• by TJ Ferguson, writing from Boston

The United States of America have the wonderful opportunity to play host to World Cup champion and World #1 Spain. This match comes just days before USA is scheduled to start their Gold Cup campaign against Canada. While the 23-man roster for this tournament has been released, there is however one player who might miss out due to injury and plenty of position battles that need sorting.

Going into the match with Spain, I think winning is the last thing on Bob Bradley’s mind. Ultimately the goal is to win the Gold Cup with this group of players that has been brought in. Beating the Spaniards doesn’t help that goal, and losing doesn’t hinder it. What this match needs to be about is solving any problems relating to who sits where in the depth chart and figuring out what combinations of players does and doesn’t work.

The only place where it is pretty clear there are no questions is in goal. Tim Howard will be the starting goalkeeper, barring suspension or injury he’ll probably start every game for the US. At right back, Steve Cherundolo is pretty strongly entrenched in the job. At left back and center back, this is where the questions start to pile up.

For starters, where do you put Carlos Bocanegra? I personally feel that he plays better in the left back role, but he is also our best center back. Behind him on the left is Jonathan Bornstein who, with the exception of his World Cup performance, has not been a very good option for the US.

In the middle there is Clarence Goodson, Tim Ream, and Oguchi Onyewu. Onyewu was our best center back and was a very big force in the air before injuring his knee in World Cup qualifying two years ago. His recent performances should have him relegated to the three or four spot on the center back depth chart. He will likely start against Spain to have an opportunity to prove he is still worth giving a prominent role in the Gold Cup.

[photo by Jason Wojciechowski]

If Onyewu is already down the depth chart, I place Goodson a little ahead of Ream. I think together they could be a good defensive pairing, but if Bocanegra is run out in the middle, I’d rather see Goodson there with him.

In the midfield, Landon Donovan is the constant. He will more than likely be the left winger for the Americans against Spain and through the Gold Cup. Central midfield is where there are questions. You have Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones and Maurice Edu essentially competing for the two central spots. Based on Jones and Edu being the two of three that were playing for their clubs, they are my first choice for the midfield.

However, you can’t write off Michael Bradley, he was one of the best players for the US at the World Cup and was a very integral part of the team over the previous cycle. Assuming he finds a club situation that allows him to play he will likely be a well established part of the US first 11, but right now, I just can’t put him ahead of Edu and Jones.

On the right side, Clint Dempsey, aka Deuce, has been the go to guy. There has been some discussion that maybe he will get run out as a forward, or an attacking midfielder behind a lone forward. An option Bob Bradley has employed in the past was a five man midfield with Edu, M. Bradley and Jones in the center, which would allow for Dempsey to be used as an attacking winger and take away some of the defensive responsibilities that seem to be the part of his game that lacks.

If this lineup gets used at all, then Dempsey and Donovan would play more as forwards behind and out wide from a lone striker of Juan Agudelo or Jozy Altidore. There job would be to get the ball wide and open up the middle of the pitch then provide service or bring the ball into the box. Defensively they would need to provide cover on any runs by the opposing backs.

Freddy Adu with DC United - [photo by Jarrett Campbell]

Other questions in midfield are who comes on as a substitute and where do you use them? Freddy Adu was the most surprising inclusion on the Gold Cup roster and if he doesn’t play against Spain I will be very surprised. It has been two years since Adu has been capped and B. Bradley needs to see him play ASAP.

Benny Feilhaber was likely to be one of the first off the bench, but an ankle injury may force him to miss the tournament all together. It would be a small miracle if he even dressed against Spain. Alejandro Bedoya has been called in to train and if Feilhaber is deemed unfit to take his place.

Robbie Rogers and Sacha Kljestan round out the corps of midfielders. I can’t see them getting much playing time through the tournament; they may get run out vs Spain just to see what they can do, but they probably won’t move themselves up as a result of their performance.

Up front, Bob Bradley only named three forwards, again Clint Dempsey might get used as a forward as opposed to a midfielder, but I’m going to assume he doesn’t. Agudelo and Altidore seem to be the first two choices up front. If the formation calls for a loan striker it should be Agudelo, but could be Altidore. Either way I’m not sure either have the style of play to do well by themselves up front. However, Agudelo’s movement off the ball leaves him better suited to try.

Chris Wondolowski is the third forward. I probably wouldn’t use him over Dempsey or even Landon Donovan, but he has a knack for scoring goals. His ability to get into great positions to score is uncanny. If he plays and gets good service it will very likely lead to him scoring. His role is pretty clearly defined and while he may not get a lot of minutes, he could very easily make a big impact on the team.

Spain will more than likely come out with what they feel is their best 11 to try and win this game. They have not done very well in recent friendlies and considering they aren’t playing much the rest of the summer, they will want to win this match and turn out a good performance.

[photo by Fermín R.F.]

I think they will likely line up in a 4-3-3 with David Villa striking with Pedro Rodriguez and either David Silva or Fernando Torres on his wings. Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Xabi Alonso should make up the midfield.

Defensively they should line up Sergio Ramos, Carlos Marchena, Gerard Pique and Joan Capdevila. Iker Casillas, arguably the best keeper in the world, will likely start in goal.

Coming into the match, Spain are pretty clear favorites. Their roster is one of, if not the most talented pools in the world. Their ability to control the game in the midfield and move the ball around just waiting for a defensive breakdown is unreal.

The United States will have to break up the Spaniards passing. The easiest way they can really win this game is by forcing Spain to start their sequences over and over to the point they get frustrated and make mistakes. If the US can play perfect defense and capitalize on just one chance they have a shot.

---