How Should USA Boss Jurgen Klinsmann Align His Defense Against Denmark?
The biggest concern about the United States men's national soccer team during the Jurgen Klinsmann era has been the play of the defense.
Klinsmann will once again try a different combination of players at the back for Wednesday's friendly in Aarhus against Denmark.
Due to the fitness levels of certain players in the talent pool, Klinsmann opted to go with four Europe-based defenders, three from Liga MX and one from MLS. Brek Shea, who spent the first half of the European season in England, was the lone MLS defender named to the 23-man roster.
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Because of the versatility of certain players in the squad, Klinsmann has a quite a few options in front of him when it comes to formation and personnel.
If the two friendlies against Chile and Panama are any indication of how Klinsmann might choose to utilize the defenders on the current roster, Shea and DeAndre Yedlin will receive another chance on both flanks.
Yedlin was named to the starting 11 for both matches, while Shea lined up at left-back in the 2-0 win over Panama. All three center-backs who started in the first two matches of 2015 are not on the roster this time around.
On the right flank, Yedlin faces competition from Timothy Chandler for a starting gig at NRGi Park. Chandler is a much better defender than Yedlin, but the Tottenham Hotspur player packs a larger punch in attack.
Another player who might be up for a start at right-back is Fabian Johnson, who is one of the most versatile talents in the squad. Johnson is capable of playing both full-back and wing positions.
At left-back, Greg Garza and Tim Ream are both contenders to start instead of Shea. Garza has been a consistent producer at the position for Club Tijuana in Liga MX, while Ream has delivered surprising results on the left side of defense at Bolton Wanderers.
Garza is a known quantity at left-back thanks to his exploits over the last few months with the Yanks. Ream and Shea bring liabilities to the table due to their lack of playing time at the position at the international level.
Since he used to play as a left-winger before his shift to the back four at Orlando City, Shea is the most dangerous of the trio when moving forward.
However, Klinsmann might not need his left-back to surge ahead in attack Wednesday due to the plethora of wingers at his disposal.
John Brooks is as close to a lock as you can get to earn a start at center-back against the dangerous Danes. Who partners Brooks remains a mystery as some of the top players at the position in the talent pool were left off the 23-man squad.
Klinsmann talked to the official U.S. Soccer website about the decision to keep Omar Gonzalez, Matt Besler and Steve Birnbaum at home for the upcoming friendlies against Denmark and Switzerland.
"You’ve got to look at it also calendar-wise. Mexican players right now are in a full run. European players are in a full run. MLS players step-by-step get into the season and now just have two games in their legs, so that all plays a role when you leave players out of the roster," Klinsmann said.
He also laid out in detail his decision to keep Geoff Cameron off the roster in order to give young guys like Ventura Alvarado a look during this string of games.
"Geoff is obviously in a good swing with Stoke City and the Premier League, but I had long conversations with him and explained that just now I would love to see other players coming in and proving to us how good they are," Klinsmann said.
Based off the comments Klinsmann made when the roster was finalized, it would not come as a total shock to see Alvarado next to Brooks in the starting lineup for the Denmark game.
The 22-year-old Club America center-back has been in solid form in Liga MX, and he is one of three true center-backs in the squad at the moment along with Brooks and Michael Orozco.
What formation Klinsmann uses on Wednesday will also determine what players earn a spot in the starting 11.
If the USMNT boss keeps things traditional with a four-man back line, he can take a riskier approach to naming the starting 11. Since each position will have cover of some sorts, Klinsmann could start Alvarado next to Brooks and play Yedlin and Shea on the flanks. If he wants his defenders to bring a conservative approach to the game, Chandler, Ream and Orozco would be the ideal choices along with Brooks.
However, there is the possibility that Klinsmann reverts back to the 3-5-2 that he used in the 3-2 defeat to Chile. That formation would almost require Ream or Chandler to start with Brooks in the center in case the wingers get caught too far forward.
If Yedlin or Shea start in the 3-5-2, they would face more pressure to stand their ground on defense, which is a quality both players are still working on at their respective positions.
Ream has lined up at center-back in the past, which should be enough to earn him a start on the left side of the proposed back three. Chandler's defensive prowess could come into good use on the right, which means Yedlin might be pushed further up the field in the 3-5-2.
One thing that is certain about Klinsmann's choices at the back is the versatility of almost every player. Due to the experience and skill sets of his six full-back options, Klinsmann could get creative with his formation.
Regardless of what setup the USMNT lines up in on Wednesday, a second consecutive clean sheet would be a welcome sight to the fans of the team, who have suffered through plenty of defensive miscues over the last year.
If Klinsmann can find the right combination in the match against Denmark, he might also be able to find a consistent starting defensive lineup, which is something the USMNT has rarely had during his spell as manager.
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.
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