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Why Clint Dempsey Is Under Most Pressure at the World Cup for USMNT

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: March 27, 2014

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Considering the United States men's national team is in the proverbial "group of death" when it heads to Brazil for the World Cup this summer, many of the U.S. players, and even the coaches, will be feeling the pressure—especially American forward Clint Dempsey.

The U.S. back line will be largely young and untested and facing powerful attacking combinations from Ghana, Portugal and Germany in the group stage. The U.S. midfield is much more experienced, but that experience pales in comparison to their opponents'. And even though head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has already extended his contract through the 2018 World Cup, his own reputation will be on the line and measured by the USMNT's performance.

On an individual level, American defenders Geoff Cameron, Matt Besler and Omar Gonzalez will need to have outstanding tournaments for the U.S. to survive to the knockout rounds. But between the three of them, they only have 54 international caps. If they fail, many will simply chalk it up to them not being talented enough, or experienced enough, to play at the highest international level.



Neither DaMarcus Beasley nor Brad Evans, quite possibly the U.S. starters at outside back, are truly defenders by nature; if they're eaten up in Brazil, it will simply be confirmation that they were out of their depth. Even Fabian Johnson would survive a poor World Cup relatively unfazed, as he's already signed a contract with Borussia Monchengladbach through 2018 and likely has another World Cup cycle left in his career on the international level.

U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley still has at least one more World Cup in him and, even if he performs poorly, is likely to be named the next U.S. captain. Bradley's expected partner in the U.S. midfield, Jermaine Jones, will be in his last (only) World Cup, but his reputation will have years of success in the Bundesliga to fall back on should he falter this summer—n...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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