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USMNT: Prediting World Cup qualification XI

By Andrew Dowdeswell

GEORGE TOWN, CAYMAN ISLANDS - NOVEMBER 18: Gregg Berhalter speaks to media before training at Truman Bodden Sports Complex on November 18, 2019 in George Town, Cayman Islands. (Photo by John Dorton/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
GEORGE TOWN, CAYMAN ISLANDS - NOVEMBER 18: Gregg Berhalter speaks to media before training at Truman Bodden Sports Complex on November 18, 2019 in George Town, Cayman Islands. (Photo by John Dorton/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – JULY 03: United States defender Aaron Long (23) reacts to a call during the Gold Cup semifinal between Jamaica and the United States on July 3, 2019 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – JULY 03: United States defender Aaron Long (23) reacts to a call during the Gold Cup semifinal between Jamaica and the United States on July 3, 2019 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Centre-Backs

Berhalter has rotated extensively between his centre-backs throughout his tenure. Part of that is due to injury. John Brooks is never fit, for instance. Another factor is form. Matt Miazga and Walker Zimmerman are inconsistent, Tim Ream has performed well at left-back at times but struggles when pushed out of position, while Miles Robinson is young and Aaron Long is based in MLS.

The other element to consider is that Berhalter has a lot of options, of which there is very little to separate between them. As a result, in any given month, you could have two or three centre-backs surge ahead of the former number one in the pecking order. And so, it is highly likely that Berhalter will rotate between his options throughout the World Cup cycle.

Nevertheless, for the purpose of this exercise, I will predict the two leaders in the clubhouse, Long, who has started whenever fit under Berhalter, a coach who does not veer away from MLS-based players, and Ream, an everpresent centre-back with the highest passing accuracy in the Championship for Fulham and has been USMNT captain before under Berhalter.

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