World Cup: The Future of the US Men's National Team, Part III

(Note:  This is part three in a four-part series examining the future of the US MNT.)

We'll continue our examination of the Stars and Stripes by looking at the fulcrum of any team, the midfield. 

The midfield joins the goalkeeping position in largely staying constant throughout the next cup cycle, though it will be supported by an exciting new generation of American players. 

Current stars Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, and Michael Bradley should still be relevant in the national team picture in 2014.  Although Donovan will be 32 and Dempsey 31, neither is anticipated to run out of gas in these next four seasons. 

In fact, Donovan may improve further.  He blossomed into the star that the Yanks needed after his loan stint at Everton of the EPL, and his new-found maturity was constantly on display during the South African campaign.  Donovan has been heavily rumored to be the next target of free-spending Manchester City, although he has also spoken of a strong desire to return to Everton at some point. 

He has even been linked with Arsenal following glowing comments manager Arsene Wenger showered on Donovan while commenting for French coverage of the World Cup.  With three goals in four games, the transfer fee will be very high indeed, and a loan deal similar to the one that sent him to Merseyside last season may be on the horizon for the Californian.

Clint Dempsey will very likely continue his career in the EPL with Fulham, though there have been some rumors circulating that he will join former boss Roy Hodgson at Liverpool.

Dempsey has become a hero at Craven Cottage after several vital goals in the last few seasons, including a goal against Liverpool to ensure that Fulham would stay in the Premier League for the 2009-10 season and a spectacular goal against Juventus to knock the Italian giants out of Europa League contention. 

Dempsey’s creativity seems to be ever growing, and the hard-nosed Texan displayed an ability to take an enormous beating from rough and tumble defenders during his time in South Africa.  His goal against England will long be remembered by the American faithful as a watershed moment for the national team.

Now we arrive at Michael Bradley.  Leading up to the World Cup, there had long been a significant group of fans who doubted the younger Bradley’s credentials. 

Some claimed he was only given time to shine because he was the coach’s son while conveniently forgetting that Bruce Arena called the now 22-year-old into camp before the 2006 World Cup. 

Some claim that he just wasn’t able to hack it as a real box-to-box midfielder.  To put it short, if those critics still exist, they have only themselves to commiserate with. 

Bradley is in line to perhaps be on the all-tournament team.  His play in the midfield was critical to the US’ success in the cup. His equalizing goal against Slovenia was absolutely spectacular from a skill standpoint, having somehow controlled a bouncing knock-down from Altidore and then lashing out with his leg in a manner that would’ve made Jackie Chan proud (note: the recent Karate Kid movie is excellent!). 

All of this was easy to take from the game, but what impressed me most was Bradley’s ability to hold the ball in the midfield, especially in the final third, and compose his offense.  Playing essentially the role of an orchestrator, Bradley was able to set up the attack by not rushing or forcing the game, even when his squad was down. 

His superb play likely means a transfer away from Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach, perhaps to one of the “big” sides in Europe. Again, Arsenal have been linked to Bradley via Arsene Wenger’s commentary, but Bradley would likely be able to fit in with any major squad and make a difference.

The battle to partner with Michael Bradley will also be one of the most interesting ones to see over the next several years.  Top candidates include Maurice Edu, as well as Ricardo Clark.

Let us begin with Edu.  Already a legend with his Scottish club side, Rangers, Edu’s future looks bright indeed.  After scoring the game-winning goal in the Old Firm derby to cement Rangers as the Scottish League champions in the 2009-10 campaign, Edu stands to become a regular for the Gers. 

Edu’s play in South Africa can only have helped cement that notion even more.  His goal against Slovenia (not officially recognized, but let’s face it, it was as good a goal as any) as a sub showed that he can bring energy right off the bat, even in high-stress situations. 

Edu’s defensive ability, having played at center back in several instances in the Beijing Olympics, would help free up Bradley to make more forward runs.  Edu’s speed and strength mean that he can serve as a great holding midfielder, providing a real link between the defensive line and the attack, filling the space often left between the two units.

Filling that space is critical to preventing “weak” goals from being scored against the United States on the counterattack.  Edu’s skill set allows him to catch up with streaking attackers and contain them until more defensive help can be mustered.

The next option for the US moving forward in the center of the park is Ricardo Clark.  Fans will remember that Rico has been somewhat spotty in his performances for the national team over his career. 

He has had great highs (his goal against Trinidad & Tobago in the hexagonal qualification stage) and great lows (he has a large share of responsibility for having let slip the Ghanian attacker who scored the first goal of the round of 16 match just five minutes in). 

Clark is as tough as they come in the midfield, and this physicality has earned him a place in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt for the next three years. 

Clark will need to refine his game, perhaps paying special attention to positioning and being a smarter defender in stressful circumstances.  Despite Clark’s high-profile mistakes, his talent puts him very firmly in the picture for 2014.

The supporting cast in Rio will mix current with brand new.  Players Stuart Holden, Benny Feilhaber, and Jose Francisco Torres will all be in contention.  Holden recently signed a three-year contract with EPL side Bolton Wanderers, having impressed the club after overcoming a broken leg to play the last three matches of the Premier League season. 

Holden is a potential starter on the wing, depending on whether or not Dempsey is on the squad and where Dempsey is played.  Holden has shown impressive calm and an ability to put in timely crosses for the MNT, and he is definitely a player who will receive time in the qualification process.

Benny Feilhaber seems to have turned the corner in his career.  After having had an unimpressive stint in the EPL several seasons ago with Derby, he moved to the Danish league and began to thrive. 

Originally born in Rio de Janeiro, he can slot in just about anywhere in the midfield.  He is perhaps most famous for his long bomb to seal the 2007 Gold Cup for the United States against Mexico at Soldier Field in Chicago, but the AGF Aarhus starter impressed with his work rate in South Africa.

Jose Francisco Torres will also see more time in upcoming national team events.  He earned a start against Slovenia in South Africa, but simply didn’t appear ready for that big a stage quite then.  Still very young, the midfielder is very calm on the ball and is tireless in his defensive work.  Look for him to continue to work hard in the Mexican league and perhaps even make a move to Europe.

Next, players who are still on the fringes of the national team picture, including Sacha Kljestan (fresh off of a transfer to European side Anderlecht) and Freddy Adu (he’ll only be 24 in 2014) will get their chances. 

Now for the complete wild cards, we find American midfielders not old enough to hoist a pint in the United States and are still already making waves in Europe.  Charles Renken, Luis Gil, Mikkel Diskerud, Sebastien Lletget, and Joseph Gyau will, with any luck, be blossoming in the not too distant future. 

Renken and Gyau ply their trade at Hoffenheim in the Bundeslia.  Luis Gil is in his first season with MLS’ Real Salt Lake, and Diskerud plays for Stabaek in the Norwegian league.  These names are just the tip of the iceberg, with others like Michael Hoyos, Tony Tchani, Irving Garcia, Amobi Okugo, and Jarred Jeffrey pushing.  Hard.

I would be remiss if I didn’t go a little further in-depth regarding Sebastian Lletget.  Playing currently for West Ham United’s youth and reserve ranks, Lletget may well be a breakout star in Brazil.  Already making a case to train regularly with West Ham’s first team, Lletget’s name is one to watch closely.

For now, call him a dark horse to partner Michael Bradley in the midfield in 2014, but he is already making such an impression that some MNT supporters already see him as a potential star on the 2018 World Cup in…somewhere. 

To summarize this mass of information, I can foresee the starting lineup consisting of Dempsey on the left, Bradley and Edu in the center, and Donovan on the right.  They will be backed up by Torres, Feilhaber, Holden, and some combination of the young midfielders listed above.