2013 USMNT Year In Review

Photo credit: mlssoccer.com

The United States Men's National Soccer Team enjoyed an outstanding 2013 that saw it win the Gold Cup, win the Hexagonal and qualify for the World Cup in Brazil next summer, rack up the most ever number of victories in a year, and increase squad depth with some solid new additions. Jürgen Klinsmann guided the squad to an impressive 16-4-3 record after a turbulent start to the year and shattered any doubt that he was the right man for the job. Without further ado, here are some "Best Of 2013" categories that I came up with to take a look back on the year that was.

Biggest Winner - Alejandro Bedoya

• Bedoya wasn't really in the World Cup picture to start the year but is now surely a lock (barring injury of course) to make the trip down to Brazil this coming summer after solid performances in the Gold Cup and proceeding World Cup Qualifers. His energetic play and pace down the right side was a welcome sight and his versatility is an extremely useful asset for Klinsmann. Not to mention his move to Ligue 1 side Nantes was probably the best offseason move of any USMNT player this year.

Biggest Loser - Herculez Gomez

• This year was an extremely frustrating year for Herc who saw very little playing time due to injury. A first-team regular last year, I don't see him making the roster for the World Cup due to the emergence of Aron Johannsson (more on him later) and the presence of Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey, Eddie Johnson, and even Terrence Boyd. Sadly, I believe he's now too far down the striker pecking order to mount any real threat to make the roster. That still doesn't take away from the fact that he's a freaking awesome human being though. Go follow him on Twitter, you won't regret it.

Most Improved - Matt Besler

• Perhaps a better name for this is the "Most-Surprisingly-Good-Player-Considering-He-Didn't-Have-A-Single-Cap-Before-This-Year" award. Besler was the biggest beneficiary of Klinsmann's decision to delve into MLS in search of defenders considering the lack of options at the center back position. The 2012 MLS Defender of the Year was the most steady option at the back all year long and is now a lock for the World Cup. His pace and ability to read the game are his biggest attributes and he will only get better with more international experience. His selection shows Klinsmann's increasing faith in the growing talent of MLS and hopefully we'll start to see more and more stateside talent play a big part in our international success. Besler also could have won Biggest Winner but I felt the need to include Bedoya somewhere.

Photo credit: www.bleacherreport.com

Best Keeper / Best Facial Hair - Tim Howard

• Yet another solid year in goal for the national team. One of the faces of the United States program, Howard doesn't appear to be letting go of the starting keeper spot any time soon, much less before Brazil. He actually got better as the year went on (perhaps it's the friggin' sweet beard??) and is currently lighting it up for Everton in the Premier League. His leadership and organization at the back will be one of the biggest keys for the squad heading into the World Cup with center backs who don't have the most international experience. Brad Guzan was also solid when called upon, especially in keeping a clean sheet in that historic 0-0 draw in the Azteca back in March. Nick Rimando was also outstanding throughout the Gold Cup. Goalkeeper is the deepest position on our roster, with Howard, Guzan, and Rimando all being top-caliber starting keepers in my humble opinion.

Best Defender - Matt Besler

• See above.

Best Midfielder - Michael Bradley

• Michael Bradley further cemented himself as the absolute most indispensable player on the national team roster in 2013. "Lex Luthor" is the central piece of the team and makes everything tick. We simply play better with Michael Bradley on the field. His vision, box-to-box effort, calming presence, and ability to keep possession bring a dynamic to the midfield that no one else can. The cornerstone of the United States Men's National Team.

Best Forward - Jozy Altidore

• Jozy finally broke out of his national team scoring drought in 2013 and in a very big way. He scored eight goals on the year, including a stretch of a United States Men's National Team record of scoring in five consecutive games. His holdup and linkup has dramatically improved over the last two years and he has finally turned into a dangerous focal point on the team's offense. S/O to Fabian Johnson and Graham Zusi for feeding the beast. Let's just hope Jozy can find some sort of consistent scoring form with struggling Sunderland leading up to the World Cup.

Photo credit: www.upi.com

Best Gold Cup Player - Landon Donovan

• Landon Donovan returned from his sabbatical thing or whatever and promptly DESTROYED the Gold Cup. It was awesome to his him hungry and passionate on the pitch. The best American soccer player of all time was able to carry his Gold Cup form into the following World Cup Qualifiers and he helped the lock up the top spot in the Hexagonal and qualify for Brazil. His goal in Columbus to seal the win over Mexico was the cherry on top of his return. In my humble opinion he is still the best player on the national team (not to be confused with the most important/indispensable player, Michael Bradley). Come at me.

Best Mexican Player - Graham Zusi

Most Important Moment - "The Snow Game" vs. Costa Rica

• A game that will be remembered in USMNT folklore forever. We all remember the circumstances leading up to it - the team being out-of-form and Klinsmann supposedly on the verge of losing the locker room according to that article. It was vital that the squad come out with three points in order to remain in good position for qualification for the rest of the hex, and it did just that in the midst of one of the craziest environments I have ever seen at a sporting event while at the same time answering any questions about the character and will of the team. The referee even stopped the game in the second half to ask if both sides wanted to continue playing. Words don't really do the weather justice so here are the highlights:

Best Individual Performance - Jozy Altidore vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina

• This was probably the most thrilling USMNT game of 2013, or at least the second half. After being down 2-0 at the break in this friendly, Jozy Altidore bagged a hat trick and an assist in the 4-3 come-from-behind victory, including a gorgeous free kick from around 25 yards out. Michael Bradley was also instrumental in the comeback. This game was also notable in that we saw John Brooks play with the national team for the first time.

Best Misspelling of a Player's Name: Chris Wondowlowski

• That extra "w" has magical powers.

Best GIF - Landon Donovan

Best "Feel Good" Moment(s) - Brad Evans and Stuart Holden

• Admit it, you had serious doubts about Brad Evans starting at right back for the national team in World Cup Qualifiers (I know I did). Klinsmann was surely a madman for starting an MLS central midfielder at right back against Germany and in a competitive match against Jamaica, right?? Wrong. Evans held his own on the pitch and ended up scoring the game winner in stoppage time down in Kingston to snatch away an extremely valuable three points. I was watching that game at a friend's house with some buddies and we all went absolutely nuts when he scored. Bradley Ray Evans is an American legend and no one should ever belittle him ever again.
• Stuart Holden's goal in the Gold Cup vs. Belize was so good to see after his long bout with various gruesome knee injuries. He worked so hard to come back and it all paid off in a great Gold Cup performance. Unfortunately he injured his ACL yet again in the final and is attempting yet another comeback. Hopefully he returns to be the player we have all seen that he can be when he is fully fit. Keep up the hard work Stu!

Best Pass - Geoff Cameron outside-of-the-boot assist to EJ vs. Panama

• Unfortunately this angle doesn't do it justice. Look up the highlights and watch the replay where it shows it from the front. Couldn't find a GIF of it anywhere.

Best Hair - Mix Diskerud and Jermaine Jones's Snowfro

Best USMNT Twitter Account - Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta)

• Please do yourself a favor and follow him if you aren't already. In my humble opinion he provides some of the of the best player ratings and analyses of anyone out there. And he's always on top of things when it comes to American players abroad. A USMNT Twitter must.

Best Play - Clint Dempsey vs. Mexico

• Clint is a hero for missing that penalty at the end of the game in Columbus in order to preserve the Dos a Cero scoreline. Lol Mexico.

Best Individual Effort - Graham Zusi vs. Mexico

• Zusi likely saved a goal in the draw in the Azteca with an amazing 30 yard sprint back into the penalty area when he barely got his head on a cross that was about to find a wide open Mexican player at the back post. I'm not so sure Guzan would have gotten to it had the cross found its intended target. It was the play of the game and symbolized the effort the USMNT put into that result.

Best Goal - Clint Dempsey vs. Germany

• Clint scored a stunning left-footed curler for his second goal of the game from a few yards outside the box. I went ahead and made a video of the top 10 best goals of the year down below. Just missing the cut is Marc-Andre ter Stegen's howler :D

Biggest Revelation - Aron Johannsson

• You could tell that The Iceman was a baller as soon as he made his first appearance for the USMNT vs Bosnia and Herzegovina. The thing I appreciate the most about Johannsson is his willingness to take the ball and go at defenders. He's clever on the ball and is absolutely lethal in the box. He managed to score the cold-blooded winner vs. Panama in the last World Cup Qualifier and has enjoyed a great season so far with AZ Alkmaar in Holland. He brings a different dimension to the national team attack when he is paired with Jozy up top in a two striker formation, a formation that we seem to be the most comfortable with and create the most chances. Striker was one of the thinnest positions on the roster before his arrival but he has now left every other USMNT striker in the dust and will surely be making the trip to Brazil come summer. One of the most exciting players in our pool.

Best Player / MVP of 2013 - Michael Bradley

• As mentioned before, Michael Bradley is the the most important player on the United States Men's National Team. He sets the tempo of the game and runs the midfield. He has been the most consistent performer for the national team for well over a year now. In addition to his ascendancy with the USMNT, Bradley has been improving with his club side Roma in the Italian Serie A and has been getting significant minutes in their outstanding season so far. Any sort of success we can expect to have at the World Cup will fall heavily on his shoulders. The future captain of the USMNT.

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I hope you have enjoyed this 2013 USMNT Year In Review! It was a great year to be an American soccer fan. I will leave you with what I think is the best picture of the year. Here's to a successful World Cup run in 2014.

Photo credit: Jozy Altidore's Facebook page