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Prematch Thoughts

Centered on the Defense: Omar, Brooks, or Alvarado?

United States head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has a decision on his hands with his choice to main the middle of the American backline. The pair he chooses could determine the American's fate against Jamaica.
BY Brooke Tunstall Posted
July 22, 2015
4:40 PM

ATLANTA—Past performances have, for the most part, made obvious the preferred starting XI for the United States national team heading into tonight’s semifinal with Jamaica at the Georgia Dome.

Clint Dempsey and Aaron Johannsson are the forwards, Michael Bradley and Kyle Beckerman the central midfielders with Alejandro Bedoya and Gyasi Zardes on the flanks. Fabian Johnson and Timothy Chandler are the fullbacks and Brad Guzan is a no-brainer in goal. Odds are very strong that those nine will be on the field when the whistle blows this evening (6:00 et, FoxSports 1). All nine have played well enough for there to be few qualms with the choice. 

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But what of the center backs? There, it’s been a hodge-podge with Ventura Alvarado starting three games, including the quarterfinal over Cuba despite shaky outings in the group stage versus Honduras and Panama. 

U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann believes the 22-year old has a bright future with the national team and appears willing to live with the Club America defender’s growing pains. But if Klinsmann gives Alvarado the nod, then he has to choose between two more experienced center backs in World Cup veterans Omar Gonzalez and John Brooks.

Brooks is a Bundisliga veteran who is evolving into a solid national-team level player, highlighted by a strong showing in the U.S.’ shock upset of Germany last month. But he got a pair of yellow cards in the group stage and had to miss the Cuba game. He also lost his mark, allowing FC Dallas striker Blas Perez to score in the 1-1 draw with Panama, though Brooks responded to that with a strong second half.

Gonzalez has played well in wins over Haiti (1-0) and Cuba, where he scored his first international goal. Counting friendly wins over Mexico and Guatemala before the Gold Cup, and the U.S. has shutouts in four straight games he’s started and the last time he was on the field when the opposition scored was in overtime of the 2-1 loss to Belgium at last year’s World Cup. 

One option would be for Klinsmann to go with a twin towers center back pairing, putting the six-foot-five Gonzalez together with the six-foot-four Brooks. The duo played the first half against Guatemala together, though against the speedy Reggae Boyz, Klinsmann may prefer Alvarado, who is fast enough to have played fullback at Club America. 

With lineups do out very soon, we’ll know soon enough and American Soccer Now will post them as soon as they are confirmed.

Brooke Tunstall is an American Soccer Now contributing editor and ASN 100 panelist. Follow him on Twitter. 

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