World Cup Preview
I have this dream every once in
awhile about Julian Green. He collects the ball at midfield, beats Neymar,
Paulinho comes over to challenge and he beats him too, Side Show Bob comes and
Julian slips the ball between his legs. He’s one on one with Julio Cesar and
chips him beautifully to far the corner. We’ve done it!! We’ve won the World
Cup. And then it hits me… Ah that’s next World Cup. That would never happen in
just a month. What’s that? Who’s Julian Green? I keep forgetting its 2014 and
oh yeah it’s a dream.
The United States has a slim chance
this World Cup, coming up this week, not of winning, of advancing from their
group. The United States have been drawn into the group of death according to
many soccer “experts” (the real group of death is Group D, Costa Rica, England,
Italy, and Uruguay). The US is in Group G with Germany, Portugal, and Ghana.
Ghana has eliminated the US in the past two World Cups, while Portugal has the
best player in the world, Mr. Cristiano Ronaldo, and Germany, who many are
pegging as the favorites this year. Indeed,
a tall task for Mr. Klinsmann and his boys.
But that shouldn’t stop you from
watching and rooting for the country that you call home. I’m going to give you
a preview of what you can expect from this years United States team and some of
the players you should keep an eye. Think of this as my way of not having to
tell you who’s who in the middle of the game.
Perhaps the biggest story of the
United States 23 man roster is that there is no Landon Donovan this year.
That’s right no Landon Donovan. So who the hell is on our team you ask? This year’s
team is a nice balance of veterans and the new young guns of American soccer.
Veteran Tim Howard will be in goal again, along with Michael Bradley, Jozy
Altidore, and now US captain Clint Dempsey. There will be loads of pressure on
Dempsey to perform this World Cup and the American poster boy is ready for the
challenge.
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| Green |
Klinsmann also brought many young
up and coming stars to Brazil, Icelandic American Aron Johnansson, Deandre
Yedlin, and Julian Green. Julian Green will be a name to remember as Klinsmann
preformed a coup on his former team, Germany, and stole the youngster away. At
19 years of age Julian Green brings a new excitement to many US soccer fans.
The Bayern Munich winger, yes you read that right Bayern Munich winger has
great potential to become Americas next big star. Aron Johansson plays in the
Dutch league for AZ Alkmaar and has been lighting it up ever since he stepped
foot on the pitch. Johansson was born in Mobile, Alabama to Icelandic parents
and moved there as a young kid to pursue a soccer career. Johansson scored 24
goals playing for Alkmaar this year. Deandre Yedlin is one of the bright young
stars of the MLS playing in Seattle where he grew up. An outside back, Yedlin
still has lots to learn but will benefit greatly from this experience. Mix
Diskerud is a Norwegian American who plays his club soccer in Norway’s top
league for Rosenborg. Diskerud will definitely make an impact in Brazil as
Klinsmann will most likely bring him off the bench.
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| Yedlin |
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| Johannsson |
With a healthy blend of young and
old the United States will be competitive in Group G, but expectations are not
high. Tuesday Klinsmann stated the hopes of winning a World Cup this year are
unrealistic. The United States will face Ghana in its opening match and if they
want any hope of advancing this is a must win game. The Black Stars will
provide a tough task for the US, as the West African side will play stingy
defense and look for their striker Asamoah Gyan. If that name rings a few bells
here
is why. Ghana has a strong side with the like of Chelsea’s Michael Essien,
Juventus winger Kwadwo Asamoah, and
Schalke playmaker Kevin Prince Boateng.
The real problems for the US start in game 2, Sunday June 22, stopping
Cristiano Ronaldo. The Ballon d’Or (Player of the year) winner leads a strong
Portuguese side, as they are second favorites to make it out of the group. With
all the talent Portugal has it boils down to stopping Ronaldo. This will be no
easy task and will test the young and inexperienced United States back line.
Ronaldo had a fantastic year for Real Madrid, leading them to Champions League
glory. A point against Portugal would be wonderful and absolutely necessary if
the United States wants to advance.
The match of the World Cup for the
United States is the last game in group play. Jürgen Klinsmann home country and
former team Germany face the US on June 26th in which could be the
deciding game for the United States. There will be lots of talk of Jürgen vs.
Germany leading up to match, but realistically this will be no contest. Germany
is arguably the best team in the world and favorites to win this summer in
Brazil. The German side is loaded with superstars such as Phillip Lahm, Mario
Gotze, Mesut Ozil and many others. The Germans will most likely roll over the
US and win group G.
In the games leading up to World
Cup, Klinsmann experimented with different lineups and formations. Over the
last few weeks I believe he has decided his starting 11. Klinsmann will most
likely deploy a 4-4-2 with a diamond midfield, but this could change as the US
will play more defensively against Portugal and Germany and look for opportunities
on the counter attack.
In goal, no surprise will be Tim
Howard. Howard is one of the faces of American soccer and once again had a
terrific year for Everton in the English Premier League. The back line will
have lots of youth and potential. At right back will be Fabian Johnson. Johnson
plays his club soccer in Germany for Hoffenheim and has looked excellent
defending and joining in the attack. Johnson will face some great Left Wings in
group play with the likes of Ronaldo and a slew of talented German wingers. The
center backs will be Geoff Cameron and Matt Besler. Cameron was in and out of
the lineup during qualifying, as Klinsmann wasn’t entirely sure where to play
him. Cameron plays for Stoke City in England and will be the anchor for the US
defense. Besler is a star in the making for Kansas City in the MLS. However, he
hasn’t been matched up with the star strikers he will face in the next coming
weeks. Besler was solid during qualifying and has looked comfortable next to
Cameron in the center defense. Wide left will be Demarcus Beasley who has rejuvenated
his career under Klinsmann as an outside back. Beasley is one of the very players
that has World Cup experience in the squad. Beasley used to play midfield and
is very comfortable moving forward to join the attack, something that will be
necessary as Klinsmann will most likely play 3 center Mids.
The midfield is an interesting area
of the field for the United States. Klinsmann has shown he wants to have 3
center midfielders on the field with Kyle Beckerman, Michael Bradley, and
Jermaine Jones. Klinsmann really wants to protect his young back 4 and slotted
Beckerman in at holding mid against Nigeria last week in a warm up game. With
the insertion of Beckerman, this leaves Jermaine Jones in a weird place. Jones
is a solid player with Champions League experience playing for Schalke in
Germany before being transferred to Turkish side Besiktas. Jones traditionally plays as a holding midfielder but might have to
drift wide left while the United States attacks. Michael Bradley is slowly but
surely becoming the United States best player. Klinsmann took a chance recently
by putting Bradley in a more advanced role underneath the forwards and Bradley
has excelled. This allows him to be more creative and join the attack, something
he is very comfortable doing. Bradley will have the confidence to stay forward
knowing Beckerman and Jones will be assisting the defense behind him. Right Mid
will most likely be Alejandro Bedoya, a 27 year old who plays his club soccer
for Nantes in France. Bedoya is very skilled on the ball and provides another
attacking and goal scoring option to compliment Jozy Altidore and Clint
Dempsey. However don’t be surprised if Graham Zusi gets a nod to start.
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| Clint Dempsey |
The United States has a big task
ahead of them over the next few weeks. Expectations are high among US fans, but
for those of us who follow world soccer religiously we realize advancing out of
the group would be a huge success. Klinsmann and his players know this as well
and will play their 3 games accordingly. The next month will be an exciting
time for soccer fans and hopefully the United States won’t let us down.
