. Rowe is also a Number 10 himself.
Center Forwards- Bobby Wood (Hamburg), Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution)
It was difficult to leave Jordan Morris off this list, but World Soccer Source went with Juan Agudelo who is likely the most talented and impressive striker in the American pool. With that being said, Bobby Wood is still a lock at striker for this writer and Klinsmann. Wood is a smooth and skillful center forward who attacks the goal very aggressively and stretches the defense. Compared to Jozy Altidore who simply doesn’t attack with the same ferocity of Wood, Wood really stands out. Wood constantly threatens the defense and makes run on and off the ball. Wood can finish with both feet and his head, and he combines well with forward partners. Altidore is still an impressive forward who has underrated creativity and technical ability, which he has shown time and time again during his career. Altidore has suffered the most by Klinsmann’s reluctance to use a playmaker in the past, but Wood has done a better job of making runs dictating a pass from his midfielders or striker partner. There’s nothing wrong with starting Wood and Altidore together, and this doubling up of center forwards in the lineup is the type of attacking shift the national team needs.
Our Preferred USA Starting Lineup (4-2-3-1): Howard; Yedlin, Farrell, Brooks, Johnson; Bradley, Acosta; Lletget, Nguyen, Pulisic; Wood.