Who I'm Taking To Brazil (September 2013)

The United States Men's National Team has officially punched its ticket to Brazil for the 2014 World Cup next summer. Since winning the Gold Cup, the USMNT has played one friendly and two World Cup qualifiers and there have been a couple changes on my imaginary 23-man roster of who I would take to the tournament if I was Jürgen Klinsmann. I meant to do this at the beginning of the month but I decided to wait until after the last two qualifiers. Without further ado, here is who I'm taking to Brazil as of September 16, 2013:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan, Tim Howard, Nick Rimando

DEFENDERS (7): Timmy Chandler, Brad Evans, Omar Gonzalez, Matt Besler, John Brooks, Clarence Goodson, Damarcus Beasley

MIDFIELDERS (8): Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones, Geoff Cameron, Mix Diskerud, Fabian Johnson, Graham Zusi, Alejandro Bedoya, Sacha Kljestan

FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Eddie Johnson, Aron Johannsson

The changes from last month are Brooks (assuming we cap him) for Orozco, Bedoya and Kljestan for Joe Corona and Brek Shea, and Johannsson for Herculez Gomez. Bedoya has carried his solid Gold Cup form into this season with FC Nantes in Ligue 1 and with the national team and is now virtually a lock in my book. I guess I never really watched him before this summer but he is an outstanding player. Kljestan also gets the nod after being left out last month because of his great form to start the season with Anderlecht in Belgium. The most notable addition to the roster this time in my humble opinion is that of the Iceman. Johannsson's inclusion is a much needed depth boost to one of, if not, the thinnest positions on the squad. He's got decent pace, tactical awareness, and great technique. He continues to impress in Holland, where he drew a foul and converted the resulting PK over the weekend (Skip to 2:43, my embedding skills are weak):

So there you have it, that's my roster as of this month. Here is what would by my starting XI if we played the first group game tomorrow:

As you probably know, I prefer Guzan over Howard in goal. Chandler has regained a bit of form as of late and that plus Brad Evans being injured right now has him starting at right back for me. It's really his position to lose, though he's been doing a pretty good job of trying to lose it this year... Geoff Cameron replaces Jermaine Jones as Bradley's midfield partner. I haven't been to impressed with Jones in the last few games and remembering how well Cameron did with Bradley in the Panama game earlier this year has made me switch it up for now. The front four stays the same. I can't stress how important I think it is having Fabian Johnson in the attack as opposed to left back (or right back). Good things happen when he's involved in the buildup.

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN: Joe Corona, Brek Shea, Michael Parkhurst, Jose Francisco Torres, Terrence Boyd, Herculez Gomez, Michael Orozco, Eric Lichaj, Kyle Beckerman, Juan Agudelo, Freddy Adu (get used to it, I won't ever stop lobbying for him)

Some Thoughts on USA-Mexico

So it's been awhile since I've posted anything on here because school has been kicking my butt. Here are some quick thoughts on what I saw in last night's game:

• Mix Diskerud is the truth. That was a brilliant touch to get behind the defense and fire across goal to Landon. That's what technical ability can do for you, folks.
• Clint Dempsey was pretty terrible all night except for a couple sequences here and there. But all is forgiven with missing the penalty that would have made it tres a cero hehe.
• Fabian Johnson didn't have his best game but his run down the right flank while weaving and heading through multiple defenders was fantastic. Parkhurst was good when he came in.
• In my book Alejandro Bedoya is a lock for Brazil. Hope he flourishes in Ligue 1 this year, he has a huge year ahead of him.
• Omar was solid, playing against El Tri seems to bring out the best in him. He and Besler should be starting in the World Cup.
• There's really not much else to say other than Mexico just plain sucks. They have no creativity in the midfield and the wingers don't really know what to do when they get the ball out wide. They're in big trouble. Gio Dos Santos and Chicharito are really the only good players on the team in my opinion.
• This doesn't have to do with this game but those goals by Wilson Palacios and Gabriel Torres... oh my. So good.

Aaaand that'll do it for now. We are going to Brazil!