Here is the third and final article on the examination and analysis on building the uber U.S. Men’s National Team if we lived in a perfect soccer world and there was only one sport for all our athletes to play.

We’re covering Defense & Goalies in this installment.  Check out the Intro & Forwards and the Midfield.

Defense: Defenders fall into two categories in my scheme, wings and central.  For America, I’m running a 4-4-2 stopper-sweeper.  The left/right back needs to be fast, quick, and able to mark man-to-man.  It also helps if they can execute overlapping runs from the wingers in midfield to continue constant pressure on the opposing defensive third.  The central defenders need ball winning ability, size for aerial balls, and most importantly tactical mastery.

Champ Bailey (6′, 30): The first in my defense and the start of a trend, I’m choosing an athlete from an NFL secondary.  Champ Bailey has world class speed, agility, and instincts.  Bailey is an 8x Pro Bowler and has led the NFL in both interceptions, interception yards, and interception TDs in various years.  In the NFL Combine, he registered a 4.28 speed and a 44″ vertical.  He is a big play maker on the opposite side of the ball.  In addition, as an NFL player he’s tough as hell and unafraid of tackles and challenges.

I’m placing Bailey as my left back, which typically guards the best forward of the other team (right footed).  He is widely considered to be the best corner in football and his cover skills effectively remove half the field.  He has no weaknesses – good reflexes, strong hitter, great recovery speed, and instinctual reading of the game.  At his size and strength, Bailey could cover big, physical forwards such as Drogba without giving quarter.  With his cover skills, I’d be happy letting him track his mark all over the back line.

In addition with his penchant for game changing plays, I can see Bailey making devastating overlapping runs into the offensive third.

Bob Sanders (5′ 9″, 27): Surprisingly, the Colts have produced one of the finest defense players in the league in Bob Sanders, safety.  He’s only been playing for three years, but already a 2x Pro Bowl, 2x All Pro, and 2007 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year.  Despite his small stature, Sanders tackles with reckless aggression and has earned the nickname “Hitman” for his game changing hits.  He’s durable, immediately productive, and rivals Ed Reed as the biggest play maker in the NFL from the secondary.  Not least on his resume is his win in Superbowl XLI.

This was a tough decision, not that he should be included, because he’s the perfect combination for proper football, but where to put him.  With his pedigree, I really wanted to put him into central defense.  Ultimately, his short stature with 4.35 speed and 41.5″ vertical sealed his place as the starting Right Back.  By the way, he’s got dreads and hair is cool in soccer.

Bob Sanders is the prototypical athlete that I would love to come to soccer.  He was not highly recruited out of high school because of his size, but proved himself along the way to get his chance in the NFL.  There are tons of athletes just like him that never get their shot because they are too short.  Welcome, brothers, welcome.

Troy Polamalu (5′ 10″, 27): An NFL safety, Polamalu is a 4x Pro Bowler, 2x All pro, and Super Bowl champion in only five seasons. He is known for his hard hitting, game instincts, play making, and 4.4 speed. In addition, Polamalu was a high school star in both baseball (All-State center fielder) and basketball (All-League).  Being from California and going to USC, he’s played against top competition his entire life.

These are the reasons that Polamalu is my starting stopper.  With his physical play, I can easily make the leap that Polamalu would be lethal in the air on set pieces.  In addition, if you watch the Steelers, this guy is all over the field, or as Madden would say, “He’s got a non-stop motor!  Bam!”  He’s got speed and range.  I’m not sure how soccer can be big in the Samoan community considering their natural girth, but Troy is their all-star representative.

Plus, soccer has a great tradition of crazy hair.  In this regard, not only does Polamalu fulfill the team requirement, but he becomes a world candidate.  He’d easily be a marketable face to the American media.  Like a bad ass version of Carlos Valderrama.

Ed Reed (5′ 11″, 29): He’s only been in the league for five years, but he’s already a 4x Pro Bowler, 4x All Pro, and has led the league in interceptions, interception yards, and holds the longest interception return … as a safety.  In 2004, he was voted the AP Defensive Player of the Year.  Reed has played on one of the best defenses in league history with the Baltimore Ravens.

Reed has that rare big play making ability that makes him a true ball hawk.  He is always in the middle of the play and covers the field with spectacular speed.  His football IQ is amazing and spends hours studying the plays and tendencies of his opponents to find flaws and force errors.

Reed is the starting sweeper.  He’s got decent height for aerial balls and superb leaping ability.  As with all of the players on this team, his speed is incredible.  Combine that with his intelligence, work ethic, leadership, and fitness, and he’s the lynchpin of the defense.

Antonio Cromartie (6′ 2″, 24): Anyone that watched the Chargers this season, saw the dazzling play of Cromartie, particularly on returns.  He’s just a gifted, natural athlete.  Eight months after tearing his ACL, he still posted a 4.4 forty time and 38″ vertical at the NFL Combine.  By all accounts, he is now one of the fastest players in the NFL.  He’s only been in the league for a couple of years, but he is already a All-Pro and Pro Bowler.  He also holds the unbreakable record of a 109 missed field goal return.  Why is it unbreakable?  110 yards would be off the field.  He was also a standout track athlete and sprinter in his younger days.

Cromartie is a multi-position player.  He’s big with hops so he’d fit nicely into the box for corners and crosses.  He’s also got blazing speed for tracking runs into space and through balls.  While he’s primed as a central defender, he’s got the tools to play wing back as well.

Asante Samuel (5′ 10″, 27): It’s great to have a player of this calibre sitting on the bench.  Samuel is a 2x Superbowl Champion, Pro Bowler, and All-Pro.  He’s registered a 4.4 speed for NFL scouts and has risen in the esteem of football analysts as a top tier corner.  Samuel was plucked from NE by the Eagles and given a monster contract last year.

Samuel would be a reserve back for the team.  He’s got good height, good speed (just good on this team), and a nose for big plays.  Also, we’ve got another player with braids.

As I mentioned above, when it comes to soccer defenses, I’m a sucker for the NFL secondary because I believe it has the best match of appropriate skills – physicality, instincts, tactical awareness, speed, quickness, footwork, and agility.

Vernon Davis (6′ 3″, 24): Vernon Davis is a young player, but he’s one of these athletes that is mind blowing.  He was a multi-sport athlete in high school (football, track & field state champion, and basketball).  In football, he played seven positions.  At the NFL Combine, he ran a 4.38 forty and measured a 42″ vertical.  Remember, this guy is 250.lbs.  For the bench press (225.lbs), he registered 33 repetitions.  That’s 33 more than I could do.

I’m convinced human beings like him (with drugs or without) simply did not exist 30 years ago.  It’s like we’re watching human evolution occur in fast forward.

Davis currently plays TE for the 49ers.  Because he’s young, he’s sitting on the bench as a central defender.  He’s tall and big, surely he’d be unable to keep that much muscle on him with the amount of running required of soccer player.  I can imagine the fear that his presence would strike into the hearts of midfielders and forwards.  He’d also be an absolute terror on set pieces in the attacking third.  Did I mention a 42″ vertical?  Un-guardable.

Who I didn’t pick: One of the biggest names left off this list was DeAngelo Hall.  He’s a lock down corner with exceptional speed, but he’s got an attitude problem.  He cost his old team (ATL Falcons) the game for his repeated outbursts and penalties in a three play series.  You’re not representing the USA with those marks on your record.

I also seriously considered Brian Urlacher.  He’s a lot like Vernon Davis in his size and speed, but he’s aging (30) and bigger (6’5″ and 260.lb) so I figured we’d leave him off for younger bodies.

Goal: This might be the only area where I would actually look to keep the existing goalkeepers of the real team, as Americans excel at ball sports (basketball and football primarily).  That in turn builds great hands, reflexes, and hand eye coordination.  Our goalies have played nearly everywhere at the highest levels.  But true to my goal, I’ll find three new candidates.

Tony Gonzalez (6′ 5″, 32): Tony Gonzalez is the best tight end to play professional football.  By the end of his career, he’ll have reset every major receiving record for the position.  He’s got incredible hands, ample quickness, and unbelievable hops.  He is a 9x Pro Bowl selection and 8x All-Pro selection. Amazingly, as a TE he led all positions in the NFL for total receptions in 2004 (102).

Another big bonus for Gonzalez is that he is a multi-sport athlete.  He played basketball in college at UC-Berkeley, whose team went to the Sweet 16 his junior year. Finally, he’s an extremely durable player even in the NFL and has able to avoid injury throughout most of his career.

At 250 pounds and 6’5″, Gonzalez would create havoc in the box on crosses and corners.  I was worried that 6′ 5″ was too big for a keeper, but one of the world’s best, Peter Schmeichel, was 6’4″.  Gonzalez has incredible leaping ability and he dunks over the goal post after for of his touch down celebrations (10′ high).  As a TE, he’s frequently asked to run middle routes with balls fired at him, so I’m confident that he’d rarely (if ever) give up a rebound.  And with his propensity to get open as frequently as he does, even down field, I’m also convinced up his lateral quickness to cover low, driven balls.

The character of a player is just as important.  While being the face of the franchise, Gonzalez does not have a WR lust for glory.  Even in the new NFL, a TE is still a utility, lunchbox type of player that is well suited to goal.

Eric Chavez (6′ 1″, 30): The best position that I can think of that corresponds to the natural skills that a keeper would need is third base in baseball.  Essentially, these guys are in the fire zone for right-handed hitters.  Unlike other infield players, the third basemen relies nearly completely on point-blank, flash reactions with amazing hand eye coordination.

At 30 years old, he’s at the peak for a goalie and a 6x Golden Glove winner.  He’s got sufficient height to receive aerial balls and punch clears.  In addition, Chavez is a noted team leader on the Oakland A’s, which is vital for a keeper in organizing the defense.  Over the course of his career, he’s been extremely durable except for the last two years with back and shoulder injuries.  That is primarily one of the reasons, he’s first back-up.

With his quickness and lightning reactions, Chavez would be a penalty specialist, as well.

David Wright (6′, 25): Joining our two California boys is David Wright, another 3rd baseman from the MLB.  He is a 3x All-Star who also owns a Gold Glove and is a member of the 30-30 club, so he’s strong and fast.  At 25, he is the youth infusion into our keeper ranks.  Around this age, goal keepers start to reach the early beginning of their prime and physical maturity.

Plus, I know that my pal and pledge brother, Lil Dirty, will appreciate a New York Metropolitan joining the soccer all-stars.

Who I didn’t pick: the biggest name that I avoided for keeper was Alex Rodriguez.  He definitely has the physical pedigree – sweet glove, size, quickness, and athleticism, I avoided him because he is a spotlight player and a bad teammate, which are both poorly suited for a goal keeper.  Sorry, A-Rod.

I also seriously considered at Jimmy Rollins (gold glove short stop), but at 5′ 8″ I didn’t want a Jorge Campos on our team.  On the reverse, I considered Kevin Garnett.  He’s probably the only active player that could play all five positions in the NBA.  He’s got handles, a mid-range shot, leaping ability, defensive intensity – the whole package.  But I felt I was pushing it at 6′ 11″.  At that height, I’d feel he’d be a gimmick player like Peter Crouch.

Well, that wraps up my US soccer dream team.  Let me know what you think.  I’d love to write another look at the all-time greats that I would have included, such as Darrell Green, Ken Griffey Jr, or Deion Sanders.  Maybe next time.