On Monday, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team, or USMNT as they are commonly known, began its January camp ahead of this summer’s World Cup in Brazil. 26 players, all but one of which play in Major League Soccer, have been invited to the month-long camp run by Jurgen Klinsmann and the rest of the team’s coaching staff. The camp includes a 12-day trip to the US World Cup base in São Paulo and a friendly against South Korea in Los Angeles. For the players invited who are seen as being on the “bubble”, this will be an excellent opportunity to show they deserve one of the 23 places available on the World Cup roster.
Before I go any further, I must address the elephant in the room. The USMNT will not advance beyond the group stage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Drawn in the same group as one of the tournament favourites, arguably the best player in the world, and the team that has knocked them out of the last two World Cups, even a third place finish will be a challenge.
With this in mind, I believe that the USMNT needs to start looking to the future. By no means am I suggesting that Klinsmann and Co. call up the entire Under-20 squad, but fielding a few players under the age of 30 wouldn’t be bad either. As with any team entering a major tournament there are players whose places have been guaranteed (30-plus’ers Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard…). As for the other places, here are four MLS players who in my opinion deserve a spot on the final USMNT World Cup roster.
GK: Sean Johnson, age 24, Chicago Fire
The projected goalkeepers for Brazil are Howard, Brad Guzan, and Real Salt Lake’s Nick Rimando. Howard was the starter in 2010 and figures to be again this time around, while Guzan is the youngest of the three at 29.
Instead of putting the 34-year-old Rimando on the bench for his first (and likely final) World Cup, why not give the place to a promising young goalkeeper who would have a chance at being on the next three World Cup teams? Third goalkeepers rarely play in major tournaments, making an investment in Johnson a low-risk option for the present with high-reward potential in the future.
Perhaps Johnson’s greatest competition is D.C. United’s Bill Hamid, only one year his junior. Both players would be a good pick for the third goalkeeper position, but Johnson’s highlight-reel stops give him the edge.
DF: DeAndre Yedlin, 20, Seattle Sounders
In 2013, Yedlin became the first rookie to make the MLS All-Star team since 2005. He finished the season with 30 starts and was one of the bright spots in a disappointing campaign for the Sounders. Despite Yedlin’s promising start, Seattle teammate Brad Evans is the current favourite for the starting right-back job in Brazil. Evans normally plays as a centre-back but has played at right-back with the USMNT before.
Yedlin should get serious consideration for a backup role however. Not only is he young enough that he could play in the next four World Cups, but he would be a natural full-back on a centre-heavy backline.
Geoff Cameron will likely go to the World Cup as a backup centre-back and right-back. But putting Yedlin on the team as well would at least give Evans and Cameron a better chance to play in their regular spot in the centre of defence.
MF: Kelyn Rowe, 22, New England Revolution
Rowe is in a difficult position. This past season, he was instrumental in New England’s turnaround but was overshadowed by teammates Jose Goncalves and Diego Fagundez. As a midfielder trying to make the USMNT, he is stuck behind the likes of Donovan, Dempsey, and Michael Bradley, among many others.
In just two seasons, Rowe has become an on-field leader for the Revolution and one of the best attacking midfielders in MLS. His passing and vision are his strongest traits, but he can shoot pretty well too. Just ask the Philadelphia Union.
Rowe’s continued development could see him step into the shoes of Landon Donovan one day, a position I believe he is more than capable of filling. Why not give him a chance to go to a World Cup now while Donovan is still around for him to learn from?
As early as this may be, I am predicting that Kelyn Rowe will be the captain of the USMNT at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Rowe has a fight on his hands to make the 2014 squad, but if he keeps up his form he will at least play himself into the discussion.
FW: Jack McInerney, 21, Philadelphia Union
Despite an excellent 2013 season, “Jack Mac” has not been thrown into the USMNT discussion due to a frontline that already includes three strong players under the age of 25: Jozy Altidore (24), Aron Johannsson (23), and Terrence Boyd (22). That being said, it would not hurt to include McInerney, the only current MLS player of the bunch, in the same group.
McInerney scored 12 goals this past season, tied for seventh-highest in MLS. Mike Magee was the only other USMNT hopeful to score more than McInerney. Nine of Jack Mac’s goals were scored in the first two months of the season. Had McInerney not gone cold once May rolled around he could have easily challenged Camilo Sanvezzo for the Golden Boot.
McInerney’s chances at making the World Cup roster could improve depending on how coach Klinsmann allocates spots by position. In 2010 there were a whopping six forwards listed on the US World Cup roster (among them were Donovan, Dempsey, and Altidore). With Donovan and Dempsey likely dropping back into the midfield, two of them have opened up. If Klinsmann opts to keep those spots for forwards, don’t be surprised if McInerney makes the cut.
Thanks for reading! You can follow me on twitter, @MichaelNorton95. Give the site a follow while you’re at it – @LastWordOnSport. Don’t forget to take a quick moment and like our Facebook Page!
Feel free to discuss this and other footy related articles with thousands of fans at r/football.
Interested in writing for LastWordOnSports? Find more info at our “Write for Us” page.
