5 Players Who Will Make or Break U.S. 2014 World Cup Hopes

Some weeks back, we previewed the US National Team and their chances in the 2014 World Cup. In this preview, we mentioned that Landon Donovan, the country’s all-time leading goalscorer and second most capped player ever, would be a key player for the Americans. Well, that won’t be the case, as Jurgen Klinsmann has left out Donovan in his final squad of 23.

With Donovan missing, it’s time to reassess the US in terms of which players will either make or break the team’s chances in Brazil. If you think that the Americans will still have a successful tournament, create a betting account now and read on about the players who will step up in Donovan’s absence.
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Top 5 Key US Players in the 2014 World Cup

Clint Dempsey

[sc:Soccer240banner ]Without Donovan, Clint Dempsey now becomes the US’s most experienced (103 caps) and most prolific (36 goals) player in the squad. Dempsey has been in decent form for the Seattle Sounders in the MLS, with eight goals and two assists in nine games.

As captain of the team, Dempsey will lead from the front as the main attacking fulcrum, and will need to supply the team with goals and creativity. If he fails to do so, the Americans face an uphill battle to escape their very tough group.

Michael Bradley

Michael Bradley is the engine that makes this team go. A legitimate box-to-box midfielder, the dynamic Bradley has excellent pass distribution and a keen sense of when to make late runs to the box, which has led to 12 goals in 83 caps.

At 26, Bradley will be at the peak of his physical and athletic abilities in Brazil, and he’ll need every bit of them to compete in a group where he’ll face some of the world’s best midfielders. But if he gets overrun by the Germans and Portuguese, then the US is in serious trouble.

Tim Howard

Now age 35, this may just be Tim Howard’s last ever World Cup and he will enter it in great form. The first-choice goalie just finished an outstanding season with Everton in England, helping the club to a 5th-place finish with the third best defensive record (just 39 goals conceded) in the Premier League.

Howard will no doubt be kept busy in Brazil, especially against Portugal and former Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, in the tournament. The US will need a strong showing from their last line of defense to progress.

Jozy Altidore

Jozy Altidore will likely be the team’s first-choice striker in Brazil, but considering his club form this season, it will hardly be earned on merit. Altidore had a dreadful season with English club Sunderland, scoring just once in 30 league appearances.

But Altidore has performed well when wearing the national team shirt; he has 21 goals in 67 career caps, and scored four of those goals during World Cup qualifying. And with the US lacking in decent alternatives upfront, Altidore will be counted on to provide at least some sort of attacking threat in Brazil.

Kyle Beckerman

Despite having neither the biggest name nor the flashiest game, Kyle Beckerman could still be one of the most important players on the team. The MLS-based holding midfielder doesn’t have a great international pedigree (he’s never played outside the US), but looked very comfortable alongside Michael Bradley in the 2-2 draw against Mexico in April.

With Bradley pushing on to support the likes of Dempsey upfront, the 32-year old Beckerman will have a critical role of maintaining the team’s defensive solidity and shielding his centerbacks from the crafty midfielders Portugal and Germany possess.

Update: Klinsmann has opted to start Jermaine Jones instead of Beckerman as the holding midfielder in a diamond formation during the US’s World Cup tune-up games.
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