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If we had a huge qualifier next week, where everyone had to be released, and everyone was equally health and rested, I think we can name with over 90% certainty 10 of the 11 starters: Howard, Brooks, Cameron, Yedlin, Johnson, Bradley, Nagbe, Pulisic, Altidore and Wood. I think the only question today -- and as you extrapolate it to the start of the World Cup -- is who is #11.
In part, it depends on formation. You could play a 3-4-2-1, where Fabian and Yedlin are wingbacks and it opens up a spot for Omar or Tim Ream. That would not be my choice. You could play a traditional 4-4-2, with Fabian playing left FB. This is where I lean, and I'm just not sold on Vallafuena yet. And opens up the 11th slot for someone to emerge to play either alongside Bradley or, if Nagbe plays alongside Bradley, on the wing. If I'm coaching and the game is tomorrow, the #11 is Bedoya. It could just as easily be Acosta or Arriola (yuch) or Zardes (double yuch) or someone just below the surface, like any of Gooch, Danny Williams or Julius Green who gets off to a good start in Europe. Or it could be 4-4-2 with Vallfuena at left full.
But for those of us trying to root for our national team instead of living to pick it apart, I think at the moment we have a fairly good picture of who Arena intends to be starting when we open in Russia.
In part, it depends on formation. You could play a 3-4-2-1, where Fabian and Yedlin are wingbacks and it opens up a spot for Omar or Tim Ream. That would not be my choice. You could play a traditional 4-4-2, with Fabian playing left FB. This is where I lean, and I'm just not sold on Vallafuena yet. And opens up the 11th slot for someone to emerge to play either alongside Bradley or, if Nagbe plays alongside Bradley, on the wing. If I'm coaching and the game is tomorrow, the #11 is Bedoya. It could just as easily be Acosta or Arriola (yuch) or Zardes (double yuch) or someone just below the surface, like any of Gooch, Danny Williams or Julius Green who gets off to a good start in Europe. Or it could be 4-4-2 with Vallfuena at left full.
But for those of us trying to root for our national team instead of living to pick it apart, I think at the moment we have a fairly good picture of who Arena intends to be starting when we open in Russia.