The Future of The US Men's National Team: Part I

(Note:  This is part 1 in a 4 part series examining the future of the US MNT.)

When the World Cup began on June 11^th, nobody thought this would happen.

I’m not referring to advancing into the elimination stage -- that was more or less expected of this squad.  No, I’m referring to just how rapidly and strongly the United States Men’s National Team took hold of the country.  The MNT managed to stir the faithful and casual fans in the Land of Liberty after their hard-fought draw against the Three Lions of England.  It managed to make the rest of the country hear the call after the drama of the Slovenia game.  Then, it did the unthinkable.  It brought tears to the faces of the faithful and the newly converted alike after the last-gasp Algeria victory.

And then, Ghana.  The US faced a Black Stars team that was significantly stronger than their 33rd rank according to FIFA's index.  The game that finally knocked the cardiac kids out of the cup was not a loss to be ashamed of.  The US fought hard and, in the end, just didn’t have that one last moment of magic.  They were still left thinking of what might have been, and USSF President Sunil Gulati even said as much to the press. 

But where do the Yanks go from here?  We can already see the foundations of a strong fan base that will re-form every four years.  I experienced it first-hand sitting atop a bar surrounded by the faithful (like myself) and the newly converted in the form of a 20-something the size of a linebacker…who promptly lifted me off of the bar and paraded me around the place when Landon Donovan converted his penalty kick against Ghana.  At the very least, soccer has achieved the level of many of the larger Olympic sports, such as snowboarding or swimming.  Soccer is definitely here to stay.

The only real questions left are about the team that "old guard" and the millions of new fans will watch (knock on wood) in Brazil in four years.  Gone will be current “Captain America” Carlos Bocanegra.  Joining him watching from home will be the likes of DaMarcus Beasley, Jay DeMerit, Steve Cherundolo, and a few others.  In all likelihood, so will the tactical-minded Bob Bradley.  Bradley said himself after the squad’s elimination that he relishes new challenges, and should he move on, he has the chance to be the first American manager in a European league.  His style of coaching could see him succeed anywhere in Europe, though it appears he is best suited to a managerial post in the German Bundesliga.

New faces will clearly abound when the biggest party the planet has ever seen begins in Brazil.  Let’s address the changes from back to front, starting with the vanguard of American soccer -- between the sticks.  American goalkeeping will likely not change at all in the next four years.  Tim Howard, already considered one of the top goalies in the world, will be just at the end of what is considered his prime.  A goalie’s prime years come significantly later than those of the outfield players – in this case between 31 and 35 years old.  Howard will be 35 when the first ball is kicked in Rio.  If this tournament was just the beginning of his prime, imagine his potential after another four years of experience performing at his highest level in the toughest leagues in the world.  Some will lay a small share of the blame for the loss to Ghana on Howard's positioning, but it is rather easy to forgive him when his bruised ribs are considered.

Brad Guzan will likely have been the starter at Premier League side Aston Villa for several seasons by this point (after having duly served his time under former American great Brad Friedel) and will probably be considered the Yanks’ second-choice ‘keeper. Guzan cut his teeth in MLS for Chivas USA before his transfer to England.  After enduring a rocky start in MLS, he was a standout in his second season.  Guzan's most memorable moments came in the 2009 Peace Cup, a tournament featuring Atlante, FC Porto, and Juventus.  The young American's superb penalty saves in the final against Juventus proved that Guzan's abilities were improving rapidly in England.  One almost has to feel sorry for Guzan, however, in that both at the club level and at the international level, he plays backup to two outstanding Americans.

Marcus Hahnemann, somewhat of a journeyman in the English leagues, will be well past his prime, leaving a dogfight in his wake.  The names Bill Hamid (DC United), Samir Badr (FC Porto), Dominic Cervi (Celtic), and Cody Cropper (Ipswich Town) should all be watched closely in the coming years.  Hamid's debut in MLS after graduating from the DC United Academy was shown nationally in the States on ESPN2.  His size, agility, and tenacity were on display as he made several key saves.  One memorable moment came on a kick save the 19-year old Hamid made after rushing off of his line to challenge one of the opponent's strikers.  As already noted, Hamid's size (6'4", 230 lbs.) makes him a goalie that can bull his way through the usual scrum in the box on set pieces or to "make himself big" when challenging a striker 1 v. 1.  Simply put, Hamid is a beast on the field.

Samir Badr is another product of DC United's academy.  Badr and Hamid were both rising quickly through the youth ranks before Badr transferred to Portugal's FC Porto.  The transfer in mid-2009 brought him to Porto's reserve ranks.  His time with Porto, always a Champion's League participant and often expected to make advances in the competition, has allowed him to hone the skills that he already displayed with DC's academy teams.  Known for his flair in goal, Badr is a rising star in the US youth ranks.  If Hamid is the beast of the bunch, then Badr is certainly the speedster, able to use his agility to make acrobatic saves that are highlight reel quality.

So, who of the plethora of young goalies makes it to Brazil?  Really, it's a tossup right now.  Hamid has seen more first team action than Badr has, but Badr has faced tougher competition in training in Portugal than Hamid has had in DC.  With all that in mind, it makes a little more sense for Hamid to be the choice in 2014.  His immense size is a true gift, meaning that he will have to work just a little less to assert himself as a goalie must.  He already works himself hard, and that can only mean good things for the big man.