USMNT Profiles: MidFielders
I believe the key to the USMNT success in Brazil will be the play of the midfielders. Michael Bradley is most certainly the star of the midfield, having gained a real boost in popularity after his performances with the USMNT in 2009 and 2010.
Bradley, not unlike Dempsey, is known for his intensity and aggression on the pitch. Also like Dempsey, Bradley had the opportunity to breakout in the European leagues. Having left the MetroStars of MLS in 2005, Bradley played for a number of European clubs but it was his 2012 arrival in Serie A with Roma that had him poised for greatness.
Bradley arrived in Serie A with high expectations. Many expected the development and growth he had shown during his time with the USMNT to continue on at the club level. Unfortunately, like Dempsey and Altidore in the EPL, Bradley saw his playing time dwindle leading him to return to the MLS in 2014 with Toronto FC. Bradley has scored 12 goals in his 84 games with the USMNT and will still be looked toward to contribute heavily in the offensive zone.
Supporting Bradley in the midfield will be either Jermaine Jones, a German-American currently playing club level in Turkey, or Kyle Beckerman, a native of Crofton, Maryland, from the MLS club Real Salt Lake. I believe that Kyle Beckerman is the better choice to start alongside, or technically behind, Bradley if the USMNT deploys the diamond formation in their World Cup matches.
Throughout his tenure in MLS, Kyle Beckerman has been as solid a midfielder as anyone could hope to find. Breaking into MLS in 2000 with the Miami Fusion, injuries prevented Beckerman from having a major impact right away but his determination was apparent from the start. After a stint with the Colorado Rapids, Beckerman joined Real Salt Lake in 2007.
Beckerman’s tireless work ethic and dedication, along with a MLS Cup in 2009, has ingratiated himself dearly to the RSL faithful. Beckerman has the ability to control the middle of the field with precision passes and tenacious defense. That combination of skills allows Michael Bradley the freedom to roam in the offensive zone and commit more fully to the attack.
Jermaine Jones is a higher profile alternative to Beckerman but I believe Jones’ somewhat erratic play is less conducive to the diamond offense. Jones has had games with the USMNT where he looked to be the best player on the pitch but has also had matches were he seems to get lost in the shuffle. A focused Jones is quite capable of contributing to the offensive threat from the midfield himself and would be better suited to play alongside Bradley than behind in a support role.
Regardless of whether it is Beckerman or Jones in the starting lineup, I believe the most important midfielder, aside from Bradley, will be Sporting KC’s Graham Zusi. The 27 year old from Longwood Florida is playing in his first World Cup for the USMNT.
Zusi played collegiate soccer for the University of Maryland from 2005 through 2008. In his 89 games with Maryland, Zusi scored 28 goals and tallied 20 assists. Zusi also won two national championships with the Terrapins (’05 and ’08). Drafted by Sporting KC (known as the Kansas City Wizards at the time) in 2009, Zusi has been on a steady rise to stardom.
Zusi was named MLS Breakout Player of the Year in 2011 and twice was named to the MLS All-star game as well as a member of the MLS Best XI (’12 and ’13). Zusi gained a lot of respect internationally by filling in quite admirably for Landon Donovan while Donovan was on his self-imposed hiatus. Zusi will need to be able to continue to fill those cleats left by Donovan on the biggest stage if the USMNT hopes to advance from group stage in Brazil.
Brad Davis, Alejandro Bedoya and Mix Diskerud have also shown an ability to contribute heavily to the success of this team, giving much needed depth to the position. Youngster Julian Green so far has had little impact in his few appearances and would seem to be on the roster more to gain experience for the future than to impact the present. However, Green’s talent is very apparent and it is possible that he could add a spark off the bench if called upon as a substitute.
