Which forwards will Klinsmann take to World Cup 2014?

Photo credit: USA Today

 

Juergen Klinsmann has an interesting predicament: the stable of US National Team forwards is considerably deep. The coach will have to think long and hard about his core of players and it's fair to question the pros and cons of possible selections.

1. Altidore

Jozy is all but assured a place on the plane ride to Brazil. This in spite of a horrific year with Sunderland of the Premier League. Altidore has shown that he is a hold-up forward, a target forward, and a power forward. These traits are tough to match and no other striker in the US pool exists that has them all.

2. Aron Johannsson
Johannsson came into the race for a spot in Brazil relatively late. But he did so in style. The Mobile, Alabama-born Icelandian-American chose to represent the USA late last summer. He rewarded the Americans with speed and excellent timing and a goal versus Panama that gave the US another win of the Hexagonal in qualifying. Not to mention he has scored 20 goals in 25 goals in all competitions for AZ Alkmaar this season. Barring an injury, Klinsmann can hardly afford not to take him.

3. Eddie Johnson
The DC United man has lost his scoring touch lately and this might figure into his calling to training camp for the final 30. Still, Johnson was pivotal in the 2014 qualifying campaign and moments such as the goal versus Mexico in Columbus are not easy to forget. 

4. Chris Wondolowski
Wondolowski is a poacher. He has shown it time and again for San Jose and he has continued to show it for the national team. Wondo has scored 9 goals in his last 10 appearances for Team USA. Hard to argue against that. He is, at the moment, an ace in the hole, a supersub, a game changer.

5. Terrence Boyd
Boyd has been a bit of an enigma. While he has impressed during his time as a starter with Rapid Wien, his national team record is quite incomplete. Boyd just hasn't had enough chances in front of goal because he hasn't had enough chances to be on the pitch to begin with. The same can't be said for any other name on this page. The last trully exceptional moment he had was a pass that led to Michael Orozco's goal in a win versus Mexico at the Azteca. 22 goals in 54 games for Rapid is also impressive, but does that make him a worthy inclusion in the final 23 to Brazil?

Right now it's clear that, given this group, both Agudelo and Herculez Gomez would miss the cut. Agudelo has scored only two goals in a half season with Utrecht. Herculez has not recovered in form after his injury and can be all but counted out. Let's also remember that both Donovan and Dempsey, and to some extent even Julian Green could be classified and played as forwards. Where does that leave the final 3-4 striker selections?

Only four forwards will make it to Brazil. And that assumes Dempsey counted as a midfielder. Wondolowski and Johannsson are in form goalscorers, but they don't match up physically against Ghana or Germany. Altidore and Johnson are the best the US has when in form, athletic and inventive, but can we afford to start them given their lack of clarity in front of goal at the moment?

Klinsmann and the US forward pool is at a crossroads at the moment. This is not Bob Bradley's 4-4-2 squad with speed and strength at the forward flank. This team is about possession and holding the ball, and only one striker is needed for that. Right now it's still Altidore's job to lose, for better or worse. If we want to see Wondolowski and Johannsson deployed then the upcoming friendlies should give us a taste.

Let's not lose Julian Green to Germany

Photo credit: ASN

 

As recently as last week, US soccer fans had been alerted to another dual-national youngster that could step up for the national team: Julian Green. Green is a forward and a youth squad player for non other than the famed Bayern Munich of the German Bundesliga. 

Julian Green was born in Tampa, FL to an American father and a German mother and holds two passports: USA and Germany. If this sounds familiar it's because we've seen this play out with Jermaine Jones, Danny Williams and Terrence Boyd. All had a choice between Germany and the US and joined the US team.

Not much differentiates a player like Terrence Boyd (formerly of Borussia Dortmund, now with Rapid Wien) from Green. Both from storied clubs, both in their developmental teams, both eligible for two different countries. And whereas Boyd never took part in German youth squads, Green has already participated in 6 such games.

Thinking back, plenty of players have played for teams other than the United States and still have wound up playing for Team USA: Jermaine Jones (Germany), Edgar Castillo (Mexico), Mix Diskerud (Norway). However, some notable exceptions are Neven Subotic (Serbia) and most famously Giuseppe Rossi (Italy). The latter was born in New Jersey and was invited by Bruce Arena prior to Germany 2006.

Where does this leave Green, Germany and the US? Green should be called up sooner rather than later, hopefully in January if he's available. I doubt the March friendly will count and after that we will wait until after the World Cup. And therein lies the problem. If Green has a breakout performance and impresses enough, he could be called up in September 2014 for Euro 2016 qualifiers for Germany, thereby tying him to the German squad.

Green's next chance to be cap-tied to the United States does not come until summer 2015 at the Gold Cup. Still, plenty of time for call-ups to friendlies and for filing his one-time switch in FIFA nationality. That's right, having played for U19, he now must make an official switch. Another kink might be if Germany calls him up for the U23s for the Olympics. The plot thickens.

In the end, it really is a missed opportunity to see the youngster at least train with the national team. He would only have been able to train in the November friendlies given that he has not filed his one-time switch. As I see it, it's doubtful he will train, let alone play with the national team for many months to come. Until then it is up to Klinsmann and US Soccer to keep him engaged. The last thing we need is another Rossi. Then again, Danny Williams hasn't been called up recently and Terrence Boyd, for all his potential, has yet to score.

Grimace and Grin: USA wins in Antigua

Photo credit: AP

There was a collective grimace today as we watched the United States Men's National soccer team wait until stoppage time to score the second goal and defeat Antigua and Barbuda. Yes, Antigua and Barbuda. This wasn't Trinidad and Tobago or Jamaica or even Cuba. No, it was a cricket-loving, island nation of only 85,632 people. 

The grin came at the welcoming return of Eddie Johnson, whose career had been in decline after an ill-fated transfer to Europe and numerous loans in Britain and Greece. His positioning for the goals today was just what Klinsmann had wanted.

And yet, for the most part, as the television monitors closed and opinions began, it became certain that this national team had just had one of its worst performances. By virtue of beIN Sport being the sole proprietor of all the away USA matches, this game was not available for me. However, I was still able to keep up with plays through Twitter and other media and I saw the highlights afterwards. Where was the fighting spirit in these players? Even in the condensed version of the game the only ones enthused with being there were Michael Bradley, Zusi and Eddie Johnson. Everyone else was simply at work.

What happened to the team that won in Slovenia, Italy and Mexico? Those were the vintage Klinsmann games. Then again, with Bob Bradley the semifinal qualifying round was over at the fourth game with four straight wins and USA ended up taking the Hexagonal, reaching the final at the Confederations Cup and winning the group at World Cup 2010. Suddenly, for all of us that dreamed of something better than Bradley, the next step is hardly one in the right direction. 

Many of us were Klinsmann believers from the start, but stumbling into the final game before the Hexagonal is no way to repay faith. Yes, Concacaf can be difficult, but not for the USA or Mexico. It hasn't been that way for the past 10 years. Then again, Mexico just slipped into the Hexagonal last time around and Sven Goran Erickson lived for a couple more matches. The Aztecas regrouped under Aguirre and built one of the better teams in the world over the last 4 years. Could the Americans do the same? 

There is another truth to speak of here. Yes, Eddie Johnson was the savior and Gordon the provider in today's match. But what happens against a team like Mexico or Costa Rica or Panama? Or at the World Cup? Are we still not going to field Altidore or Boyd or Lichaj for the games that matter most? When Donovan, Shea, Fabian Johnson and Edgar Castillo go down, the first thing to do is to replace the players with those that matter. The team lived today without replacements, but just so. What if this scenario occurs again in the Hexagonal? Wait, we're not there yet either.

The final match in the semifinal phase of Concacaf World Cup qualifying is versus Guatemala, with whom the US is now tied in points at 10 and the same goal differential. A win provides safety and redemption, a tie will do and a loss could be enough depending on Jamaica's at-home match versus Antigua.Not once in the past 5 World Cup cycles has this occurred. Our players have the talent, they just need the guidance to funnel their strengths.

Wisdom and Worry: Altidore not called in for qualifiers

Photo credit: ISIphotos.com 

 

The latest of the Juergen Klinsmann surprises came earlier today when the roster for the most important qualifiers was released: Jozy Altidore and Terrence Boyd left off the squad. This is potentially the most important snub in Klinsmann's short history with the US squad. Instead of those two players we have Alan Gordon and Kyle Beckermann. 

As soon as the national team players were announced on the web, Twitter and Facebook erupted with anger, surprise and contempt. How is it that one of the best forwards US has isn't called up for these games? Why does Alan Gordon get the call? 

Jozy Altidore has enjoyed perhaps his best start to a season in his short career: 8 goals in 7 league games and a goal in cup competition. And yet, for all his accolades in recent European play, Altidore has not scored for the national team since a penalty kick versus Slovenia in November 2011. He has looked a bit lost at times with the national team and not much of a threat. Some argue that this is because he has had no service in the US squad compared to the total football practiced in the Dutch league. Whatever the reasoning might be, the truth is that he is too valuable to not be a supersub at the very least.

Then we have Terrence Boyd. The German-American was surprisingly left off the squad despite having a standout first season with Rapid Vienna, including a key goal this past weekend. The 21-year old has 5 goals in 9 games in league play so far this season. If anyone can offer a last-minute change of pace, it is definitely Boyd.

Then there is the inclusion of Alan Gordon. The 30-year old has hardly made an impression with the US squad and has been spotty, at best, with his whirlwind MLS career. Gordon started with the USL version of the Portland Timbers and joined the LA Galaxy in 2005. He was with the Galaxians during the initial phase of the Beckham experiment and had good moments with the team. It wasn't until his recent form with San Jose that his career really made a positive change. With 9 goals this season in the high-scoring team, although not starting every game, his stock seemed to rise with the US coach. But is he really a better option than the near-record-setting Chris Wondolowski?

The addition of Brek Shea and Klye Beckermann also prompt some head scratching. Shea has been nursing injuries lately and not playing much for less-than-perfect FC Dallas. Beckermann enters this team in a bit of a surplus role as defensive midfielder, considering that Bradley, Jones and Danny Williams could all feature with the squad.

If this were just a friendly it would be called an Alan Gordon experiment (thanks, Grant Wahl). But this isn't that kind of game--two games in fact. A failure to win at Antigua and Barbuda this Friday would set the stage for a must-win match versus Guatemala next week. And if things turn out badly it would mean missing out on the final Hexagonal tournament, and yes, no World Cup 2014. Really? Yes. 

So not having Altidore or Boyd will remain what it is: wisdom in picking the right players at the right time and a worry that this could by Klinsmann's last couple of games with the US national team.

Buy American: from Dempsey to Edu

Photo credit: @SpursOfficial

 

The most highly-regarded American international--Clint Dempsey--finally made a move out of mid-table Fulham FC of the Premier League to Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League during the closing minutes of transfer deadline in Europe. This after 5 stellar years with the London outfit and scoring 23 goals in all competitions during the 2011-2012 season. And even though his move was deserved, and that he flirted with teams like Liverpool and Arsenal, a more impressive effect has occurred: top European teams are buying American.

It's true that this has happened before with the likes of Jozy Altidore making a move to Villarreal and Onyewu to AC Milan, but the back-top-back transfers of Bradley and Dempsey should have American fans excited. Now comes word that Maurice Edu, a top competitor and long-time player for the ill-fated Glasgow Rangers, is joining forces with Geoff Cameron at Stoke City. A new American Premier League team is born. If you were to start both at center back then you'd have the tandem that came away with a shutout at Estadio Azteca in the US' first ever win over Mexico on Mexican soil. Great selling point, right?

Dempsey and Edu weren't alone today and in the recent weeks. Up-and-coming Terrence Boyd, a player with no professional experience prior to his recent games with the US U-23 and full national team, signed with legendary Austrian team Rapid Vienna and became a starting striker that already has 4 goals in all competitions. Add to this Alejandro Bedoya's move to Helsingborg, Mixx Diskerud's loan to Rosenborg, both whom have scored key goals already, as well as Onyewu to Malaga of the Spanish Primera, and we suddenly see that buying American is getting quite fruitful for teams in Europe.

It remains to be seen, of course, how some of these moves will pan out. Bradley, aside from a recent injury, slid right into a starting role for Roma and has made a difference so far. So has Cameron. If Dempsey can crack the starting 11 for Spurs and if he can score consistently, then American soccer will finally have taking that extra step to become a provider of top talent for the world's most beautiful sport. And World Cup 2014 is right around the corner.

Azteca falls and USA defeats Mexico

Photo credit: Getty Images

Today the soccer world witnessed history: the USA defeated Mexico on Mexican soil for the first time in history. The Estadio Azteca will never be the same again for American players or fans of the game. Once a mythical and almost indestructible fortress, now the belief that Team USA can beat anyone anywhere is palpable.

There are some basic things to understand about this game. First, neither team was at "full strength," although Mexico fielded most of its starters except for Dos Santos and Salcido. The US, on the other hand, did not have Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore or anyone from its classic defense: no Bocanegra, Onyewu, Goodson, Cherundolo, Bornstein or Lichaj. Instead today we were treated to the Geoff Cameron show and an unlikely partnership with Maurice Edu. Fabian Johnson, the new left back option, shifted from left to right and allowed for Edgar Castillo to slide in at left.

The defense worked. Maybe it was luck on several chances, maybe Cameron really truly is the real deal, and maybe Chicharito has lost his step. Any way you look at this, it wasn't exactly a game that the Mexicans were looking to lose at any point, not after winning the Olympics and having been unbeaten against the US in 24 tries. No, today the back four held their line well and hustled for every play. And when Cameron didn't get there Howard kept us in the game.

We should also recognize that the offense had its ups and downs and didn't quite work with Torres as the playmaker and an ailing Donovan fresh from a Superclasico win by the Galaxy over Chivas USA. When Beasley and Boyd were inserted into the game, things clicked better but an enabler was still needed. Enter  Brek Shea, and just as he did in last year's game versus Mexico, one play from the flank allowed for a nifty pass from Boyd to an unlikely hero: Michael Orozco Fiscal.

Orozco's goal said it all for the US. This was a team win and it didn't matter who scored the goal. It didn't have to be Donovan or Shea or Gomez or even Boyd, it didn't need to be flashy and over the top. All it had to do was cross the goal line and inflate the net behind Gillermo Ochoa. This was a true American win, a win about team work, about strength and athleticism, about belief in yourself and your companions, about a dream that can be reached.

Mexico will claim that Dos Santos (both of them) along with Oribe Peralta and Corona at goal will make the difference next time these rivals meet. Perhaps, yes, but consider that the USA will also have Altidore, Dempsey and Michael Bradley along for the ride. Hopefully the teams will meet again, twice, if they qualify for the Hexagonal in World Cup Qualifying with a chance to prove it all over again in a competitive match. All of us on both sides of the border can't wait.

Player ratings:

Howard...............10

Cameron..............8.5

Edu......................7

Castillo.................6

Johnson................6.5

Torres..................4

Donovan...............6

Jones....................6

Williams................5.5

Beckermann.........6

Gomez.................6

Subs: Boyd (7), Beasley (6.5), Zusi (6.5), Shea (7), Orozco (7), Corona (N/A)

Timmy Chandler Saga and Klinsmann's new crew

Photo credit: US Soccer

Many hardcore US National team fans know this dance: Timmy Chandler, German-born with an American father, eligible to play for the US, excellent outside defender and an option at midfield, plays friendlies with Team USA but does not follow through with actual FIFA competition matches. That was the story under Bob Bradley. Chandler was brought in, impressed, assumed a starting position but dropped out of the Gold Cup competition. Yesterday's announcement of the first 16 players selected by Klinsmann for upcoming friendlies and the first World Cup Qualifiers lacked one player: Timmy Chandler.

So yes, the saga continues. Is he holding back to be called by the German national team? Does he not plan to ever play for the US? Is he really that tired and deserving a break? Those were the explanations given by Klinsmann at the press conference where he announced the call-ups. The player has the last word. Klinsmann says the door will remain open but they will move on without him. Is that settled then? Was this saga worth it? Or are we making too much of this situation? Americans love drama, so we'll leave it at that.

Along with the usual suspects Dempsey, Bradley, Edu, Howard, some non-traditional inclusions include Alfredo Morales (Hertha Berlin), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), and Joe Corona (Club Tijuana). Fabian Johnson and Danny Williams will be there, however, so at least part of the German connection is alive and well. As for Castillo's inclusion, it may be due to his increased playing time and performance for the Xolos. His natural left back position warrants further inspection to see his progress. The US has always lacked depth in this part of the field, and his addition along with Morales, Johnson and Williams can expand the possible scenarios.

The inclusion of Joe Corona is a welcome one, although Mixx Diskerud would have been an attractive option at midfield as well--and he may yet be called with the second round (as many as 13 additions). In any case, Corona is a different kind of midfield player, faster and stronger in the middle of the pitch and with a nose for goal. It is a good variant for the more stationary Jose Torres or more defensive players like Bradley, Beckermann and Edu.

Who would we want to see from the remaining 13? Eric Lichaj comes to mind, as does Brek Shea, Herculez Gomez, Tim Ream and maybe even Josh Gatt. Agudelo, Kenny Cooper and Wondolowski should be top targets as well. Terrence Boyd's imminent inclusion is a bit of a stretch since he's not actively a part of first team Borussia Dortmund, but Klinsmann might be seeing something interesting in this lad. Indeed, he was a bright spot in the U-23s ill-fated match versus El Salvador in Olympic qualifying.

It will be a stretch of 5 games: Scotland, Brazil and Canada as warm-ups for qualifiers against Antigua and Barbuda and Guatemala. Should be fun to see variations in lineups and tactics.

Loss of a generation: US U-23 out of the Olympics

Photo credit: Getty Images

If there were words for tonight's last match for the US team in Olympic qualifying it would definitely be disbelief. How could such a talented team not even make it out of the group stage after losing to Canada and surrendering a lead at the last second to El Salvador? Was the team really not that good? Had the team peaked too early? Was Caleb Porter too young to be the coach? Would Agudelo have made a difference? The answer is, probably, all of the above.

Although it was a dream start in the first minute with a sublime strike by Borussia Dortmund forward Terrence Boyd, the Salvadorans pressed and got two goals in quick succession against an ailing Bill Hamid. The US did come back from 1-2 down thanks to great goals from Boyd and Corona. Unfortunately, a lack of concentration in the final seconds allowed for a sublime shot from the Salvadoran player that went past Sean Johnson and qualified the Salvadorans to the semifinals. And yes, there should have been a clear penalty in the USA's favor that could have sent the score to 4-2 and may have won the game for the Americans.

The sad truth after today is the loss of a generation of players. Agudelo, Diskerud, Shea, Corona, Boyd and Gyau, arguably the best of the bunch, will not see the light of the Olympics to catapult them further in their careers. Gone is also perhaps the last chance for Freddy Adu to finally silence his critics with a stellar international tournament. No, not fair at all.

What does this mean for US Soccer? A major setback for sure. Not only did the U-20s miss the last World Cup of that division, but now the older U-23s will also lose the opportunity to compete against top international teams.

The frustration behind this sore loss for US Soccer reverberates all the way to the top. Porter was clearly Klinsmann's choice for this group of players. The full national team is seeing a revival of late, however, with impressive wins at Slovenia and Italy. But what happens when Dempsey and Donovan aren't around? Do Shea, Corona and Agudelo make up for it? How does missing the Olympics prepare them for the future?

There are some interesting facts after today's loss: 1.) Concacaf competition is getting increasingly better, 2.) Terrence Boyd and Joe Corona had breakthrough performances, 3.) Mexico did not qualify for Olympics 2008.

Canada wins, no Olympics for USA?

What a difference can be seen in two matches separated by two days. The US U-23 team, with Olympic aspirations looked paltry versus Canada and this showed in the scoreline as the Maple Leaf team defeated the US by the score of 2-0. Really? Yes, the game versus Cuba two days ago doesn't count today.

There was an unfortunate absence in today's match for the US: Juan Agudelo. The New York Red Bulls striker will be out for 3 weeks with a torn meniscus. Would he have made a difference? Hard to say, but Agudelo was more likely to put some of those balls away where Teal Bunbury failed to connect. Caleb Porter pulled a weird one in this match also when he subbed Joe Corona out for Joe Gyau. It didn't pay off and the hat trick hero from the Cuba match had to settle for watching the game from the bench.

Canada's first goal came from a glaring error by DC United goalkeeper Bill Hamid. The goalie was left in no man's land as he got beaten by the Canadian ahead of a corner kick ball. The US defense looked restless and out of sorts with little understanding between Opara and Kitchen.

What happens now? With the US at 3 points and El Salvador and Canada both with 4 points, a win is a must for the US, which will likely settle for a second place finish at best. This would mean potentially facing Mexico in the tournament's semifinal. Only the finalists make it to the Olympics. So yes, at this point it is hard to imagine the US making it to London playing the way they did today.

Caleb Porter will need to think hard on how to settle his defense and may need to turn to Sean Johnson to see how he does in front of goal. It's also clear that Bunbury is no substitute for Agudelo and that Boyd or Tony Taylor will need to come up big against the Salvadorans. For Canada, a win versus Cuba should give them first place in the group and may let them skip a match versus Mexico. Mix Diskerud and Freddy Adu didn't connect today and they will need to link up with Corona quickly if the US is even able to advance out of the group stage. Sad day for soccer in America.

The American Bundesliga

Photo credit: US Soccer

In the past, I have written about Americanizing the Premier League, American Scandinavia and the American Glasgow Rangers. But there is another important piece to Americans playing abroad: Germany.

Indeed, the Bundesliga and 2.Bundesliga has become a target for MLS and college players. Donovan tried his luck with Bayern Leverkusen and Bayern Munich. Steve Cherundolo has been at Hanover all of his professional career. Add to this list Kasey Keller, Michael Bradley, Heath Pearce, DaMarcus Beasley, Jovan Kirovski, and the pattern gains more clarity. The Bundesliga is another American base.

Germany is a tough place to play in. The style is physically demanding and the winters are equally difficult to endure. Michael Bradley soared to new heights with Moenchengladbach but lost his place after coaching changes. Landon Donovan never quite convinced with either team he played for. Beasley scarcely saw the pitch, and neither did Pearce.

But there is another reason why there is a new "American Bundesliga." It is the German connection that the US national team has been able to identify and utilize: Jermaine Jones, Danny Williams, Fabian Johnson, Timmy Chandler, Terrence Boyd. All of these players share the same background: a German mother and an American serviceman. These gentlemen stayed and grew up in Germany and were exposed to soccer from an early age. Their automatic FIFA double nationality means they can choose either country. In their case, there is a long waiting list to be a Germany national team player. This line is shorter for Team USA, especially with Juergen Klinsmann at the helm.

The German connection is quickly Americanizing the Bundesliga in a grassroots manner, from the bottom up. No longer is it just a college or a talented MLS player that gets a shot at playing in this legendary league. Now, the league raises American player as their own through rigorous training, match experience and media coverage. These individuals grow up through each of these team's academies. And thus we reach Terrence Boyd, a striker yet to score for Borussia Dortmund but one that his coach has been prepping for the big time. Who is to say that he can't become a breakout star and finally play alongside Altidore?

Only time will tell how this latest Americanization of European soccer heads to. For Germany, the military connection adds a different route, but considering that Ricardo Clark and Edson Buddle both found successful stints in 2.Bundesliga it can be surmised that Americans are ready for this league. They already own it at every position on the pitch, from the academy to the transfer. So hold on, Bundesliga, the American soccer revolution has just begun in your league.