USMNT: Top 3 strikers for 2022 World Cup qualifying

Gregg Berhalter is building a new era of the USMNT. But who are his best strikers ahead of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers? Here are the top three candidates.

Once the COVID-19 pandemic has passed and football returns, the U.S. Men’s National Team will have a rather important task at hand: secure qualification for the 2022 World Cup. After the humiliation of their 2018 failure, it is critical that Gregg Berhalter and his players get it right this time. But who are his best strikers with which to spearhead his attack during the looming qualification period?

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Here are the top three candidates at the position.

3. Gyasi Zardes

Gyasi Zardes is a better player than many will give him credit for, at least from a goalscoring perspective. Since Gregg Berhalter took over at the start of 2019, Zardes has scored six goals at an average of 0.59 per 90 minutes, which is an excellent strike-rate. He has scored 32 goals across his last two seasons for the Columbus Crew and is known for his penalty-box instinct.

Where Zardes struggles is in open play. His touch is loose, he is not the most physically imposing player with his back to goal, and his pass completion rate of 73.5% over the past two MLS seasons and two games is indicative of a player who loses the ball too often.

His goals squeeze him into the top three USMNT centre-forwards, but there are limitations on his effectiveness. As a late-game substitute to nick a goal, he is useful, without question. But is the established starter who can lead the USMNT attack forward? It is unlikely.