For some reason this week I feel a prepossession to talk about my favorite sport, soccer.  Maybe its because I had a good game on the weekend and I’m still convinced that my crippled knees can sustain another ten years of running in place and hacking shins.  Maybe its because I’ve discovered a strongly Bavarian heritage and have selected Bayern Munchen as the team from my homeland.  Who knows and quite frankly who cares?

Point is … I’m writing another soccer article.  This one focuses on assembling the best squad from the history USA Men’s National Team.  Thankfully its not as daunting as it might be for Brazil or Italy, digging through the archives of 100 years of futbol.  For example, our talent is so lean that the USA has the most Centurions of any country (100 caps, aka appearances).

But there were some hard choices …

- – - – THE FORWARDS - – - -

Brian McBride: Any true fan of American soccer has a full blown man crush for McBride, striker.  He is the best aerial player that our country has ever produced and its not even close.  McBride has suffered multiple facial injuries (see picture) due to his complete fearlessness in attacking the ball even in the most dangerous situations.

In addition, he is the greatest EPL field player that the United States has ever produced.  His primary club in England was Fulham and he recorded 153 caps with 40 goals.  He is also probably the first American to captain a Premier level team.  In fact, he was so beloved in Fulham that when he returned to MLS, they renamed a bar in Craven Cottage to “McBride’s” earlier this year.

He currently plays his football with the Chicago Fire in his home state.  His selection as one of our two starting forwards was one of the easiest selections.

Notable Achievements:

• World Cup 1998, 2002, and 2006
• 98 caps for the United States MNT
• 30 goals for the USA (3rd all-time)
• 10 assists for the USA (tied 10th all-time)
• 3 goals in World Cup play (2nd all-time)
• Voted MLS All-Time Best XI
• Fulham Club Player of the Year 2005 & 2006
• CONCACAF Gold Cup champion 2002
• CONCACAF Gold Cup MVP & Golden Shoe 2002
• Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champion 2002
• Confederations Cup Bronze Medalist 1999

Eric Wynalda: Despite the greatness of Wynalda’s resume this was a difficult selection based on part due to a crop of similar players as well as some younger players that have serious potential that has not bloomed just yet.  But for now at least, Eric Wynalda is our other starter up top.  Wynalda was one of the faces of the break-through for USA soccer in 1994 when we advanced out of the group stage for the first time since 1930.

Wynalda was a gifted striker, but unfortunately he never got to see much top-level action in Europe.  Part of his limitation (other than his fiery nature) was the lack of respect towards American players during the genesis of our national team internationally.  On his limited excursions overseas were very fruitful, culminating with his time with German team Saarbruckeen with 61 caps and 21 goals, becoming the first American to play top level football in the Bundesliga (FYI: the club has since been relegated).  The majority of his football stateside was with San Jose (57 caps & 21 goals).

Notable Achievements:

• World Cup 1990, 1994, and 1998
• 107 caps for the United States MNT (7th all-time)
• 34 goals for the USA (2nd all-time)
• 16 assists for the USA (tied 4th all-time)
• CONCACAF 1991 Gold Cup champion
• First American to be ejected from World Cup via Red Card
• Copa America 1995 all-tournament team
• Honda Player of the Year 1992, 1996
• Honda US Player of the Decade 1990s
• U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year 1996
• Inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2004

- – - – THE MIDFIELD - – - -

Claudio Reyna: For the soccer purist, Reyna is the best player ever produced by American soccer and frequently the only player from the USA described as en elite world player.  He is not an incredible scorer, nor the most gifted with the ball at his feet.  Instead, Reyna was simply the MNT talisman at the center of the field.  The essential piece of the team that provided composure, connected the defense and the offense, and provided leadership, passing, vision, and strategy.  It’s just unfortunate that his career was marred by injuries.

Compared to any USA field player, Reyna’s playing record sparkles.  He was simply too good to play in the MLS until injuries limited his effectiveness.  His clubs include Bayer Leverkusen, VfL Wolfsburg, Rangers, Sunderland, and Manchester City.  He became the first American to captain a European club while at Wolfsburg.

In the UK where most of his club football was played, Claudio was known as Captain America for his long standing ownership of the captain’s armband for Uncle Sam.

Notable Achievements:

• World Cup 1994, 1998, 2002, and 2006
• Named to the WC 2002 all-tournament team
• 112 caps for the United States MNT (5th all-time)
• 8 goals for the USA
• 19 assists for the USA (3rd all-time)
• Soccer America College Team of the Century
• Soccer America College Player of the Century
• Scottish League champion 2000
• Scottish Cup winner 2000
• Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champion 1995
• NCAA Championship 1992, 1993, and 1994
• Honda Player of the Year 2000

Landon Donovan: Landon plays striker as well, but due to the strike force available I wanted to put him in the midfield instead.  This is no slight to Donovan as he is arguably the best player to ever wear the colors of Old Glory.  There is a lot of hate on Landon as he shoulders the majority of unrealistic expectations on US soccer, but his production speaks for itself.  In many ways, the 2002 World Cup was a bad thing for our soccer program because a miracle run made it look like we were further along in our development than reality.

Landon has struggled to play overseas and the majority of his football is in the MLS with the San Jose Earthquakes and Los Angeles Galaxy with a combined 202 caps and 94 goals.  Landon was the face of the new era of American soccer as part of the inaugural class of the US Soccer residency program and he was plucked from California at a young age as a youth prospect for Bayer Leverkusen, becoming the youngest American to sign with a foreign club.

Notable Achievements:

• World Cup 2002 & 2006
• 117 caps for the United States MNT (4th all-time)
• 41 goals for the USA (1st all-time)
• 40 assists for the USA (1st all-time)
• Confederations Cup 2009 2nd Place
• MLS Championship 2001, 2003, 2005
• Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champion 2005
• CONCACAF Gold Cup champion 2002, 2005, 2007
• CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI 2002, 2003, 2005
• FIFA U-17 World Championship 1999 Golden Ball
• MLS Golden Boot 2008
• MLS All-Star MVP 2001, MLS Cup MVP 2003
• Honda Player of the Year 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, & 2008
• U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year 2003, 2004, & 2009

John Harkes: When US soccer qualified for its first World Cup in forty years, the group of players were largely amateur and semi-professional under the leadership of legendary Virginia coach, Bruce Arena.  Initially, overwhelmed by the spectacle and high-level of play, the USA pulled together respectable games against Italy and Austria.  This core of players formed the foundation for the MNT and our growth in proper football.  From that first group, John Harkes was the leader and best player.  He is the first American to ever player in the English Premier league.

His leadership was paramount to guiding the USA to the round of 16 in the 1994 World Cup as the leader on the field.  Harkes was named team captain for life by then US MNT coach Steve Sampson only to have to stripped months before the 1998 World Cup.  He was cut from the squad in favor of younger, though largely inexperienced players.  The USA finished 0-3 and 32nd of 32 teams in France 1998.

Notable Achievements:

• World Cup 1990 & 1994
• 90 caps for the MNT
• 6 goals for the USA
• 11 assists for the USA (tied 9th all-time)
• F.A. Cup Finalist 1993
• Football League Cup champion 1991
• MLS Championship 1996, 1997
• Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup 1996
• CONCACAF Champions’ Cup 1998
• Copa America 1995 Golden Boot
• Interamerica Cup champion 1998
• National Soccer Hall of Fame 2005
• England’s Goal of the Year 1990
• Confederations Cup Bronze Medalist 1999

Cobi Jones: Cobi’s inclusion into the All-Time MNT Best XI should indicate my impartiality in my selection criteria, because for most of his career I have personally not liked his playing style.  To his credit, Jones has had extreme longevity in his international career and was on the field during most of the memorable games the USA has put together in the last 20 years.  In addition, Cobi Jones was the first world class athlete we had playing on our team with Olympic sprinter speed.

Jones was part of the first generation of break-out American stars at the 1994 World Cup and along with a few other marquee players became the face of Soccer USA.  He played the vast majority of his club football in the MLS with the Los Angeles Galaxy, becoming one of the highest paid players in the early league.  He continues his long association with LA by serving as an assistant coach to Bruce Arena for the Galaxy.

His 164 caps for the MNT not only ranks 1st nationally, but also 4th in FIFA all-time.

Notable Achievements:

• World Cup 1994, 1998, 2002
• 164 caps for the MNT (1st all-time)
• 15 goals for the USA (9th all-time)
• 22 assists for the USA (2nd all-time)
• CONCACAF Gold Cup 2002
• Named to Gold Cup Best XI in 2000
• CONCACAF Champion’s Cup 2000
• MLS Championship 2002, 2005
• Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup 2001, 2005
• NCAA Championship 1990
• #13 first retired number in MLS history (LA)
• Honda Player of the Year 1998
• U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year 1998

- – - – DEFENDERS – - – -

Paul Caligiuri: Another member of the early “golden generation” of US players, Caligiuri’s first cap was in 1984 and by the 1990 and 1994 WC was already a veteran player.  He is most famous for the shot heard round the world when his goal against Trinidad & Tobago earned the USA a place in the 1990 World Cup for the first time in 40 years.  It is this very moment that can be marked as the start of the American growth in international football.  He was also the first American to score in WC play since 1950 with a goal against the Czechs.

Caligiuri was a vital cog in the 1994 World Cup campaign that saw the Americans to a shocking upset against Columbia, advancing past the group stage for the first time in 64 years.  In the round of 16, Caligiuri aided by a heroic performance by GK Tony Meola lost to eventual champions Brazil in a 1-0 thriller.

Notable Achievements:

• World Cup 1990 & 1994
• 110 caps for the MNT (6th all-time)
• 5 goals for the USA
• CONCACAF Gold Cup 1991
• NCAA Championship 1984
• National Soccer Hall of Fame 2004
• Soccer America College Team of the Century
• U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year 1986

Eddie Pope: Pope’s arrival with the MNT helped signal a transition away from foreign born players or second tier athletes.  Instead, Pope was American born without immigrant parents to push him into soccer and he was a superb athlete, the likes of which was never before seen in the US backline.  Tall and strong, commanding and fast, Pope was the link from the “golden generation” in 1994 to the current squad.  He became one of the faces of US soccer in the late 90s.

Most of his success came with DC United in MLS, earning 143 caps and 8 goals with that side.  United was the model franchise at the start of the league  Unfortunately, Pope’s career was interrupted frequently by injuries.  As a second generation player in US soccer, Pope had the option of playing his football in the USA and did so exclusively.

Notable Achievements:

• World Cup 1998, 2002, & 2006
• 82 caps for the MNT
• 8 goals for the USA
• MLS Championship 1996 & 1997
• MLS Defender of the Year 1997
• MLS All-Time Best XI
• Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup 1996
• CONCACAF Champions Cup 1998
• InterAmerican Cup 1998
• Honda Player of the Year 1997

Marcelo Balboa: An accomplished defender that proved extremely durable and immediately recognizable for his long locks of black hair.  His career stretched nearly fifteen years.  As a stalwart of the backline, Balboa became the first American to break 100 caps for the national team.  He played the majority of his football for the Colorado Rapids in the MLS and is the team’s statistical leader in most categories.  He earned 151 caps and 24 goals for the Rapids.

Marcelo is well known to US soccer fans for nearly creating the finest moment in US soccer history.  He was simply 14 inches wide.  On a cross during the Columbia group stage match, Balboa unleashed a text-book wickedly powerful bicycle kick that blasted just by the outside of the post.  Had that shot differed its path by just 14 inches it would still be in consideration for the most beautiful goal in World Cup history.  As it is, he did connect on a bicycle kick while playing for the Rapids, achieving the MLS goal of the year.

Notable Achievements:

• World Cup 1990, 1994, & 1998
• 128 caps for MNT, first Centurion (3rd all-time)
• 13 goals for USA (tied 10th all-time)
• CONCACAF Gold Cup champion 1991
• Confederations Cup Bronze medalist 1999
• MLS All-Time Best XI
• National Soccer Hall of Fame 2005
• Honda Player of the Year 1994
• U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year 1992 & 1994

Thomas Dooley: Dooley’s legitimacy as an “American” player are tenuous, benefiting only by having an American father that was a US service man.  In all other ways, he was born, grew up, and played in Germany.  Despite this, he was quickly brought into the national team after being recruited to join the USA for the 1994 World cup, receiving his first cap May 30, 1992 against Ireland. Unfortunately, by the time that Dooley became a citizen of the United States he was already 31 years of age and his prime was fading quickly, but was still highly productive on the MNT.  While his body of work is certainly deserving of the honor as the USA’s best defender, I was a little conflicted on his inclusion because his best football was before he was even an American citizen.  But oh well.

Despite his late arrival to American soccer, Dooley is without a doubt the most decorated player for the USA, playing at the elite levels in Europe, particularly when the German first division was the strongest in Europe.  He spent most of his club football playing in the Bundesliga with several top-level clubs.  He played for Homburg with 121 caps and 20 goals, Kaiserslautern with 128 caps and 14 goals, Bayer Leverkusen, and Schalke before ending his career in the MLS.

Notable Achievements:

• World Cup 1994 & 1998
• 81 caps for the MNT
• 7 goals for the USA
• 1st Bundesliga champion 1991
• 2nd Bundesliga champion 1986 (promoted to 1st liga)
• German Cup winner 1990
• UEFA Cup winner 1997
• MLS Best XI 1997, 1998
• Honda Player of the Year 1993
• U.S. Athlete of Year 1993

- – - – GOAL KEEPER – - – -

Kasey Keller: If there was one position that the United States is highly proficient in manufacturing it is certainly keeper.  In an unbroken line, the USA has boasted Tony Meola, Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel, and now Tim Howard.  It makes sense because of the emphasis of ball sports in the USA that reward hand-eye coordination and reaction time, such as baseball, football, and basketball.  Kasey Keller was a phenomenal athlete that had college options in several sports, but he chose to pursue soccer as his primary passion.  He is only the second American to captain a top-level German club.

While he has had several memorable games, perhaps Keller’s most famous was his shut out of Brazil in 1998, leading to a 1-0 victory.  During the game, Keller had 10 saves many from point blank shots.  After the game, star forward Romario said of Keller’s efforts, “that is the best performance of a goal keeper that I have ever seen.”

The only mark against Keller’s resume as the best US keeper is that he did not see first team action in the 2002 WC, sitting second to Brad Friedel after the team’s remarkable run into the quarter finals.  During the 2006 World Cup qualifiers, Keller maintained a scoreless streak of 507 consecutive minutes.

Notable Achievements:

• World Cup 1990, 1998, 2002, & 2006
• 102 caps for the MNT, most for a keeper (8th all-time)
• 53 career wins (1st all-time)
• 47 shut-outs (1st all-time)
• FA Football League champion 1996, 1997
• FA Football League silver medalist 1998, 1999, 2000, & 2001
• Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup 2009
• CONCACAF Gold Cup champion 2002, 2005, & 2007
• Honda Player of the Year 1999, 2005
• U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year 1997, 1999, & 2005

- – - – HONORABLE MENTION – - – -

Forwards:

• Clint Dempsey: At only 26 he already has 58 caps and 17 goals, plays club football for Fulham, received the Confederations Cup Bronze Ball 2009 (3rd best player in tournament).  Well known for his toughness having played several matches with a broken jaw.
• Joe-Max Moore: a product of Tulsa, OK, he has 100 caps and 24 goals (4th all-time).  Played in the 1994, 1998, and 2002 World Cups.
• Bert Patenaude: led the Americans to their best result in the World Cup in Uruguay 1930 to the Semi-Finals.  Also scored the first ever hat trick in WC play.  Named to the 1930 WC Best XI.
• Jozy Altidore: a young, exciting striker that is still finding his form as he blends experience with his elite athletic abilities.  Jozy is only 19 years old, but already has 18 caps and 8 goals.

Midfield:

• Tab Ramos: another player vital to the resurrection of American soccer starting in 1990.  Fearless with the ball at his feet, earned 81 caps and 8 goals.  Suffered a skull fracture in the 1994 World Cup against Brazil.
• Chris Armas: during his peak years of 1999 through 2002, he was the best defensive midfielder the USA had produced.  An ACL injury before the 2002 WC prevented his playing.  66 caps, 2 goals.
• Earnie Stewart: scored the game winner against Columbia in USA ‘94 to push the USA into the sudden death rounds.  Extended career in Holland, making him the highest scoring American in international club play.  Earned 101 caps, 17 goals for the MNT.
• Bruce Murray & Hugo Perez: born just a few years too early to join in the blossoming generation of USA players, both Murray (86 caps, 21 goals) and Perez (73 caps, 16 goals) were jewels in the late 80s and 90s just as soccer in the USA was starting to get its feet.

Defenders:

• Alexi Lalas: a distinguished career certainly (96 caps, 9 goals) and the first American to play in Serie A.  Continued to have success in MLS with the LA Galaxy.  Caligiuri just got the nod past Lalas on my list for technical deficiencies.
• Carlos Bocanegra: current center back and captain of the US MNT, Bocanegra can displace one of the four starters on the all-time list with a strong 2010 World Cup.  71 caps, 11 goals.
• Oguchi Onyewu: coupled with Jozy Altidore (forward), Guch represents the new breed of elite American athlete playing soccer when several other sports were available.  He is physical superior to just about any other player he’s on the field with but has a lot of catch-up to do with his marking, positioning, and composure.  48 caps, 5 goals.

Goal Keepers:

• Brad Friedel: If Keller is #1, then Fridel is #1A.  They are that close.  He is an excellent keeper that peaked just at the same time as Keller.  He owns the consecutive match record of the EPL with 190+.  He earned a legendary reputation for his role in the WC 2002 run.  82 caps, 27 wins, and 24 shut-outs (3rd all-time in each category).
• Tony Meola: the starting keeper under Bora’s squad for the WC 1994.  Meola did have problems with his positioning and re-distributions, but his reactions were sublime and he had a knack for big games. 100 caps, 37 wins, 32 shut-outs (2nd all-time in each category).
• Tim Howard: the potential to be the best keeper if he continues on his current pace.  He is a fixture in the EPL and one of the best keepers in the world.  45 caps, 26 wins, and 18 shut-outs.

- – - – NOTABLE EXCEPTIONS – - – -

• Jeff Agoos, defender: after the shit sandwich that “Goose” served up at the 1998 World Cup, his name will forever live in infamy, at least on this website.  Completely over-rated.  134 caps, 4 goals, 8 assists.
• Freddie Adu, striker: a lot of talent, but nothing realized yet. There is a lot of talk that the international game is no longer appropriate for strikers of his stature (5′ 8″), but we’ll see.  15 caps, 2 goals, 2 assists.
• DaMarcus Beasley, midfielder: a lot of promise, but ultimately a bust as he struggled to maintain consistent form for the MNT and suffered from horrible mental lapses during critical moments.  89 caps, 17 goals, 12 assists.
• Eddie Johnson, striker: enjoyed a scoring binge, but has leveled off.  37 caps, 12 goals,
• Eddie Lewis, midfielder: served his country extremely well (82 caps, 10 goals, 16 assists), but not going to dislodge any of the midfielders above him.
• Roy Wegerle, striker: a poor man’s Eric Wynalda.  41 caps, 7 goals.

And that is my Best XI from the history of the United States Men’s National Team.  Did I miss anyone?  Did I overlook your favorite?  Let me know in the comments.

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