The U.S. males’s soccer staff confirmed coronary heart, braveness, and dedication…however that is not all the time sufficient to make a long term within the World Cup. So John Godfrey ranked the gamers from 1-23.
BY
John Godfrey
Posted
July 02, 2014
10:50 AM
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20-23. Timothy Chandler, Combine Diskerud, Brad Guzan, Nick Rimando
None of those guys got here off the bench, which was totally anticipated for half of them. It appeared as if there have been a number of alternatives for Diskerud throughout the USA’ 4 video games in Brazil, however he by no means noticed the sector. Chandler’s inclusion on the roster may need been a mistake, as he struggled within the Ship-Off Collection matches and DeAndre Yedlin moved previous him on the depth chart.
19. Brad Davis
Once I noticed Davis’ title on the lineup sheet for the Germany match, and Omar Gonzalez’ title proper there too, I believed I knew the plan: go huge, whip in crosses from the left, get a objective on a set piece. But it surely by no means occurred. Davis did not full a single cross in his 59 minutes on the large stage, and sure, Germany’s dominance within the midfield had so much to do with that.
18. Chris Wondolowski
The 31-year-old striker shall be stricken by his 93-minute miss in opposition to Belgium for a really very long time. If he faucets that in, the U.S. could be getting ready for Argentina proper now. Wondolowski tweeted about that play after the match, reminding all people that he’s the epitome of a stand-up man. However he ought to have accomplished higher with that ball.
I am gutted to have let down everybody however particularly my teammates. It has been an unimaginable experience however I do know this may make me stronger.
— Chris Wondolowski (@ChrisWondo) July 2, 2014
17. Aron Johannsson
The Iceman got here on for Jozy Altidore within the twenty third minute in opposition to Ghana, and struggled within the lone striker position that was crafted with Altidore in thoughts. To be honest, the sleight, extremely tactical Johannsson was by no means—and can by no means be—a goal striker. However he was requested to play that position out of necessity, and it did not actually pan out.
16. Jozy Altidore
Would this have been a breakout match for Altidore? Would his defense-stretching methods have made a distinction in opposition to Germany and Belgium? It is fully doable however we’ll by no means know. His rating comes with an enormous fats asterisk as a result of it’s tied fully to the hamstring harm he suffered within the first half of the primary match of the match. It hamstrung all the U.S. assault. (Observe: 4 of the 5 outfield gamers listed thus far are attackers; not a superb signal for a World Cup staff hoping to make a long term.)
15. Geoff Cameron
The 28-year-old Massachusetts native has sparkled at proper again for Stoke Metropolis, however Klinsmann performed Cameron in central protection in opposition to Ghana and Portugal; with no consideration midfielder in opposition to Belgium; and by no means in opposition to Germany. Would it not have made extra sense to place Fabian Johnson at left again and let Cameron personal the fitting facet? Perhaps. In all probability. Cameron seemed nice in opposition to Ghana however his whiff on a clearance within the field led to Nani’s early objective within the Portugal match, and he by no means recovered from that second. He recovered 21 balls, made seven blocks, and recorded a 7.91 Castrol Index ranking for his three-match, 300-minute efficiency within the World Cup. However I anticipated extra from one of many staff’s most constant performers.
14. Graham Zusi
The Sporting Kansas Metropolis winger recorded two assists within the 2014 World Cup, and that is one thing you may by no means take away from him. However Zusi—and plenty of different People—appeared overmatched in opposition to Germany and Belgium’s midfielders. Shifting backwards and forwards between the 2 wings, Zusi accomplished 21.4% of his crosses and 68.4% of his passes however did not actually present the constant menace the U.S. assault wanted to unlock some gifted foes.
13. Michael Bradley
Sure, Bradley ran tirelessly for 390 minutes throughout all 4 video games, closing down opponents along with his trademark zeal. And sure, the 26-year-old confirmed audacious ability with that superbly weighted move that Julian Inexperienced volleyed into the again of the Belgium objective. However Bradley, usually one of the best outfield participant on the U.S., was by no means that in Brazil. He had a stinker in opposition to Ghana; made two essential errors in opposition to Portugal; and performed erratically in opposition to Germany and Belgium. Was he out of place? Ought to he have stayed within the No. 6 position, as ESPN’s Alexi Lalas urged? In hindsight, in all probability. Bradley’s 45 magical minutes within the first half of the April 2014 Mexico pleasant could have raised American expectations too excessive. He isn’t one of the best participant on the planet, as Miguel Herrera urged. And through this match, he wasn’t even probably the greatest gamers for the USA.
12. Alejandro Bedoya
Klinsmann seemingly received what he anticipated from the 27-year-old Bedoya—stable performances, laborious work, and defensive grit. Bedoya got here near scoring an important equalizer late within the Germany match, however Phillipp Lahm made a phenomenal sliding sort out to forestall Bedoya from enjoying the hero that day.
11. Julian Inexperienced
See you on the Copa America Centario in 2016, Mr. Inexperienced. And on the 2018 World Cup in Russia. And in Qatar, Australia, or the USA in 2022. The 19-year-old Inexperienced solely performed 13 minutes in Brazil, however he confirmed what he’s all about.
10. John Brooks
If there was one participant who appeared unlikely to see any time in Brazil, it was Brooks. However when Matt Besler felt tightness in his hamstring within the Ghana match, Klinsmann turned to his 21-year-old central defender at halftime, and it proved to be the fitting name. After a nervy early second, Brooks discovered his footing and helped neutralize a pushed, dynamic Ghana assault. After which his 86th-minute gamewinner proved to be the stuff goals are manufactured from. Like Inexperienced and DeAndre Yedlin, Brooks appears to be a key participant for the U.S. within the years forward.
9. Kyle Beckerman
Regular, dependable, maybe a step too sluggish for the worldwide recreation, however precisely what Klinsmann needed. The U.S. protection was the most important query mark coming into this match however carried out fairly properly. Beckerman will get, and deserves, loads of credit score for that. Beckerman sat in opposition to Belgium, and the U.S. gave up 18 photographs on objective. Is there a correlation there? Yep.
8. DaMarcus Beasley
A revelation. Rely me among the many pundits who thought that enjoying Beasley at left again was a recipe for catastrophe. He held his personal and held up properly, enjoying all 390 minutes in Brazil. He didn’t provide a lot on the offensive facet of the ledger, however the 32-year-old performed stable protection in his fourth World Cup—particularly in opposition to Belgium. Will we see him in Russia in 2018? Stranger issues have occurred….
7. DeAndre Yedlin
Full props to Klinsmann for recognizing this speedster’s expertise and utilizing him as a change-of-pace menace on the fitting flank. I’ll cease in need of saying {that a} star was born in Brazil, however Yedlin made the entire proper strikes in his three-match, 112-minute displaying. With just a little bit extra defensive seasoning, Yedlin can personal proper again, Fabian Johnson can shift again to the left, and the U.S. can construct round two very harmful fullbacks.
6. Omar Gonzalez
Main as much as the match, it appeared as if Gonzalez was slated for the bench. And when Brooks got here on for Besler in opposition to Ghana, it appeared as if Gonzalez’ World Cup was over earlier than it began. However after Cameron’s clunker in opposition to Portugal, Klinsmann turned to the six-foot-five central defender, and Gonzalez stood tall in opposition to each Germany and Belgium. The 25-year-old confirmed nice anticipation, impeccable timing, and the willingness to compete in opposition to some large strikers. It was a career-changing efficiency for the large man. Time to move to Europe? I feel so.
5. Matt Besler
Consistency, anticipation, toughness, tempo, passing abilities—Besler has all of it and he confirmed it in Brazil. His ill-timed slip led to Belgium’s first objective, and the Sporting Kansas Metropolis man may have accomplished extra to forestall Romelu Lukaku’s follow-up a couple of minutes later. However that doesn’t detract from his sturdy displaying.
4. Clint Dempsey
The U.S. captain set the tone for the match with a objective 29 seconds into the Ghana match. He scored one other in opposition to Portugal regardless of enjoying with a damaged nostril and ready—lone striker in a 4-2-3-1—that was designed with Altidore in thoughts. A greater first contact on a set piece in opposition to Belgium may have elevated Dempsey to hero standing for the U.S. nationwide staff, nevertheless it wasn’t meant to be. And, it bears mentioning, the 31-year-old attacker appeared completely gassed towards the tip of the spherical of 16 match. The ripple impact of Altidore’s hamstring harm was felt everywhere in the subject.
3. Fabian Johnson
The precise again supplied the USA’ most constant offensive menace within the first two video games of the match. Germany coach Joachim Low little question seen, and took steps to neutralize Johnson within the Group G finale. Everybody, it appeared, had excessive hopes for Johnson in opposition to Belgium’s plodding backline, so when the 26-year-old suffered a first-half leg harm and needed to come off, it was a crushing blow. Nonetheless, Johnson’s pace, technical ability, and ambition make him one of many prime U.S. performers of the match.
2. Jermaine Jones
He’s a real warrior, and turned within the kind of World Cup effort that results in good paydays. His objective in opposition to Portugal modified the sport, and showcased his immense expertise and confidence. The 32-year-old midfielder would look nice in a Main League Soccer jersey. What do you say, Mr. Garber—three years, $5 million a 12 months? That sound about proper?
Tim Howard
The 35-year-old goalkeeper was having fun with a robust match by three matches, after which he stood on his head to maintain the USA shut in opposition to a Belgium staff that put 18 photographs on objective. American soccer followers shall be speaking about that 120-minute gem for a very long time, and deservedly so.
OK, we all know you’ll disagree with some, or most, of this. So hop to it. What did I get flawed? Inform me within the Feedback part beneath.
John Godfrey is the founder and editor in chief of American Soccer Now.
