Road to 2014: The Brazil Board 5.0
By Luke Cyphers and Doug McIntyre
ESPN Insider
With all due respect to the January campers, the first month of 2012 is something of a dead zone on the American soccer calendar. That means that any major changes to the Brazil board probably won't come until later this year, or at the very least until after the first-string visits Italy next month. Still, with the next World Cup now just more than two years away, there are some obvious trends taking shape.
Jurgen Klinsmann was brought in as head coach to revive a national team that had grown "stale," to use a favorite term of U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati. But up front and in the back, the Yanks' outlook for 2014 has grown old.
Out from previous Brazil Boards are young central defender prospects such as Ike Opara, John Anthony Brooks and Gale Agbossoumonde.
We've used each as placeholders before, but it's obvious that they just aren't ready for prime time yet. None of the three are sure bets even for the Olympic squad, so they certainly don't seem like viable candidates to start in Brazil, given the experience that position demands. Suddenly, the calendar is filling with non-friendly qualifiers, and young players are running out of time to gain the savvy necessary to make the case for themselves ahead of the main event.
So who's in? In the heart of the back line, geezers rule. Carlos Bocanegra and Oguchi Onyewu, who've started in the previous two World Cups but appeared ready to sunset after the 2010 version, are playing well. A now-healthy Onyewu finally regained the steps he'd lost in 2009, and Bocanegra is the defensive MVP of the Klinsmann era. If they continue to perform, Klinsmann says he doesn't care how old they'll be in 2014.
<offer>And if any newbies are to break in, guys such as Geoff Cameron and Alfredo Morales and, yes, Omar Gonzalez and George John seem the likelier candidates.
It's a similar story up front. No young forwards have come on to threaten young veteran Jozy Altidore, and Clint Dempsey still appears to be the best option next to him, or rather behind him. Klinsmann wants strikers who can deliver the world-class benchmark of a goal every other match. So far, only Dempsey remotely approaches that. So even though he may be better suited to playing in the hole as a No. 10, we think he'll be a forward by 2014. (Of course, the Brazil Board is nothing if not fluid.)
However, experience is less important than productivity up front, and a hot striker -- say 20-year-old Borussia Dortmund product Terence Boyd, who's impressed with the U-23s -- can emerge at any time.
The ever-deepening midfield is a great mixture of old and new. We're not giving up on Stuart Holden yet, and if he comes off his current injury able to run like he did last year at Bolton, he edges Jose Torres out of a backup role because of his ability to play a deep-lying role, a No. 10 or the wing. Adding to the vets are potentially more fresh faces emerging from the Olympic squad. Having been burned on the back line last year, we're waiting to make calls on the 23s until they play some matches.
But stay tuned, folks. In the next few months, the competition for a trip to Brazil will truly come alive.
PREVIOUSLY: March 30 | June 7 | July 5 | Sept. 21
<center>TEAM USA: 2014 WORLD CUP ROSTER
</center>
Roll over player names for scouting notes, analysis and a confidence ranking. All ages and experience are as of Jan. 19.
<!-- BEGIN FIELD --><!-- begin inline 2 --><!-- Begin Goalkeeper -->
HOWARD
GOALKEEPER
Tim HOWARD
AGE: 32
USMNT EXP: 72 caps
Still no contest. Brad Guzan's run of starts at Aston Villa in place of injured Shay Given, while successful enough to vault him over youngsters Bill Hamid and Sean Johnson, never posed any real challenge to the Everton backstop. And unless Guzan uses the exposure to land a full-time, top-flight gig elsewhere, that's not going to change.
CERTAINTY
<!-- ARROW CONTROL: EDIT LEFT PX TO ADJUST -->
<!-- END ARROW -->
BACKUP: Brad Guzan (19 caps)
<!-- End Goalkeeper --> <!-- end inline 2 --><!-- begin inline 3 --><!-- Begin Defense One -->
CHANDLER
LEFT BACK
Timothy CHANDLER
AGE: 21
USMNT EXP: 8 caps
The American version of Philipp Lahm is getting more comfortable on his off side every game. Chandler's defensive positioning still needs improvement. But learning curve or not, the right-footer's physical tools, quickness on the counter and Bundesliga pedigree have made him a revelation at left back, a perennially problematic position.
CERTAINTY
<!-- ARROW CONTROL: EDIT LEFT PX TO ADJUST -->
<!-- END ARROW -->
BACKUP:Sean Cunningham (0 caps)
<!-- End Defense One --><!-- end inline 3 --><!-- begin inline 4 --><!-- Begin Defense Three -->
BOCANEGRA
CENTER BACK
Carlos BOCANEGRA
AGE: 32
USMNT EXP: 100 caps
The U.S. captain is showing few signs of slowing down. Bocanegra's positioning is as good as it's ever been, and the leadership he provides from the back is invaluable. Plus, none of the touted young center backs who've been tipped to eventually replace him -- England-bound Tim Ream included -- have come close to surpassing him yet. Right now, the calendar is his only rival.
CERTAINTY
<!-- ARROW CONTROL: EDIT LEFT PX TO ADJUST -->
<!-- END ARROW -->
BACKUP: Zak Whitbread (0 caps)
<!-- End Defense Three --><!--DeMERIT--><!-- end inline 4 --><!-- begin inline 5 --><!-- Begin Defense Two -->
ONYEWU
CENTER BACK
Oguchi ONYEWU
AGE: 29
USMNT EXP: 62 caps
The big man is quietly having a solid -- and more important, healthy -- first season in Portugal. Highly experienced and still just 29, Onyewu has helped Sporting Lisbon advance to the knockout stage of the Europa League, where a mouthwatering potential date with Manchester City in the Round of 16 could reveal if Gooch is truly back to his best.
CERTAINTY
<!-- ARROW CONTROL: EDIT LEFT PX TO ADJUST -->
<!-- END ARROW -->
BACKUP: Clarence Goodson (27 caps)
<!-- End Defense Two --><!-- end inline 5 --><!-- begin inline 6 --><!-- Begin Defense Four -->
LICHAJ
RIGHT BACK
Eric LICHAJ
AGE: 23
USMNT EXP: 8 caps
The powerful fullback is healthy again and ready to compete for a starting job during the second half of Aston Villa's season. If Lichaj can become a Premier League regular -- and Villa incumbent Alan Hutton's suspect defending has created an opportunity -- it may finally signal the end of Steve Cherundolo's decade-long reign at right back.
CERTAINTY
<!-- ARROW CONTROL: EDIT LEFT PX TO ADJUST -->
<!-- END ARROW -->
BACKUP: Alfredo Morales (0 caps)
<!-- End Defense Four --><!-- end inline 6 --><!-- begin inline 7 --><!-- Begin Striker One -->
SHEA
FORWARD
Brek SHEA
AGE: 21
USMNT EXP: 9 caps
The breakout Yank of 2011 slowed considerably toward the end of last season, but he's come into January camp confident and fit. With Olympic qualifying and, it's hoped, the London Games on his agenda this year, a successful 2012 could help Shea lock down that left wing spot for the rest of the cycle -- if he hasn't done it already.
CERTAINTY
<!-- ARROW CONTROL: EDIT LEFT PX TO ADJUST -->
<!-- END ARROW -->
BACKUP: Fabian Johnson (9 caps)
<!-- End Striker One --><!-- end inline 7 --><!-- begin inline 8 --><!-- Begin Mid Three -->
WILLIAMS
MIDFIELDER
Danny WILLIAMS
AGE: 22
USMNT EXP: 4 caps
Kyle Beckerman has been Klinsmann's preferred "No. 6" from the start, but we see Williams leapfrogging the MLS veteran within the next two years. The brawny 22-year-old German-American plays a similar role for Bundesliga club Hoffenheim, and if the U-23s qualify for the Olympics, he figures to be the USA's first choice defensive midfielder in London.
CERTAINTY
<!-- ARROW CONTROL: EDIT LEFT PX TO ADJUST -->
<!-- END ARROW -->
BACKUP: Kyle Beckerman (18 caps)
<!-- End Mid Three --><!-- end inline 8 --><!-- begin inline 9 --><!-- Begin Mid Two -->
BRADLEY
MIDFIELDER
Michael BRADLEY
AGE: 24
USMNT EXP: 63 caps
After quickly establishing himself as a top player for Chievo in Italy's Serie A, Bradley's top-notch performance against Slovenia in November has him squarely back in the Yanks first XI. He's shown versatility, too, in lining up on the right side of midfield for club and country, and by adding corner and free kick-taking responsibilities to his repertoire.
CERTAINTY
<!-- ARROW CONTROL: EDIT LEFT PX TO ADJUST -->
<!-- END ARROW -->
BACKUP: Maurice Edu (31 caps)
<!-- End Mid Two --><!-- end inline 9 --><!-- begin inline 10 --><!-- Begin Mid Four -->
DONOVAN
ATTACKING MIDFIELDER
Landon DONOVAN
AGE: 29
USMNT EXP: 138 caps
Yes, we've got Donovan plotted at the top of the midfield diamond here. But as with Dempsey, Klinsmann figures to give the country's all-time leading scorer freedom, meaning he'll be able to find the ball out wide before veering back into the middle. That would also allow Michael Bradley to frequently pinch inside, where he's most comfortable.
CERTAINTY
<!-- ARROW CONTROL: EDIT LEFT PX TO ADJUST -->
<!-- END ARROW -->
BACKUP: Stuart Holden (17 caps)
<!-- End Mid Four --><!-- end inline 10 --><!-- begin inline 11 --><!-- Begin Mid One -->
DEMPSEY
FORWARD
Clint DEMPSEY
AGE: 28
USMNT EXP: 82 caps
If Klinsmann ultimately hopes to play with two strikers, which he says he does, then deploying his best natural scorer at forward only makes sense. This idea isn't new. But Dempsey is getting more prolific with age, and younger legs could be better suited to running the midfield by 2014.
CERTAINTY
<!-- ARROW CONTROL: EDIT LEFT PX TO ADJUST -->
<!-- END ARROW -->
BACKUP: Terrence Boyd (0 caps)
<!-- End Mid One --><!-- end inline 11 --><!-- begin inline 12 --><!-- Begin Striker Two -->
ALTIDORE
FORWARD
Jozy ALTIDORE
AGE: 22
USMNT EXP: 45 caps
A strong first half (11 goals) of the season for Dutch Eredivisie leader AZ Alkmaar combined with a complete lack of viable alternatives makes Altidore's spot in the lineup safer than ever. He'll be counted on to carry the scoring load during World Cup qualifying, but his teammates need to get much better at providing the service.
CERTAINTY
<!-- ARROW CONTROL: EDIT LEFT PX TO ADJUST -->
<!-- END ARROW -->
BACKUP: Juan Agudelo (17 caps)
<!-- End Striker Two --><!-- end inline 12 --><!-- begin inline 13 --><!-- Begin Bench --><table id="bench"><thead><tr><th>RESERVE</th><th>POS.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td>Brad Guzan</td><td>GK</td></tr><tr><td>Clarence Goodson</td><td>D</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Alfredo Morales</td><td>D</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Zak Whitbread</td><td>D</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Sean Cunningham</td><td>D</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Maurice Edu</td><td>M</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Kyle Beckerman</td><td>M</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Fabian Johnson</td><td>M</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Stuart Holden</td><td>M</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Terrence Boyd</td><td>F</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Juan Agudelo</td><td>F</td></tr></tbody></table>
</offer>
By Luke Cyphers and Doug McIntyre
ESPN Insider
With all due respect to the January campers, the first month of 2012 is something of a dead zone on the American soccer calendar. That means that any major changes to the Brazil board probably won't come until later this year, or at the very least until after the first-string visits Italy next month. Still, with the next World Cup now just more than two years away, there are some obvious trends taking shape.
Jurgen Klinsmann was brought in as head coach to revive a national team that had grown "stale," to use a favorite term of U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati. But up front and in the back, the Yanks' outlook for 2014 has grown old.
Out from previous Brazil Boards are young central defender prospects such as Ike Opara, John Anthony Brooks and Gale Agbossoumonde.
We've used each as placeholders before, but it's obvious that they just aren't ready for prime time yet. None of the three are sure bets even for the Olympic squad, so they certainly don't seem like viable candidates to start in Brazil, given the experience that position demands. Suddenly, the calendar is filling with non-friendly qualifiers, and young players are running out of time to gain the savvy necessary to make the case for themselves ahead of the main event.
So who's in? In the heart of the back line, geezers rule. Carlos Bocanegra and Oguchi Onyewu, who've started in the previous two World Cups but appeared ready to sunset after the 2010 version, are playing well. A now-healthy Onyewu finally regained the steps he'd lost in 2009, and Bocanegra is the defensive MVP of the Klinsmann era. If they continue to perform, Klinsmann says he doesn't care how old they'll be in 2014.
<offer>And if any newbies are to break in, guys such as Geoff Cameron and Alfredo Morales and, yes, Omar Gonzalez and George John seem the likelier candidates.
It's a similar story up front. No young forwards have come on to threaten young veteran Jozy Altidore, and Clint Dempsey still appears to be the best option next to him, or rather behind him. Klinsmann wants strikers who can deliver the world-class benchmark of a goal every other match. So far, only Dempsey remotely approaches that. So even though he may be better suited to playing in the hole as a No. 10, we think he'll be a forward by 2014. (Of course, the Brazil Board is nothing if not fluid.)
However, experience is less important than productivity up front, and a hot striker -- say 20-year-old Borussia Dortmund product Terence Boyd, who's impressed with the U-23s -- can emerge at any time.
The ever-deepening midfield is a great mixture of old and new. We're not giving up on Stuart Holden yet, and if he comes off his current injury able to run like he did last year at Bolton, he edges Jose Torres out of a backup role because of his ability to play a deep-lying role, a No. 10 or the wing. Adding to the vets are potentially more fresh faces emerging from the Olympic squad. Having been burned on the back line last year, we're waiting to make calls on the 23s until they play some matches.
But stay tuned, folks. In the next few months, the competition for a trip to Brazil will truly come alive.
PREVIOUSLY: March 30 | June 7 | July 5 | Sept. 21
<center>TEAM USA: 2014 WORLD CUP ROSTER
</center>
Roll over player names for scouting notes, analysis and a confidence ranking. All ages and experience are as of Jan. 19.
<!-- BEGIN FIELD --><!-- begin inline 2 --><!-- Begin Goalkeeper -->
HOWARD
Tim HOWARD
AGE: 32
USMNT EXP: 72 caps
Still no contest. Brad Guzan's run of starts at Aston Villa in place of injured Shay Given, while successful enough to vault him over youngsters Bill Hamid and Sean Johnson, never posed any real challenge to the Everton backstop. And unless Guzan uses the exposure to land a full-time, top-flight gig elsewhere, that's not going to change.
CERTAINTY
<!-- ARROW CONTROL: EDIT LEFT PX TO ADJUST -->
<!-- END ARROW -->
BACKUP: Brad Guzan (19 caps)
<!-- End Goalkeeper --> <!-- end inline 2 --><!-- begin inline 3 --><!-- Begin Defense One -->
CHANDLER
Timothy CHANDLER
AGE: 21
USMNT EXP: 8 caps
The American version of Philipp Lahm is getting more comfortable on his off side every game. Chandler's defensive positioning still needs improvement. But learning curve or not, the right-footer's physical tools, quickness on the counter and Bundesliga pedigree have made him a revelation at left back, a perennially problematic position.
CERTAINTY
<!-- ARROW CONTROL: EDIT LEFT PX TO ADJUST -->
<!-- END ARROW -->
BACKUP:Sean Cunningham (0 caps)
<!-- End Defense One --><!-- end inline 3 --><!-- begin inline 4 --><!-- Begin Defense Three -->
BOCANEGRA
Carlos BOCANEGRA
AGE: 32
USMNT EXP: 100 caps
The U.S. captain is showing few signs of slowing down. Bocanegra's positioning is as good as it's ever been, and the leadership he provides from the back is invaluable. Plus, none of the touted young center backs who've been tipped to eventually replace him -- England-bound Tim Ream included -- have come close to surpassing him yet. Right now, the calendar is his only rival.
CERTAINTY
<!-- ARROW CONTROL: EDIT LEFT PX TO ADJUST -->
<!-- END ARROW -->
BACKUP: Zak Whitbread (0 caps)
<!-- End Defense Three --><!--DeMERIT--><!-- end inline 4 --><!-- begin inline 5 --><!-- Begin Defense Two -->
ONYEWU
Oguchi ONYEWU
AGE: 29
USMNT EXP: 62 caps
The big man is quietly having a solid -- and more important, healthy -- first season in Portugal. Highly experienced and still just 29, Onyewu has helped Sporting Lisbon advance to the knockout stage of the Europa League, where a mouthwatering potential date with Manchester City in the Round of 16 could reveal if Gooch is truly back to his best.
CERTAINTY
<!-- ARROW CONTROL: EDIT LEFT PX TO ADJUST -->
<!-- END ARROW -->
BACKUP: Clarence Goodson (27 caps)
<!-- End Defense Two --><!-- end inline 5 --><!-- begin inline 6 --><!-- Begin Defense Four -->
LICHAJ
Eric LICHAJ
AGE: 23
USMNT EXP: 8 caps
The powerful fullback is healthy again and ready to compete for a starting job during the second half of Aston Villa's season. If Lichaj can become a Premier League regular -- and Villa incumbent Alan Hutton's suspect defending has created an opportunity -- it may finally signal the end of Steve Cherundolo's decade-long reign at right back.
CERTAINTY
<!-- ARROW CONTROL: EDIT LEFT PX TO ADJUST -->
<!-- END ARROW -->
BACKUP: Alfredo Morales (0 caps)
<!-- End Defense Four --><!-- end inline 6 --><!-- begin inline 7 --><!-- Begin Striker One -->
SHEA
Brek SHEA
AGE: 21
USMNT EXP: 9 caps
The breakout Yank of 2011 slowed considerably toward the end of last season, but he's come into January camp confident and fit. With Olympic qualifying and, it's hoped, the London Games on his agenda this year, a successful 2012 could help Shea lock down that left wing spot for the rest of the cycle -- if he hasn't done it already.
CERTAINTY
<!-- ARROW CONTROL: EDIT LEFT PX TO ADJUST -->
<!-- END ARROW -->
BACKUP: Fabian Johnson (9 caps)
<!-- End Striker One --><!-- end inline 7 --><!-- begin inline 8 --><!-- Begin Mid Three -->
WILLIAMS
Danny WILLIAMS
AGE: 22
USMNT EXP: 4 caps
Kyle Beckerman has been Klinsmann's preferred "No. 6" from the start, but we see Williams leapfrogging the MLS veteran within the next two years. The brawny 22-year-old German-American plays a similar role for Bundesliga club Hoffenheim, and if the U-23s qualify for the Olympics, he figures to be the USA's first choice defensive midfielder in London.
CERTAINTY
<!-- ARROW CONTROL: EDIT LEFT PX TO ADJUST -->
<!-- END ARROW -->
BACKUP: Kyle Beckerman (18 caps)
<!-- End Mid Three --><!-- end inline 8 --><!-- begin inline 9 --><!-- Begin Mid Two -->
BRADLEY
Michael BRADLEY
AGE: 24
USMNT EXP: 63 caps
After quickly establishing himself as a top player for Chievo in Italy's Serie A, Bradley's top-notch performance against Slovenia in November has him squarely back in the Yanks first XI. He's shown versatility, too, in lining up on the right side of midfield for club and country, and by adding corner and free kick-taking responsibilities to his repertoire.
CERTAINTY
<!-- ARROW CONTROL: EDIT LEFT PX TO ADJUST -->
<!-- END ARROW -->
BACKUP: Maurice Edu (31 caps)
<!-- End Mid Two --><!-- end inline 9 --><!-- begin inline 10 --><!-- Begin Mid Four -->
DONOVAN
Landon DONOVAN
AGE: 29
USMNT EXP: 138 caps
Yes, we've got Donovan plotted at the top of the midfield diamond here. But as with Dempsey, Klinsmann figures to give the country's all-time leading scorer freedom, meaning he'll be able to find the ball out wide before veering back into the middle. That would also allow Michael Bradley to frequently pinch inside, where he's most comfortable.
CERTAINTY
<!-- ARROW CONTROL: EDIT LEFT PX TO ADJUST -->
<!-- END ARROW -->
BACKUP: Stuart Holden (17 caps)
<!-- End Mid Four --><!-- end inline 10 --><!-- begin inline 11 --><!-- Begin Mid One -->
DEMPSEY
Clint DEMPSEY
AGE: 28
USMNT EXP: 82 caps
If Klinsmann ultimately hopes to play with two strikers, which he says he does, then deploying his best natural scorer at forward only makes sense. This idea isn't new. But Dempsey is getting more prolific with age, and younger legs could be better suited to running the midfield by 2014.
CERTAINTY
<!-- ARROW CONTROL: EDIT LEFT PX TO ADJUST -->
<!-- END ARROW -->
BACKUP: Terrence Boyd (0 caps)
<!-- End Mid One --><!-- end inline 11 --><!-- begin inline 12 --><!-- Begin Striker Two -->
ALTIDORE
Jozy ALTIDORE
AGE: 22
USMNT EXP: 45 caps
A strong first half (11 goals) of the season for Dutch Eredivisie leader AZ Alkmaar combined with a complete lack of viable alternatives makes Altidore's spot in the lineup safer than ever. He'll be counted on to carry the scoring load during World Cup qualifying, but his teammates need to get much better at providing the service.
CERTAINTY
<!-- ARROW CONTROL: EDIT LEFT PX TO ADJUST -->
<!-- END ARROW -->
BACKUP: Juan Agudelo (17 caps)
<!-- End Striker Two --><!-- end inline 12 --><!-- begin inline 13 --><!-- Begin Bench --><table id="bench"><thead><tr><th>RESERVE</th><th>POS.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="last"><td>Brad Guzan</td><td>GK</td></tr><tr><td>Clarence Goodson</td><td>D</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Alfredo Morales</td><td>D</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Zak Whitbread</td><td>D</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Sean Cunningham</td><td>D</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Maurice Edu</td><td>M</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Kyle Beckerman</td><td>M</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Fabian Johnson</td><td>M</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Stuart Holden</td><td>M</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Terrence Boyd</td><td>F</td></tr><tr class="last"><td>Juan Agudelo</td><td>F</td></tr></tbody></table>
</offer>
