Ranking the USMNT's Most Important Players

The United States men’s national soccer team has a big month ahead with friendlies against Scotland, Brazil and Canada over the next two weeks and World Cup qualifiers against Antigua and Barbuda and Guatemala following in early June.

With these important games on the horizon, let’s take a look at the USMNT’s most important players.

No. 7: Jozy Altidore

While Jozy is still maligned by some U.S. fans, he has amassed an impressive 46 caps at the ripe age of 22 and has showed consistent growth in his game over the past year.

His continued development has seen him get better at holding the ball up (a key contribution to the team when playing better sides) and getting his head up in the attacking third. His size, strength and dribbling remain troubling to any defender he faces.

Jozy’s most recent season in the Eredivisie is nothing to sneeze at either. His 15 goals for AZ Alkmaar are more than either Ruud van Nistelrooy (13 goals for Heerenveen at age 22) or Robin van Persie (six goals in his last season in the Eredivisie at age 21 for Feyenoord) had in the Dutch league in a single season at the same stage in their careers.

No. 6: Steve Cherundolo

Cherundolo has been, quite simply, one of the most consistent performers for the USMNT over the past half decade, putting in solid shifts every time he steps on the pitch. In the 2010 World Cup, Cherundolo played every minute of the tournament for the U.S.

If anyone needs to see the results of what happens when Cherundolo can’t play, one needs to look no further than the disastrous 2011 Gold Cup final against Mexico. After Cherundolo was forced out of the game due to injury, the U.S. back line fell apart.

American fans are lucky to have a player like Cherundolo, who also captains Hannover 96 in the Bundesliga, on their squad.

No. 5: Michael Bradley

Bradley has been a consistent performer for the U.S. as its midfield general for the past half decade. Not bad for a “kid” who is only 24.

With 64 caps for the USMNT, Bradley provides the U.S. with strong tackling, a solid presence in the air and great possession out of the back. He also has a knack for scoring with nine goals to his USMNT record, even though he is usually deployed in a holding role.

Bradley’s solid season with Chievo Verona in Serie A will only give him more confidence in this summer’s games.

No. 4: Carlos Bocanegra

The American captain turns 33 this week, but has shown no signs of slowing down. He played every game for the team in 2011 and has amassed 102 caps in his impressive USMNT career.

Bocanegra has shown his versatility over the years playing as both a central defender and as a left-back when needed and proven his worth in three separate European leagues, most recently as a key fixture for Rangers in the Scottish Premier League.

No. 3: Landon Donovan

In reality, the top three on this list are virtually interchangeable, and Donovan’s value to the squad would only be questioned by the most cynical fans.

In addition to being the U.S. talisman over the last decade, Donovan has finally shed that oft-uttered criticism that he “can’t make it in Europe.”

In both of Donovan's one-month loan stints at Everton in 2010 and 2012, he was named the team’s Player of the Month twice. And with him in the starting lineup in those stints, Everton beat Manchester City twice, Chelsea twice, Manchester United once and took a point off Arsenal.

No. 2: Clint Dempsey

Trying to pick between Donovan and Dempsey is a brutal choice for any true U.S. fan because of how vital both of them have been to the team’s success over the past years. However, Dempsey has been the hotter player of late, finishing a fantastic season in the English Premier League with 17 goals and 23 goals in all competitions.

In addition to scoring the winner in the U.S.’ most recent friendly against Italy in February, Dempsey’s versatility in his ability to play wide, underneath or up top make him the U.S.’ most valuable outfield player.

No. 1: Tim Howard

Howard’s ability to stand on his head in big games for the U.S. is uncanny, especially when the U.S. is outmatched against world-class opponents. His work in the Italy game this winter and in the U.S. victory over Spain in the 2009 Confederations Cup are some great examples.

In the 2009 Confederations Cup, Howard took home the Golden Glove Award as the tournament’s best keeper over Spain’s Iker Casillas, Brazil’s Julio Cesar and Italy’s Gianluigi Buffon.

With no experienced No. 2, God help the USMNT if Howard ever gets hurt.

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