The United States faces off against Mexico on April 15. With the caveat that Jürgen Klinsmann refuses to use Benny Feilhaber, here is the USA XI that World Soccer Source backs.
This United States Men’s National Team XI uses a midfield diamond formation with Maurice Edu as the defensive midfielder, Michael Bradley and Mix Diskerud as central midfielders, and Joe Corona as the attacking midfielder or Number 10 to feed the strikers and orchestrate the attack.
Up top in the attack, Juan Agudelo and Clint Dempsey form the strike partnership with Jozy Altidore out suspended for cussing out a referee.
With William Yarbrough in goal, the Defensive Back Four is made up of DeAndre Yedlin, Ventura Alvarado, Michael Orozco, and Greg Garza from right to left.
The World Soccer Source USMNT XI (4-1-2-1-2) For USA vs. Mexico:
Readers will immediately notice the absence of Oscar, Willian, Luiz Gustavo, and Elias, but World Soccer Source is backing David Luiz to play as the defensive midfielder with Fernandinho playing as the central midfielder.
This obviously gives Marquinhos the start at center back with Thiago Silva.
By starting David Luiz and Fernandinho as the defensive midfielders, Brazil would have excellent ball-winning in its midfield with the distribution of David Luiz and Fernandinho to release Brazil’s attackers: Lucas, Felipe Anderson, Neymar, and Luiz Adriano.
Using Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, and David Luiz down the middle makes the Brazilian defense very difficult to penetrate, and Fernandinho only bolsters this defensive strength.
Although often playing as a defensive midfielder, Fernandinho is an excellent center midfielder full of running, vision, ball-winning, and incisive passes through the defense.
An attack with Lucas, Felipe Anderson, and Neymar is likely Brazil’s most talented, most creative, and most dangerous option, and Luiz Adriano is somewhat the default option to play as the Number 9. Nevertheless, Luiz Adriano’s ability to stretch defenses, attack defenses at pace, outmuscle defenders, and finish is impressive.
Pato is Brazil’s most talented Number 9, and by far the most explosive and deadly, but Luiz Adriano is the best Brazilian Number 9 right now.
Danilo has been a revelation at right back, and he’s the best Brazilian right back since Maicon. Only Bruno Peres is close to Danilo.
At left back, Marcelo is just better than Filipe Luís. For many, Filipe Luís is a more disciplined defender, but Marcelo is too good, too proven, and too experienced to not start in the Copa America.
World Soccer Source’s Best Brazil XI differs slightly from Dunga’s first-choice XI, but starting Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, David Luiz, and Fernandinho together makes the Brazilian defense and defensive midfield arguably the best in the world.
Willian, Oscar, and Neymar is a world-class line of three attacking midfielders, but Lucas, Felipe Anderson, and Neymar is more talented, faster, and more Brazilian.
Below is World Soccer Source’s Best Brazil XI for the Copa America:
Goalkeeper: Diego Alves
Right Back: Danilo
Center Back: Thiago Silva
Center Back: Marquinhos
Left Back: Marcelo
Defensive Midfielder: David Luiz
Central Midfielder: Fernandinho
Right Attacker: Lucas
Attacking Midfielder: Felipe Anderson
Left Attacker: Neymar
Striker: Luiz Adriano
Brazil XI:Diego Alves; Danilo, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Marcelo; David Luiz, Fernandinho; Lucas, Felipe Anderson, Neymar; Luiz Adriano.
Javier Pastore (Photo: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)
By: COLIN REESE
Argentina’s current squad is even stronger than Argentina’s outstanding 2014 World Cup squad. Carlos Tevez was a criminal snub from Argentina’s World Cup squad, and Javier Pastore would have helped to maximize Lionel Messi’s ability to score more goals by making him less responsible for creating goals and more focused on scoring goals.
Pastore has proven to be a magician of a passer, dribbler, and goal-scorer, and like Kaká described Zidane, Pastore appears to glide around the field.
His speed and quickness are very underrated, and he’s developed a reputation as a nutmeg master than appears to average at least one per game.
Pastore has bolstered his work rate and defending, and Pastore can be seen all over the field stamping his influence on the game and controlling the passing tempo and speed of play. Paris Saint-Germain has played their most beautiful and effective soccer when Pastore has played. Pastore deserves to be a starting lock for Argetnina.
Along with Pastore, Roberto Pereyra is a welcomed and key piece to the Argentinean National Team. The Juventus midfielder first appeared like a quality central midfield option for Juventus, but now Pereyra has demonstrated that he’s a creative and explosive player with lots to offer in the attack. Pereyra can also play any position in the midfield very well.
A central midfield duo of Javier Mascherano and Roberto Pereyra is an upgrade for Argentina, and with Pastore ideally lining up in front of them, Argentina’s midfield is even better than the 2014 World Cup addition.
While Gonzalo Higuaín is more of a Number 9 than Carlos Tevez, Tevez is an excellent Number 9, and using him as the striker is no different than Chile using Alexis Sánchez as their striker. Tevez gets behind defenses. He holds up play. He drops back to collect the ball and create, and he scores lots and lots of goals.
Below is World Soccer Source’s opinion of the Best Argentina XI for the 2015 Copa America in a 4-2-3-1 formation:
Goalkeeper: Sergio ROMERO
Right Back: Pablo ZABALETA
Center Back: Nicolás OTAMENDI
Center Back: Ezequiel GARAY
Left Back: Marcos ROJO
Defensive Midfielder: Javier MASCHERANO
Central Midfielder: Roberto PEREYRA
Right Wing: Lionel MESSI
Attacking Midfielder: Javier PASTORE
Left Wing: Ángel DI MARÍA
Striker: Carlos TEVEZ
Argentina XI:Romero; Zabaleta, Otamendi, Garay, Rojo; Mascherano, Pereyra; Messi, Pastore, Di María; Tevez.
This isn’t Jürgen Klinsmann’s likely 23-man Gold Cup roster. This is World Soccer Source’s opinion of the 23 U.S. internationals that deserve to represent the United States Men’s National Team at the 2015 Gold Cup.
It goes without saying, but many deserving players were left off this list due to a need to have a balanced roster with the right amount of center backs, outside backs, defensive midfielders, attacking midfielders, wingers, and forwards.
Many of the players with the talent and mentality to do well this summer have been seeing limited club playing time, so it is premature to back them until things change. This applies to many of the players in the U.S.’s youth national teams playing outside of MLS.
Jermaine Jones was omitted because the United States has other capable center backs, and it’s time to let the younger center backs play because the United States needs this for its long-term success.
Alejandro Bedoya is a fast and technical player excelling in Europe with Nantes in Ligue 1. This is a commendable achievement, but, Bedoya was dropped from World Soccer Source’s USA roster to allow room for both Kelyn Rowe and José Villarreal because World Soccer Source considers them to be better at creating and scoring goals. They also play under more control. Both players can also play centrally and in wide positions better than Bedoya in World Soccer Source’s opinion.
Joe Corona is a more important player for the United States in this writer’s opinion because Corona is a better playmaker than Bedoya. Corona can play as a Number 10, on either wing, or as a second striker. Bedoya’s value is attacking at pace, but the United States really needs more possession with purpose and assists. This is what Corona brings to the squad, and Corona also scores goals.
Klinsmann’s refusal to use Benny Feilhaber is inexcusable, especially given the problems the U.S. has had with possession, with creating scoring opportunities, and displaying a degree of technical skill in the midfield against elite competition. Feilhaber deserves to represent the United States. Klinsmann clearly has some personal problem with Feilhaber, and Klinsmann needs to let it go.
Some other selections warrant some deeper explanation. Both Geoff Cameron and Maurice Edu are versatile players that excel as defensive midfielders and center backs, and Edu can also play as a central midfielder, while Cameron also plays both outside back positions.
These two players give the National Team depth at the defensive midfielder spot, so Bradley can either play as a center defensive midfielder directly in front of the Back Four or as a center midfielder of the box-to-box variety, depending on how attack-minded the United States wishes to play.
Andrew Farrell played as a right back last season for the New England Revolution, but this season he’s playing his natural position of center back. Farrell is a quality center back, but he’s also an outside back that provides more of the combination of defending, speed, and technical ability that the USA needs from its outside backs. Farrell can also play as a midfield destroyer in a pinch.
Robbie Rogers has been playing as a left back, but the right-footed player can play as a right back or in the midfield on either side as a midfielder, which is where he used to always play.
Looking at the bigger problems with Klinsmann’s player selection, the USSF cannot afford to keep snubbing the majority of the quality American players in the 20-25 year old range that aren’t dual-nationals from Europe, as Klinsmann has largely been doing.
So, below is World Soccer Source’s 23-man list of the players that deserve to represent the Stars and Stripes this summer at the 2015 Gold Cup:
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan, William Yarbrough, Clint Irwin
Defenders: Ventura Alvarado, John Brooks, Maurice Edu, Shane O’Neill, DeAndre Yedlin, Greg Garza, Andrew Farrell, Robbie Rogers
Midfielders: Michael Bradley, Geoff Cameron, Dillon Powers, Benny Feilhaber, Mix Diskerud, Joe Corona
Forwards: Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Juan Agudelo, Gyasi Zardes, José Villarreal, Kelyn Rowe
World Soccer Source’s USA XI (4-3-3):Guzan; Yedlin, Alvarado, Brooks, Garza; Bradley, Cameron, Feilhaber; Corona, Altidore, Dempsey.
Michael Bradley (Photo: Garrett Ellwood / Colorado Rapids)
By: COLIN REESE
As a midfield trio, Michael Bradley, Geoff Cameron, and Benny Feilhaber make a lot of sense.
That’s a box-to-box midfielder, a defensive midfielder, and an attacking midfielder.
This formula is used by many of the top national and club teams in the world, and with Feilhaber’s improved defending and work rate, Feilhaber would also be helping Bradley and Cameron to win back possession.
Winning the battle for the midfield is a crucial component to winning games, especially against elite teams full of pass masters.
In the American player pool for the national team, Bradley, Cameron, and Feilhaber are arguably the very best options for the central midfielder spot, the defensive midfielder spot, and the attacking midfielder spot.
Mix Diskerud is certainly a talented attacking midfielder that is a two-way player that is proven against top-level competition, but Feilhaber is more experienced and arguably better against the best teams. Either way, Diskerud is capable of playing this role as well.
Given all of the line-ups and players that Jürgen Klinsmann has used in the American midfield, it is quite surprising that a trio of Bradley, Cameron, and Feilhaber has never been used, particularly because Klinsmann likes the 4-3-3 formation.
Bradley, Cameron, and Feilhaber form a group of experienced U.S. internationals that can win back possession and keep possession, and all three players stand out amongst most American players for their technical ability. Clint Dempsey is more technical and creative than all three, but a defensive midfielder and central midfielder with loads of two-footed technical ability and creativity is nothing to be taken lightly.
The United States is often struggling to keep possession against the top national teams, if not totally overrun, so it makes it even more baffling that Klinsmann wouldn’t immediately gravitate towards starting a three-man midfield with three different types of midfielders that can play together at the speed of elite international soccer.
Klinsmann views recruiting dual-nationals from Europe as the solution to improving the USMNT, but the real problem has been not using the right combination of players.
Trying new players and thinking outside of the box are great tactics, but totally abandoning proven tactics and overlooking proven players doesn’t help the national team.
Based on the American player pool, arguing that the United States has a better midfield trio that Bradley, Cameron, and Feilhaber is hard to do.
Firstly, Cameron and Bradley form a defensive midfielder partnership where each knows and accepts their different roles, and secondly, Feilhaber is the most technical, the most experienced, and the most proven of the American attacking midfielders.
His progress in becoming a two-way midfielder that defends more and covers more territory in winning back possession only makes him more worthy now than in the past. At 30 years old, he’s enjoying his peak years.
Bradley, Cameron, and Feilhaber. Three proven, technical, and athletic American midfielders that play different but complementary roles.
The USA National Team needs to try out this midfield trio to look to stabilize and improve the squad.
Every one of the 23 players listed below are experienced players that have the quality to excel at the international level, and essentially every one of these players sees consistent playing time at the club level.
There are three goalkeepers, four center backs, four outside backs, six midfielders (including several defensive midfielders that also play center back), and six forwards (including players that are attacking midfielders/forwards).
Here is World Soccer Source’s USA 23-man roster proposal for the upcoming international friendlies as of right now:
Goalkeepers (3): Tim Howard (Everton), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Clint Irwin (Colorado Rapids)
Defenders (8): Ventura Alvarado (Club América), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Steve Birnbaum (DC United), Michael Orozco (Puebla), DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham), Greg Garza (Club Tijuana), Kofi Sarkodie (Houston Dynamo), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
Midfielders (6): Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Maurice Edu (Philadelphia Union), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City), Mix Diskerud (NYC FC), Dillon Powers (Colorado Rapids)
Forwards (6): Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana)
Other Players To Watch: Rubio Rubin, Lee Nguyen, Alejandro Guido, Shane O’Neill, Matt Hedges, Alonso Hernandez, Kelyn Rowe, José Villarreal, Chris Klute, Andrew Farrell, Robbie Rogers, Benji Joya, Paul Arriola, Perry Kitchen, Will Trapp, Kellyn Acosta.
Gyasi Zardes, USMNT Starter. (Photo: Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)
By: COLIN REESE
Gyasi Zardes was a player that American soccer fans and observers of American soccer wanted to see play international soccer, and he exceeded expectations.
Zardes didn’t just have a good showing that included a great solo run and an inch perfect assist delivered from a sprint, Zardes played like a versatile attacker that could keep possession in midfield, play wide, play centrally, and attack the opposition directly.
The LA Galaxy striker proved himself to be a USMNT attacker with surprising versatility. Zardes was handed a national team start, and he played where the game dictated rather than playing like a robot that looked like he was just trying to follow the coaching staff’s instructions like Graham Zusi does.
Once the whistle was blown, Zardes decided to just put his stamp on the game by combining with Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Mix Diskerud, and Jozy Altidore. Zardes made himself a useful teammate that his more experienced teammates trusted to include in the game, and he didn’t ask for their permission. He included himself.
When Zardes recovered a bouncing ball with space in front of him, he didn’t wait for an invitation to sprint at the defense and release Dempsey with an elegant pass to score a world-class goal.
Dempsey made a hard finish look easy, but the USMNT does not have many players that would have had the spirit and ability to charge the defense and feed the USA’s best player.
Lots of players would have tried to play their first international game as a starter like a Yes Man looking to follow instructions and not make a mistake, but Zardes was totally unfazed by starting with Dempsey and Bradley; he didn’t defer to them.
Time and time again Dempsey has displayed his willingness to combine with anyone that is looking to play exciting and skillful attacking soccer, and he clearly enjoyed playing with Zardes.
Zardes has two huge backers to be a USMNT starter (Dempsey and Bradley), plus Zardes has the vote of the person with the most power, the coach.
No matter what Klinsmann decides to do about the central midfield positions, Zardes has likely won himself a starting spot on the national team.
With Zardes starting, the USA probably needs to start Geoff Cameron with Bradley to give the squad another defensive midfielder in the starting line-up, but this still leaves room for Mix Diskerud or Joe Corona to start as a Number 10.
Corona can also be used as a wing opposite Zardes, but whether Zardes is playing as an outside forward or a wide midfielder on paper doesn’t really matter because Zardes can keep possession or counter-attack, plus the attacker knows how to set up goals and score them.
Gyasi Zardes is likely here to stay as a U.S. National Team starter, and that’s a good thing.
Who cares what his position is on paper?
Zardes knows how to play with the USMNT’s two best players: Dempsey and Bradley.
There’s about to be a regime change in World Football, and Neymar, Paul Pogba, and Raphaël Varane will be the undisputed best footballers in the world at their respective positions: forward, midfielder, defender.
Neymar is widely considered the heir apparent to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but, for this writer, Neymar already wears the crown.
The French midfielder Paul Pogba of Juventus continues to dazzle fans, players, coaches, and the media with his incredible technical ability and completeness as a midfielder, and all of this skill is present in a 6’5” frame that displays power, speed, and rubber band-like flexibility.
This season, Raphaël Varane – another French player – has oddly been the third choice center back for Real Madrid under Carlo Ancelotti after Sergio Ramos and Pepe, but Ancelotti has also shown a tendency to use Varane in the biggest games. Last season, Varane started for Real Madrid when the stakes were the highest.
For this writer, only Thiago Silva is superior to Varane, and the argument can easily be made that Varane is amongst the top three center backs in the world. Varane also excels as a right back – and one would imagine as a left back as well.
While Neymar is the most famous of the three, both Pogba and Varane are household names for soccer fans, and both are considered world-class footballers of the highest order.
As each day goes by, Neymar, Pogba, and Varane become the best footballers around at their respective category of position.
Let’s look at each player in greater detail:
FORWARD: NEYMAR (Brazil, Barcelona)
Neymar is the crown jewel of world football. His overall skill, dribbling, and creativity have no rival, and the speed and spontaneity of his attacking make him impossible to shut down.
While Messi is an incredible passer who constantly breaks down defenses with perfect passes, Neymar has a more versatile arsenal of passing skills. Messi’s perfectly weighted chips and balls played over the top require unbelievably skill, but Neymar’s passing skills are more complete and advanced due to his use of both feet.
Neymar uses both feet interchangeably to dribble, pass, and score, and his ability to beat defenses by himself or by orchestrating the attack make him a once in a generation player.
The Brazilian prodigy is mostly known for his electrifying speed, his tricks, and his ability to score, but Neymar is a very complete attacker that is a deadball and penalty kick specialist, in addition to being a playmaker that makes his teammates better.
Finally, Neymar has always been a big-game player that always delivers despite the pressure. Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have always seen much better success in club soccer than in international soccer, but Neymar has always excelled and put up big numbers on both the club and international level.
Neymar is the future King of World Football, and he has the potential to go down as the best footballer of all-time.
MIDFIELDER: Paul POGBA (France, Juventus)
Paul Pogba has always been seen as a prodigy that was a complete midfielder blessed with the physique and athleticism of an NBA shooting guard, but the French midfielder continues to show more and more trickery and creativity in his touches, dribbling, passing, and shooting.
Some of Pogba’s first big-time highlights were his rocketed goals from distance with either foot, but now Pogba is showing a degree of dribbling in tight spaces and in the open field that is often reminiscent of Neymar.
In addition to being a powerful and technical two-way player, Pogba has now become something of a magician that plays like a Number 10 but tackles and defends like a world-class center back.
If you add to all of this that Pogba is so influential all over the field and so tireless in his work rate, the Frenchman becomes a player that can boss games by himself and determine the outcome of games single-handedly.
Paul Pogba is a monster of a midfielder, and the undisputed best midfielder of his generation.
DEFENDER: Raphaël VARANE (France, Real Madrid)
Like Neymar and Pogba, Varane looked world-class as a teenager. It was simply impossible to watch Varane play against elite players and not see a center back that was basically perfect with his tackling and technical ability, and he is close to unbeatable in a foot race.
Varane is about 6’4”, and this size and speed combined with his calmness on the ball make him the heir apparent to Thiago Silva. Varane is already a proven performer at the very highest level, and he not only performs well as a defender, but he often outshines every other defender by some distance.
In many games, Varane shuts every opposition attacker down and makes it almost futile to even attempt to get past him. If you get past him, he’ll catch you and win the ball back with a clean tackle or takeaway, but most of the time opposing players can’t beat him 1v1.
The overall skill and grace Varane shows in his technical ability with the ball is a sight to see, and Varane’s skill and athleticism is all effortless. The French defender often looks like he is just jogging around when he easily outpaces attackers and passes the ball around with ease.
Raphaël Varane is a monster of a center back, and he is the undisputed best defender of his generation. Varane even looks much better than the legendary French defender Lilian Thuram.
The Effect on the Ballon d’Or Race
With both Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo years away from slowing down, it will be interesting to see how Neymar, Pogba, and Varane affect the Ballon d’Or race. Neymar has already been knocking on the door for about two years, but now Pogba has to be considered a serious contender from now on. Varane will likely be at somewhat of a disadvantage as a defender, but his grace, speed, and solid defending will certainly make him an undeniable contender for years to come.
