My Starting XI

Everyone is safe an accounted for in South Africa. The following system, and players to fit those roles, I think will produce the results required for the United States’ departure from the beautiful bottom of the world being at a later date than mine.

On June 12, I expect Bob Bradley’s team to deploy either a 4-5-1 system or a 4-4-1-1 system. Regardless, I expect the players to be the same in both as either Clint Dempsey or Landon Donovan would be in the supporting role behind Jozy Altidore.
My starting XI, and reasons for their inclusion.

Goalkeeper, Tim Howard *: This is a no-brainer. Howard’s athleticism and ability to “communicate” with defenders is why he has won this role. He will save the Americans skin at least once during the group stage—it remains to be seen which game said occurrence will take place.

Left back, Carlos Bocanegra *: A year ago, it appeared a foolish move to me to transition the captain from the central defense to the left. It turns out he has solidified a spot that has not had a consistent starter for years.

Center back, Oguchi Onyewu */Clarence Goodson: If “Gooch” is totally healthy the spot is his. Goodson is a very good American understudy who, like Onyewu, can get forward to win set pieces with his head.

Center back, Jay DeMerit *: His play in major Confederations Cup matches allowed Bocanegra to move out wide. He is not the prototypical anchor one may think of, but he links up with Onyewu well. He will have to provide better cover when the outside backs are roaming forward.

Right back, Steve Cherundolo: Watch how few opportunities opponents have from their left side of the field when he is on the field. That is not by mistake as Cherundolo is the epitome of a pesky defender.

Left midfield, Landon Donovan *: Donovan is versatile enough to play anywhere in the midfield. It’s also why he is the best option in this spot because he is a creative player out wide who will apply pressure to defenses.

Holding/defensive midfielder, Michael Bradley *: The best box-to-box player the Americans have. He will have to provide more cover for the four defenders than he did during the May 29 exhibition against Turkey. However, he has proven that he is up to the task and has the potential, tenacity and creativity to be a bigger Claudio Reyna.

Central midfielder, Jose Torres: He has the creativity to unlock defenses as well as the skill to possess the ball. Torres may not be someone who plays for 90 minutes, but he is the type of player that may be the difference in against the Slovenians, who allowed just six goals in 12 qualifying matches.

Right midfield, Stuart Holden: Arguably the best service provider on the team. He is not afraid to run at defenders or whip in an accurate cross. Deployed primarily on the right, he has spent some time on the left flank—albeit against MLS competition.

Center forward, Clint Dempsey *: He is cocky enough to be quiet for 80 minutes of a match then go out and scoring the game-winning goal. Whether it’s the Confederations Cup, World Cup qualifying or the 2006 World Cup Dempsey has always been the one who has scored some of the American’s biggest goals.

Striker, Jozy Altidore *: It would be humorous to say he is the only option. What’s not humorous — for opponents — is when Altidore scores in a full international contest, the United States is undefeated.

Just because these men would be my starting XI does not mean they will remain that way during the first round as prescient suggests.

In 2006 and 2002 only six men started each contest. Donovan and Brian McBride were the only two who started all eight games in those two tournaments. If form is to hold Donovan, Cherundolo and Onyewu would be my three mainstays from the 2006 World Cup.

It’s not like the men Bob Bradley sends onto the field this summer will haphazardly be thrown together and had little training together.

Had Charlie Davies been healthy enough to make the American team my starting XI and formation from the June 24 upset over the Spanish in Bloemfontein to this June likely would not have changed.

Nevertheless, eight of those men, if Onyewu is healthy, from that Confederations Cup semifinal victory are still in my lineup -- marked with an asterisk -- and have the experience of beating the 21st century version of the Spanish Armada on South African soil.