The 5 Most Important Soccer Players for USA Men’s National Team

Posted on October 25, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

With CONCACAF qualification going on hiatus for the next several months, the American National Soccer team will have some time to determine who will take part in the next set of important qualification matches for the 2014 World Cup. With a rather sketchy progression in the 3^rd round, the margins will be slimmer for the USA in the final round where America will need to play at their best to beat the likes of Mexico, Honduras, and Costa Rica. Here are in my opinion the five most important players for the team heading into these games ranked in order:

5. Eddie Johnson – It is a bit of an odd choice given that he has been largely absent from the squad the past few years, but when given a chance this month in the matches against Antigua and Barbuda and Guatemala, Johnson came through in amazing fashion scoring two goals and one assist in the games. His 90^th minute winner in the first match was simply clutch. This is the type of player that Jurgen Klinsmann will want in his side in Brazil, and I fully expect him to be in the squad for the remainder of qualification and could become one of the team’s best scoring threats.

4. Michael Bradley – The central midfield player provides physical stability in the middle of the park and dominates the opposition. He has excellent scoring capabilities as well, evidenced by his 10 goals for the USA team. Playing for Roma in Italy, Bradley now has an opportunity to learn from some of the world’s best midfield players like Daniele de Rossi and Miralem Pjanic. At just 25 years of age, the best is likely to come from Michael Bradley and he should become a key figure for the national team by 2014.

3. Tim Howard – The goalie is often the most important player on a team, especially for those considered underdogs when they play against the major soccer nations like Germany and Argentina. Tim Howard has the ability to keep America in games in which they struggle, and that is a vital weapon for the team going forward. Especially considering the defensive deficiencies of this team (Notice how not one defender made this list!), the Everton star goalkeeper is vital to American success, and at age 33 is the veteran leader that the nation needs at the back.

2. Landon Donovan – After having been the most exciting player in America for a full decade and featuring in three World Cups, its incredible to realize that Donovan is just 30 years old. His drive and quick work-rate make him one of the team’s most dangerous weapons, and I attribute much of the struggles that the USA has dealt with in recent qualification games to his absence from the team due to injury. Although he has been quoted to be contemplating retirement after next year, I think that those words come from frustrations of a player who has been injured for more than a few crucial games this season. Once he recovers, he will probably start loving life again and be a key ingredient in leading America to glory.

1. Clint Dempsey –Far and away the most vital player to this team, Dempsey has been the creative force and leader of the offense for America. One of the few players to enjoy sustained success in the English Premier League, Dempsey now plays for Tottenham where he recently scored a game-winning goal against Manchester United. Playing against the world’s best week in and week out should keep Dempsey producing for the American team, and he will be the vital player in American soccer in the final qualification round of CONCACAF.

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America Reaches Final Stage of 2014 World Cup Qualification with Ease

Posted on October 17, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

Anxious American fans had to endure several weeks of tense nervousness ahead of the last two matches in the second round of CONCACAF World Cup qualification, but fortunately, the team was able to overcome the obstacles and comfortably win the final match against Guatemala to spare the blushes of manager Jurgen Klinsmann.

The first match was an away trip to Antigua and Barbuda that proved to be a rather difficult task. The match was deadlocked at 1-1 until the dying moments, when Alan Gordon and Eddie Johnson combined for a glorious headed goal to steal the game right at the end. It was a brilliant moment for the player and one must sit back and praise Klinsmann for his brave roster decision to select Johnson over the younger Jozy Altidore.

Eddie Johnson has had a great season for the Seattle Sounders of the MLS but hasn’t featured for the US Men’s National Team in several years. The game-winning goal against Antigua and Barbuda was actually Johnson’s second goal of the match and highlighted the type of display that America needs from its strikers. Johnson was able to find goals when the team wasn’t playing at its best. In the Guatemala match, Johnson added an assist with a good cross for Dempsey’s goal and this cemented him in the team for me.

Two goals and an assist in two crucial matches is the type of performance that America needed and I believe that Eddie Johnson is likely to have more call-ups in the near future. Jozy Altidore is for the moment placed on the back burner and hopefully he will have the fight to go ahead and reclaim his place on the team.

Elsewhere on the pitch, Clint Dempsey had a remarkable match against Guatemala. He was around the goal all throughout the match and proved too much for the defense to handle with his two goals and assist in the game. Clearly he is America’s finest player and it was nice to see what he is capable of when he is in top form.

Michael Bradley also had a decent game back with the team and is also a solid performer for the national team. He put in a lovely chip over the goalie that Dempsey finished for the goal and also had a clear penalty call denied late in the match. He now plays for Roma and has performed well in his few appearances despite being injured for much of the young season.

With team leader Landon Donovan still sidelined, one has to presume that we have yet to see the best of this American side, and hopefully they can produce some results in the final stage of qualification to ensure that the United States has a place at Brazil 2014.

The recent games were a bit nerve-wracking, but considering the vital players that have been hurt, I think Jurgen Klinsmann’s side displayed great poise and strength to navigate through the troublesome group. The team walked the tightrope but managed to come out unscathed and I think that they will be better for it. Eddie Johnson earned his call up and this team is destined for success in the near future. Let us hope they can prevail in the final group round and qualify for the World Cup.

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Portland Timbers on the Rise after Beating Sounders

Posted on June 25, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

The rivalry of the Pacific Northwest featuring the Portland Timbers and the Seattle Sounders is developing into the finest of the MLS. On Sunday in front of a packed crowd at JELD-WEN Field, the Timbers put on a fine display to win 2-1 which could very well provide the anchor that will save their season.

Portland started the match off very well and dominated the entire first half. Defender David Horst was unlucky not to put the Timbers ahead after ten minutes with a lovely header that rattled the corner of the goal frame.

However, five minutes later the breakthrough came through Kris Boyd, who was found wide open in front of goal and easily put Portland ahead. It was a fifth goal on the season for the Scotsman who seems to have found a good home in America. He played very well the entire night and could have doubled the lead ten minutes later with a strong header that forced Andrew Weber into a difficult save.

The ensuing corner roared the stadium back to life as Horst got onto another header for his first ever MLS goal. It seemed rather surprising that it has taken the defender so long to score as his early efforts from corner kicks gave him the appearance as a goal poacher going forward. With his dominant height at 6’4”, one must presume that he will continue to find goals off of headers.

Seattle never really found their groove though they did get a goal from a brilliant solo effort from Eddie Johnson who weaved through defenders before blasting the ball across goal into the top corner. However, it was to be the Timber’s day as they held on for the last half hour and earned the crucial victory.

Portland is currently struggling in the table with only 19 points from 14 matches that leaves them in 8^th place in the Western Conference. However, with two games in hand and over half of the season left to play, this victory will give the team the hope and confidence to move forward and claim a top five place that will ensure qualification for the MLS Cup Playoffs.

The rivalry with the Seattle Sounders has become a powerful image for the MLS featuring packed stadiums and tense drama. The most recent encounter even provided two late red cards as tempers boiled over during stoppage time. The match had the feel of an English Premier League fixture as the crowd was in heavy support, and there was even a massive banner raised during the pregame suggesting the legendary step the Timbers are taking. The 2012 MLS season clearly has all the makings of an excellent one where the Timbers will be looking to make their mark.

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