USA Soccer: 5 Game Changers for the US in the Final of the Gold Cup 2011

With the 2011 Gold Cup final now set between Mexico and the USA, the predictions will begin to come out.

Some will analyze the game down to the finite details: discussing strategy, formations, and tactics. Others will approach the game more holistically: looking at players and their form.

For me the latter always seemed more appropriate. It never made sense for me to try and predict a game in details when the whole fun of sport is never knowing an outcome before it happens.

But we can always look at players and try to decide who will have the game of their life and who will fall by the way side.

There is no reason for me to write the following:

"Clint Dempsey will be important to the US winning the Gold Cup. His ability to find the net has been blah blah blah blah....."

Everyone who has watched this tournament already knows this. The same goes for Landon Donovan.

This is a list that focuses on those other players who we don't always expect to be the ones to show our teams through. Who we don't turn to in a clutch situation, yet nonetheless they are sometimes the most important ones in a victory.

5. Tim Howard

Okay so this guy might be included in that list of the given names with Dempsey and Donovan, but the Everton man has not really had to do much so far in this tournament. Even when he has been called in to action, it ultimately didn't matter (look at the loss to Panama).

But you can bet come Saturday he will be facing a barrage of shots from all over the field.  There is no one on the Mexican team that is not afraid to shoot, so Howard will always have to be on his toes.

It is important for him to play well and not let in any soft goals, especially early in the game. Mexico has not had a game where they have been held to less than two goals. With an offense that is struggling to find the net, Howard needs to limit the goals allowed to as few as possible for the USA.

I am not incredibly worried as he is one of the most consistent keepers in the game but every goalie has their bad day. If Howard can keep a clean sheet this Saturday he increases his teams ability to win immensely.

4. Michael Bradley

Bradley came into this tournament under much scrutiny. He had not played much recently at club level after arriving at Aston Villa and his inclusion was called into question which was at worst deemed a case of nepotism.

But since the tournament has started he has played exceptionally, chasing down players and playing as a solid holding midfielder.

He has never been the type of player you hang you're hat on if you need offense and that criticism has hurt him. For a team that gets little in the way of goals, some see him as a necessary casualty in place of a more attack minded midfielder.

But against Mexico he will need to be a factor to slow down that high powered attack. He will have his hands full with Giovanni Dos Santos and Andrés Guardado, but if he can neutralize at least one of them that should be enough to stymie the Mexican offense.

3. Jermaine Jones

Jones has been a promising prospect for the US ever since he decided to play for them ahead of his native Germany. A shin injury kept him out of the 2010 World Cup what really hurt the US' chances.

The Gold Cup is his first major competition with the US and he has done well to this point.

He has performed solidly in the midfield winning balls and even scored a crucial goal against Jamaica in the quarterfinals.

Mexico is a team that only give the ball up two ways: when they score or miss a shot. They have easily controlled the flow of all their games. If the US wants a chance at winning they will need to beat the Mexicans at their own game.

Playing in the center, Jones needs to be a reliable point to pivot the ball from one side of the field to the other. He will need to make himself constantly available if the wingers should get into trouble.

However he cannot afford any unforced giveaways in the middle. If he does turn it over it could be a quick counter attack that Mexico could score before Jones even realizes he lost the ball.

If he can do the simple task of being a reliable ball holder, that should be enough out of him to help ensure victory.

2. Carlos Bocanegra

Since 2007 Carlos Bocanegra has been the captain of the US national team. Under his leadership, the team has had its most success finishing as the runners up in the 2010 Confederation Cup and winning their group at the 2010 World Cup.

Last night Bradley moved Bocanegra from the left back position to the center. He played exceptionally well clearing countless crosses to safety.

Against Mexico you can probably expect Bradley to do the same thing. Bocanegra was just about able to handle the speed of wide players and was constantly exposed or getting beat. Mexico's speed would only cause him more problems.

But keeping him in the middle has the added benefit of letting him organize the back line.

In a game where defensive mistakes cannot happen, the back four must be in sync. Being the most experienced player in the defense, he will be called on to make sure they remain organized. If the US are to win Bocanegra's leadership will be critical.

1. Juan Agudelo

Agudelo was a late inclusion into the squad. His recent success at Red Bulls captured the attention of Bradley and his performances were too good to pass up.

He brings youth and creativity to the team that they have not seen before. His eagerness to find the back of the net has had him do as many impressive things as poor decisions. However we can still shake our heads and rest on the fact that he is still learning.

Come Saturday, he will have to step up and play the game of his life. Jose Altidore has officially been ruled out of the final leaving Agudelo the only reasonable choice to replace him.

His performance against Panama was not anything to write home about. He got on the ball a few times and had a header that hit the post, but other than that he was ineffective before being subbed off after 66 minutes.

The best thing the US can do is score a goal early to settle themselves down and put Mexico on the back foot. That way they can exploit the counter, which Mexico has struggled to deal with. However to do that Agudelo is going to have to play out of his mind.

He doesn't need to be Chicharito but he can't be far from it. If he is as static as he was in other games Bradley would serve the team better to take him off.

However if he can be a constant threat and create a goal from somewhere, he could take his first step on the path to becoming the next great American player.