Team USA Soccer: Fantasy Starting 11 If America's Best Athletes Played Soccer

As we anticipate what's to come in the days before the London Olympics, history tells us that the U.S. will once again be the top medal getter and continue to reign as the most athletically dominant country in the world (check out the all-time Olympic medal count here).

Soccer is well-known as the most popular sport in the world, and despite the U.S. being the most dominant in all sports collectively, soccer is one sport that they've yet to crack. 

USA men's soccer fans have long been disappointed. Unfortunately, this all too familiar trend is likely to continue for years to come. Why?

The answer is simple, the USA's best athletes play other sports.

Or more particularly, football and basketball. In other competitive countries, with certain exceptions, the best athletes play soccer for the most part.

The NFL and NBA are flooded with elite athletes. Not to say the MLB, NHL and MLS don't have great athletes, but when it comes to guys who possess the greatest combination of speed, strength, quickness and coordination, look no further than the NFL and NBA. 

This shouldn't come as a shock, as football and basketball are among the most popular sports in the U.S. and attract the greatest number of athletes to play them—thus the professional level only contains the best and most athletic individuals.

This leads me to my question—extremely hypothetical, of course—what if soccer was America's most popular sport and all of our best athletes played it? Who would make the team, and how good would they be?

The following list lays out our starting 11 if this hypothetical was true right now. I am going to pick 11 current professional athletes who have the athleticism such that if they played soccer, they would be starting for the USA men's team. This list assumes that these athletes have been playing soccer all their lives like they did with their current respective sports.

No disrespect to current USA soccer stars like Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey, but one has to think that if someone like Derrick Rose played soccer instead of basketball, he'd be very very good—if not better than our current stars—simply because of how athletic he is. 

I'll be using a 4-4-2 diamond formation (aka 4-1-2-1-2):

2 strikers, 1 center attacking mid, 1 left winger, 1 right winger, 1 center defensive mid, 1 left back, 1 right back, 2 center backs and a goal keeper.

For each player, I'll list why he'd be the starter and some possible subs/alternates.

How good would this team be? Could they beat soccer powerhouses like Spain, Germany and Brazil?  We'll never know, but please leave your comments/opinions.

Follow me @MattDBuck.

Striker: Russell Westbrook

Size: 6'3", 187 lbs

This was a no-brainer for me. 

Russell Westbrook may be the most athletically gifted human in professional sports today.  In terms of pure speed and quickness—both very important in soccer—he is unmatched. In the NBA, a league that prides itself on having the best athletes, Westbrook can make even his most capable opponents look silly.

He also possesses great coordination and body control, which will only help him when he's being pushed off the ball. He is extremely explosive and accelerates to full speed almost instantly, an attribute that any soccer player would love to have. 

He can cut and juke on a dime, and although I've never seen him kick a soccer ball, I'm sure he can blast it.  If anyone is doubting his athletic ability just watch this. Or better yet, watch his 43-point performance in Game 4 of the NBA finals this year. 

Russell is so athletic that I could put him at nearly any position on the field (he could be a devastating defender), but judging from his style of play in the NBA, he wants to score. He has a knack for scoring, and in soccer I don't think he'd be any different.

Oh yeah, who is going to stop this guy on headballs? He is 6'3" and can nearly fly.

Westbrook is a prefect fit at striker. He is big, strong, fast, quick, coordinated, competitive and has a knack for scoring—what more does a striker need?

Alternates: Chris Johnson, Dwyane Wade

Striker: Calvin Johnson

Size: 6'5", 236 lbs

This was a tough decision for me, but I went with the guy with the best combination of size and speed.  

Johnson is 6'5", weighs 236 lbs and was measured at the NFL combine running a 4.32 40-yard dash.

I can only think of one word that's appropriate: FREAK. 

Honestly, I think Megatron picked the perfect sport in football considering his size and abilities, but at striker he could be an absolute force. 

Instead of pointing out all of his freakishly athletic attributes, I'll make a comparison.  Current soccer superstar, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, is one of the best strikers in the world. He is the same height as Johnson (6'5") and weighs about 210 pounds, a mere 26 pounds less than the Lions WR. 

Ibrahimovic is well known for his size and strength, but in both areas Johnson trumps him.  Not to mention—no offense to Ibra—at 4.32 speed, Calvin is definitely faster. 

All that being said, what would stop Calvin Johnson from being a great soccer player? If you're saying that he lacks coordination, please watch this.

Soccer fans who think Peter Crouch is a good headballer, just watch out for Johnson: He's 6'5" with a 43-inch vertical—talk about explosion.

Alternates: Andre Johnson, Mike Wallace

Center Attacking Mid: Chris Paul

Size: 6'0", 175 lbs

The center attacking midfielder is a very important position in soccer. The attacking midi often acts as the facilitator for his team. To be successful, he must control the ball and pace of the game. When the attacking midi plays well, the team plays well. 

This player should have great instincts and vision to feed the attacking strikers and wingers.  Assisting is key for attacking midfielders, but they should also have noses for the goal.

Who does this sound like? None other than NBA star point guard, Chris Paul. 

Paul is the perfect fit for attacking midfielder. He has unbelievable quickness and control, not to mention his undeniable vision and instincts. He is a natural-born leader and just like he did with the Clippers this year, he will assume and conquer the leadership role. 

He is a pass-first guy and strives to set up his teammates for easy baskets—or in this case, easy goals.

Paul is a great athlete with a stop and go hesitation game that would work wonders for him in soccer.  In the NBA, Paul has lead the league twice in assists (2008, 2009) and four times in steals (2008, 2009, 2011, 2012). Both of these skills would also be extremely useful in soccer.

Paul's best attribute? Competitiveness.  Night in and night out in the NBA, Paul leaves it all on the floor, something that he would bring to the soccer field too.

Doubting Paul's athleticism and quickness? Please watch.

Alternate: Rajon Rondo

Left Wing: Derrick Rose

Size: 6'3", 190 lbs

In soccer, wingers are among the most athletic players on the field. Successful wingers are attackers at heart and constantly put pressure on the opposing defenders. They aren't afraid to attack the defense and take on defenders in one-on-one situations.

Wingers control their side of the field and use quickness and moves to beat the opposition and either cross the ball in the box or cut in and shoot themselves.

I couldn't think of a better fit than Derrick Rose. The 2011 NBA MVP is one of the most athletic guys in the league. Very similar in size and athleticism to our starting striker Russell Westbrook, he too has incredible speed and quickness that would translate very well to soccer—especially at the wing position. 

Rose would be a nightmare for opposing defenders. The second you give him too much space, he'll blow by you. We've seen him do it countless times (watch here) in the NBA, and it would be no different in soccer.  Rose would use his quickness and juking ability to beat defenders and send in the cross or rip a shot on goal.

Rose also has the size to hold off stronger defenders. At 6'3" and 190 lbs, pushing him off the ball will be a tough task.

Alternates: Reggie Bush, Steve Smith

Right Wing: DeSean Jackson

Size: 5'10", 175 lbs

At 5'10", Jackson is the one of the smaller players on the list. That being said, 5'10" is average, if not slightly big for a soccer player. Some of the best soccer players in the world like Messi, Iniesta and Xavi are all listed at 5'7". 

If you think his height takes away from his speed, think again. Jackson was clocked at 4.35 seconds in the 40-yard dash, and like Derrick Rose on the opposite wing, Jackson too will be a nightmare for opposing defenders. Check out his speed here.

DeSean Jackson is an unbelievable athlete, and I have no doubt that he would be a great soccer player. He'll use his speed to get open, then use his dodging ability to out-quick his opponent and send in a cross or take a shot on goal.

If speedy international soccer stars like Theo Walcott and Ashley Young have had success, you can be sure that DeSean Jackson would be a serious threat on the wing.

Alternates: Monta Ellis, Wes Welker

Center Defensive Mid: Ed Reed

Size: 5'11", 200 lbs

The CDM has a very important role on the soccer field. There are two main types of CDMs: A ruthless tackler and defender, or a creative playmaker that cuts apart opposing teams with cutting through balls.

In Ed Reed's case, I think he could do both. 

Reed has an uncanny knack for reading plays. He's one of the scariest defensive backs in the NFL and consistently tops the interception leaderboard. In soccer, he'd be no different. He'd seek out opposing passes and—like he does in football—turn the interception into instant attack.

Reed is well-known as a  great intercepter, but is also highly regarded as one of the best interception return men in the NFL. Once he gets his hands on the ball, he's a threat to score.

Defensive mids need to be strong, as well as be ruthless defenders that can bully opposing offenders. One of the best defensive mids in the world, Javier Mascherano, is considered a bully on the soccer field. If I compare him to Ed Reed, Reed is 2 inches taller and has 30 lbs on him. Reed is plenty big and athletic enough to stop even the most notable attackers. 

Alternates: LeBron James, Adrian Peterson

Left Back: Charles Woodson

Size: 6'1", 202 lbs

This was an easy decision. Charles Woodson has been one of the best defensive backs of the last decade and ranks among the greats of all time. 

Of all the athletes I've listed so far, nothing translates to soccer better than a football defensive back playing on the back-line in soccer. Woodson has covered speedy NFL receivers his entire career, so we know Woodson already possesses the necessary cover skills to stick with even the most talented wingers and strikers. 

Woodson was the last defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy back in 1997. Nearly 12 years later in 2009, he won the NFL defensive player of the year and a year later his Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl. 

Last season in 2011, Woodson turned 35 and still led the league in interceptions. Needless to say, the guy is a freaking BEAST and would probably excel at any sport he tried. 

Despite his age, he is still very athletic, and would be a great soccer player if this list came true.

Alternates: Nnamdi Asomugha

Center Back: Troy Polamalu

Size: 5'10", 207 lbs

If Troy Polamalu wasn't playing safety in the NFL, he would be a soccer center back. He has speed, strength, quickness and most importantly, incredible instincts. Sometimes it's as if he already knows what's going to happen. He reads the play, seeks out the ball carrier and stops him dead in his tracks...and that's on run plays. He is also a great pass defender; using his 4.33 speed (!!), he can cover the most talented receivers one-on-one. 

There is no doubt in my mind that Troy Polamalu could be a great soccer player. 

Current soccer comparison: Carles Puyol, and it's not just the hair. The Barcelona and Spanish defender is regarded as one of the best in the world. He is known for his bullying style of play and fearlessness when he sacrifices his body to make the play/block.

Let's compare Polamalu and Puyol.  Both are 5'10" and both have ridiculous hair, but Polamalu has about 30 lbs on the other. I'm not sure what Puyol's 40-yard dash time is, but there is no way he can run a 4.33 like Polamlau.

Both players have great instincts and a high IQ for the game, but when it's all said and done, Polamalu is a bigger, stronger and faster version of Puyol. 

Troy Polamalu would be a beast on the soccer field and a nightmare for attacking strikers. He would be the center hub of the USA defensive line, and on corner-kicks he could come up and be a serious threat to strike in a header. 

If you have any doubts on Polamalu, then please watch these two videos here and here (2). 

Alternate: Eric Weddle 

Center Back: Adrian Wilson

Size: 6'3", 230 lbs

Adrian Wilson would be an absolute enforcer on the back-line. He's a little bit slower than Polamalu, but he makes up for it in size. If an opposing attacker thinks he can beat Wilson on the dribble, he won't get by without a serious bump.  

Wilson would use his size to his advantage and bully opposing attackers. He would have no problem shielding the ball against smaller strikers, or for that matter, any striker.

He is significantly stronger and bigger than the current soccer superstars, and yet he doesn't sacrifice speed. At the NFL combine 12 years ago, he ran a 4.45. He's definitely slowed a little since then, but judging by the plays he still makes, he hasn't slowed down much.

Alternate: Deron Williams

Right Back: Darrelle Revis

Size: 5'11", 200 lbs

Darrelle Revis is considered the best defensive back in the league. He has great instincts and is quick, with 4.38 speed. His stats don't reflect his talent: He only has 18 career interceptions because quarterbacks rarely throw his way.

His coverage is so good, opposing QBs won't take the risk of throwing his direction. 

We've all heard of Revis Island. This is the exact game he would bring to soccer. He would shut down opposing wingers if not the entire side of the field. If he can cover the fastest guys in the NFL while they run routes (without a ball), he can most certainly stick with guys in soccer with a ball or as they make a run.  

Revis could also be used to mark a single guy the entire game. Just like he does against great NFL receivers, Revis could mark opposing strikers (i.e. Cristiano Ronaldo) the entire game. Wherever they go, Revis goes. Let's just say, that opposing striker would have a rough day.

Here's a video for all the doubters.

Alternate: Asante Samuel, Lardarius Webb 

Goalkeeper: Larry Fitzgerald

Size: 6'3", 230 lbs

Goalie is a very unique position. Goalies are great athletes, but not in the way field players are. Great goalies have length, timing, instincts and hands.

I couldn't think of anyone who has these attributes more than NFL star wide receiver, Larry Fitzgerald.

Throughout his career, Fitzgerald has proved time and time again that he can out-jump, out-time and out-catch even the top defensive backs in the league.  

If he had dedicated his life to playing goalkeeper, he would be a brick wall in the net. He's long and has the leaping ability to cover the goal post to post. Not to mention his incredible hands. Where most goalies would punch the ball, Fitzgerald could catch it and gain possession for his team.  

Check out his highlights here, note the timing on the jump balls.

Alternates: Kevin Durant

Conclusion

Starting Lineup:

ST: Russell Westbrook

ST: Calvin Johnson

CAM: Chris Paul

LW: Derrick Rose

RW: DeSean Jackson

CDM: Ed Reed

LB: Charles Woodson

CB: Troy Polamalu

CB: Adrian Wilson

RB: Darrelle Revis

GK: Larry Fitzgerald

Alternates:

Chris Johnson, Dwyane Wade, Andre Johnson, Mike Wallace, Rajon Rondo, Reggie Bush, Steve Smith, Monta Ellis, Wes Welker, Adrian Peterson, Nnamdi Asomugha, Eric Weddle, Asante Samuel, Deron Williams, Ladarius Webb, Kevin Durant, LeBron James

Needless to say, this team is freakishly athletic. In terms of athleticism, there is no soccer team on the planet that even comes close.

Obviously, this is a huge hypothetical, so we'll never know if they could beat teams like Spain and Brazil. Athletically, you got to give this team the upper hand.

How good would this team be? Please comment and argue below.

Follow me @MattDBuck.