The past two months have been among the most important months in the history of the U.S. National Team, if not the most important. And not strictly because we beat Spain or were runners-up in a (oh my God) FIFA tournament. It's because of what came from these achievements. We finally have a team.
You thought the US played its first official match against Sweden in Stockholm on August 20, 1916? Well, you're right. They did. We did have a "team" back then, but – not to take anything away from those pioneers – it was more along the lines of whoever wanted to play, played.
For all intents and purposes, I'll be referring what we'll call the modern era of the United States Men's National team – the national team since the inception of Major League Soccer, a period including only the 1998, 2002, 2006, and current World Cup cycles.
When I say we have a team, I mean we actually have what should be an undisputed starting eleven plus supporting cast. As 1998 was a complete, abject disaster, it, along with the 2006 cycle will be dismissed from the analysis. Whether or not Steve Sampson and Bruce Arena had set lineups or whether the fans had what they thought in their heads was a best eleven, it didn't show on the field, and there's no point in even bringing it up.
So, for comparison's sake, and to make my point, let's look at the 2002 World Cup – the highpoint of the modern era of the USMNT.
The defense was fairly stable for the most part. Eddie Pope and Tony Sanneh started all five games, while Frankie Hejduk only started four as he was suspended for the Mexico tilt, where Pablo Mastroeni shifted back a line. Jeff Agoos, who many viewed as the weak link of the back four, started the first three games until a 36th-minute injury against Poland, combined possibly with a lack of form, knocked him out for the rest of the tournament. Gregg Berhalter took over and started the final two games.
However, the midfield was a different story. John O'Brien, Claudio Reyna, Pablo Mastroeni, Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, Earnie Stewart, Eddie Lewis, and Pablo Mastroeni all started games in the midfield. That's eight guys for only four spots.
Up top, Brian McBride was a mainstay, but his partner varied between Donovan, Clint Mathis, and Josh Wolff throughout the tournament. I think it's fair to say that not many World Cup quarterfinalists have ever varied their lineups this much, save for an injury crisis.
There clearly wasn't a first-choice eleven with different guys proving and disproving themselves throughout the tournament. The result was a fairly successful showing, but an up-and-down process with some unique circumstances and more than one break going the way of the Red, White, and Blue.
Fast forward to the 2009 Confederations Cup, past the nightmare of games one and two, and stop the tape at the end of 3-0 win over Egypt with the U.S. miraculously in the knockout stages.
The big change for this win was a shift in formation from a 4-5-1 to a 4-4-2, with Charlie Davies entering as a partner to Jozy Altidore. This proved to be just what the doctor ordered as Davies troubled the Egyptian backline, wreaking havoc and scoring the ever-important first goal.
Donovan and Dempsey were employed on the flanks, but served more as dual attacking midfielders which is probably the role both are best suited for. With everyone available, Bradley opted for his son paired with Ricardo Clark in the center of midfield. The duo may be a little too defensive for the taste of some, but with Michael Bradley's ever improving offensive game, they dominated the Egyptians and beat Spain.
The backline remained the same from games one and two with Jay Demerit and Oguchi Onyewu immense, and Jonathan Spector serving the best ball I have ever seen from and American fullback, leading to Dempsey's clinching third goal. Jonathan Bornstein was serviceable on the left, but took a back seat once Carlos Bocanegra was deemed healthy for the final two games, taking up his new post on the left side of the defense.
Brad Guzan played admirably and goal, showing he's a more-than-capable backup for Tim Howard, but still a backup as the Everton man's performances against Spain and Brazil proved.
This starting eleven, including Bocanegra and Howard, along with some help off the bench from Benny Feilhaber, is the one that then toppled Spain by a 2-0 score line, shocking the world and even some of the non-soccer-loving American public in the process.
One change had to be made for the final against Brazil after Bradley was sent off in waning moments against Spain, but Feilhaber had proved himself enough to make the replacement fairly routine.
These three games bore what is, for the first time in the modern history of our national team, is a group of eleven players who deserve to start – the eleven who beat Spain. Whatever led Bob Bradley to this, whether it be tactical expertise, injuries forcing his hand, or, most likely, some combination of the two, there finally is a starting eleven that actually deserves to be on the field. These eleven players, with the Feilhaber and Bornstein exceptions, stood toe-to-toe with the world's best, actually played some good attacking soccer, and toppled a giant in the process.
Regardless of who we think is the best eleven, how much we love Freddy Adu, how many center midfielders the US has who we think are better than Ricardo Clark, or how much we think a different formation would best fit our players, it doesn't matter. These eleven players beat Spain and deserve to be on the field. They may not add up to the best overall rating in FIFA 09, but, more importantly, they are the best collective eleven players we have seen for the U.S. under Bob Bradley
Could there be a better group? Sure, there could be and there probably will be, but the point is that it was these eleven players who actually proved themselves on the field. They gave us actual evidence for once. All other ideas of a starting eleven are unproven and completely hypothetical. This lineup actually played together and got the huge results together. Until they prove otherwise, this is the eleven that should start each game. This is who we should see on the field from the opening whistle trying to make some more history at the Azteca on Wednesday. Anyone we don't has every right to be disappointed.
- Ryan O'Hanlon
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5 comments:
Well said, Ryan. The evidence is simple. Just as long as we don't see Conor Casey on the pitch, I have all confidence that the coaching staff is up for this one. Bradley, please don't let us down!
USA USA USA
You're right, we do have a starting eleven...which will make it all that much more baffling when Bradley continues his long-running bro-mance with Ching today...
As long as Jonathan Bornstein is not on the field, we'll be just fine. Ching is the better starting option today, IMHO.
It's good to hear someone who isn't bashing on Ching for once.
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