USMNT in (virtual) Brazil World Cup 2014

In case you missed it, the thirty man roster for the USMNT was announced on May 12. Here's a quick rundown of those on the preliminary World Cup 2014 squad:

GOALKEEPERS : Brad Guzan, Tim Howard, Nick Rimando

DEFENDERS : DaMarcus Beasley, Matt Besler, John Brooks, Geoff Cameron, Timmy Chandler, Brad Evans, Omar Gonzalez , Clarence Goodson, Fabian Johnson, Michael Parkhurst, DeAndre Yedlin

MIDFIELDERS : Kyle Beckerman, Alejandro Bedoya, Michael Bradley, Joe Corona, Brad Davis, Mix Diskerud, Maurice Edu, Julian Green, Jermaine Jones, Graham Zusi

FORWARDS : Jozy Altidore, Terrence Boyd, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Aron Johannsson, Chris Wondolowski

I know you're upset that Sacha Kljestan's been left off the team. I know it's impossible to comprehend why Eddie Johnson, who scored the goal to defeat Mexico and send the U.S.A. to the World Cup will be spending the month of June on the golf course. I know you're stumped as to why Julian Green will be in camp, despite having only two first team appearances for club and country combined in 2014. I know all of these things have got you all fired up, but Jurgen Klinsmann has decided on his thirty man roster, and that's what you've got to work with in the recently released FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 video game. 

Working with player ratings accurate as of May 14, 2014, let's take a look at how you should construct your USMNT lineup to give you the best chance of winning while playing online with the stars and stripes. Please note that this guide is for the World Cup version of FIFA 14 released in April 2014, NOT the game released in September 2013.

Formation: 4-2-3-1
          Usually I don't play with anything other than the 4-4-2 Diamond Wide, also known as the 4-1-2-1-2 Wide. Unfortunately for me, the United States' skillset doesn't quite fit that formation at the moment. Instead, we'll go with the 4-2-3-1 which deploys five midfielders, allowing you to get more of America's best players on the pitch at the same time.

Goalkeeper: Tim Howard - 84 Overall (Key Attributes: He's a goalie...)
          Please don't lose any sleep over this decision, whether you select Howard at 84 overall or elect to go with the younger Brad Guzan at 83 overall, your keeper will be the best player on the field for the Yanks. Guzan is an inch taller, but Howard has a pretty cool beard, so it's advantage Timmy.

Right Back: Geoff Cameron - 72 Overall (Key Attributes: 79 Acceleration, 6'3")
          Cameron really doesn't excel or have super stats in any one area. Instead, his plethora of mid-seventies ratings make him a solid back-liner for Estados Unidos. Standing at 6'3", he gets in the way of a lot of opponent's crosses. His 79 for acceleration is actually his best rating in any category, paving the way to a 76 value in the general "pace" department. This isn't great for containing Aaron Lennon and C. Ronaldo down the flanks, but will be serviceable in most scenarios. Don't get too aggressive and push Cameron up the field looking for a cross in, he isn't fast enough to get back on defense and only has a 63 rating for crossing anyway.

Right Center Back: John Anthony Brooks - 74 Overall (Key Attributes: 6'4", Power Header Trait, 78 Sprint Speed)
          Despite being far from a lock to be on the plane to Brazil, Brooks boasts the highest overall rating of any defender within the American 30-man roster. (Carlos Bocanegra is currently sporting quite a nostalgic 75 overall rating even though his 33-year-old legs weren't called in to camp.) Brooks is only nineteen years old, his youth providing him with a 78 sprint speed rating, pretty decent for a larger center back. He has a low stamina rating, which isn't good when playing in the "Road to the World Cup" game mode, but isn't a problem when only playing individual online matches. I like putting him as the right center back, as he's mobile enough to cover for Cameron should Geoff go bonkers and make a run up the pitch that he's too slow to recover from.

Left Center Back: Omar Gonzalez - 70 Overall (Key Attributes: 6'5", 205 Pounds, Aerial Threat Specialty, 85 Strength)
          Gonzalez beats out Matt Besler, Clarence Goodson, Michael Parkhurst, and Maurice Edu for the right to start in the second center back spot. I had a giggle when I was scrolling through his ratings and saw a 49 in the balance department. Is he playing on ice? Anyway, balance is only important in FIFA when looking at attacking players trying to maintain control of the ball, so we'll let Omar slide on this occasion. He's so tall that he plays a lot better than his overall rating suggests. You'll be glad you had him when he's dominating corners on both offense and defense. He's big and strong enough to handle any powerful attackers that try to go through him, and his 71 sprint speed rating isn't terrible for a player taller than many NBA athletes.

Left Back: DaMarcus Beasley - 72 Overall (Key Attributes: 91 Pace, Speedster Specialty, 85 Agility)
          Run DMB has recently reinvented himself as a defender on the national team, so that's where you need to play him. Beasley is the fastest player on the team, just send him out there and watch him run. 91 Sprint Speed and 83 Stamina are a great combination, meaning he can get up the field to send crosses in while still being able to get back on defense. Don't be afraid to let Beasley trot up the pitch, your other three defenders aren't going anywhere. Let Cameron, Brooks, and Gonzalez do most of the defending. Beasley's speed is a welcome addition to a lineup that doesn't feature many burners.

Right Defensive Midfield: Jermaine Jones - 74 Overall (Key Attributes: 89 Aggression, 84 Stamina, 79 Pace, 79 Defending, 78 Strength)
          In real life, Jones loves to make runs up the pitch and contribute to the American attack. In this game, don't let him do that. Jones plays a lot better than his overall rating would suggest. He will be your most efficient player in terms of winning the ball back from the opposition. Leave him in a defensive role and watch him thrive. He sports an 89 rating in the aggression department so you should utilize it. Whenever the opponent has the ball, Jones is the man you want to be controlling to give yourself the best chance to get it back.

Left Defensive Midfield: Michael Bradley - 73 Overall (Key Attributes: 84 Stamina, 81 Strength, 80 Aggression, 78 Shot Power)
          This rating is almost disturbingly low for a player that many recognize as the greatest American footballer of his generation. 73 overall? Sacha Kljestan has an overall of 74, and he didn't even make the thirty man roster... Anyway, no USMNT lineup between the years 2008 and 2022 would be complete without Bob Bradley's son patrolling the midfield. I don't care what the EA Sports guys rate him; he's going in my lineup anyway. Michael is tagged with a "Team Player" trait, for whatever that's worth. Put him on the left side so that his strong right foot is in the middle of the field, allowing him opportunities for long shots. If he doesn't produce, you can always go with somebody attached to a higher rating. Rimando at 77 overall you say? Suit up Nick!

Left Attacking Midfield: Landon Donovan - 75 Overall (Key Attributes: 88 Pace, 83 Balance, 81 Stamina)
          While I do aknowledge that LandyCakes has been having a rough go of it in the MLS this season, a 75 rating is pretty tough to swallow when looking at the greatest soccer player in American history. Luckily he still holds an 88 rating in the pace department which is about all you can ask for out of a man about to play in his fourth World Cup. His pace and 81 stamina allow him to combine with Beasley to cover every blade of grass on the left side of the field. Allow these two to work together, getting up the flank with Beasley and letting Donovan cut toward the middle. This gives Beasley the option to cross it in to the forwards, or slide a short pass over to Donovan who can then use his nice balance rating to slice up the defense. Even though Donovan's skills are disappearing faster than his hairline, Landon still has one good World Cup run left in him. Treat him accordingly.

Center Attacking Midfield: Clint Dempsey - 82 Overall (Key Attributes: 84 Finishing, 84 Ball Control, Long Shot Taker Trait) 
          Duece. The highest rated player on the team who isn't a keeper. Dempsey can combine with your defensive midfielders to orchestrate all sorts of scoring chances for their teammates. This doesn't mean Dempsey can't score himself, his 84 finishing rating proves he can. He can even be played at striker in a pinch. Dempsey is lighting it up for the Seattle Sounders at the moment. Why shouldn't success for Sigi Schmid translate into success for you?

Right Attacking Midfield: Timmy Chandler - 75 Overall (Key Attributes: 84 Sprint Speed, 80 Stamina, 77 Crossing)
          The least likely player selection to happen in real life, Chandler will be your secret weapon in this RAM role. He is decently fast and can run for a while, which will make up for the lack of mobility provided on the right side of the defense by Geoff Cameron. Don't get too crazy with Chandler, just keep him in position and utilize his natural defending abilities when trying to win balls in the midfield. He probably will not score too many goals, but he doesn't need to. Donovan, Bradley, and Dempsey will provide that out of the midfield. Just use Timmy Chandler to control the flank, occasionally sending in a cross or two when the opportunity presents itself.

Striker: Jozy Altidore - 78 Overall (Key Attributes: 88 Strength, 85 Shot Power, 82 Jumping, 82 Heading, 4* Weak Foot)
          This rating may be a bit generous considering Josmer scored only one goal this last season, but I'm not complaining. Rounding out the lineup at 78 overall, this is the first time in recent memory that I can recall no players below seventy being in the starting lineup for the red, white, and blue. He isn't going to burn past many defenders with his 73 sprint speed, so don't rely on his pace. If Jozy gets the ball close to goal, use his power to shoot. If Jozy gets the ball away from goal, utilize his strength to hold off defenders until support from the skilled midfielders like Dempsey and Donovan arrives.

So there you have it, the optimal lineup for success with your favorite national team. Give it a try, tweak it to your liking. Comment below and let me know what you think!

USMNT in FIFA 13

          Feeling patriotic and want to select the U.S. National team as your side for a game of FIFA 13? Good decision. I'm here to help you optimize your squad and get every last ounce of ability out of the Yanks.
          Depending on which roster update you're playing with, U.S.A. will fluctuate between 3.5 and 4.0 stars, meaning that when you play online, you generally will not be matched up against the likes of FC Barcelona or the famous CFC. This means that mistakes by your defense will be punished less often, as a 70-75 overall striker is much less likely to find the back of the net than somebody the caliber of Wayne Rooney.
          The United States can be a very entertaining team to play with, and if you can combine winning on top of that national pride, even better. Follow these recommendations before going into battle with the Americans and soon enough you'll be having more fun than Jerry Sandusky at a peewee football camp.

          Formation: 4-4-2 Diamond Wide (Otherwise known as a 4-1-2-1-2)

          I've been having a lot of success with this formation lately, having picked up on it after reading an article by Darren Cross, deputy editor for MATCH magazine and one of the most respected FIFA players out there. I've found playing with two strikers up front to make a world of difference when playing online seasons in FIFA 13. Getting by a defender with one of your strikers often pulls the second forward's mark away from him allowing for easy goals. After the formation's sorted out, it's time to slot players into each spot.

Goalkeeper - Tim Howard 

           Not really much to think about here, Tim Howard is the best rated player on this National Team, so he's my selection to start the game.

Left Back - Demarcus Beasley (Key Stats: 90 Sprint Speed, 89 Acceleration, 80 Stamina)

           Naturally a left-side midfielder, he's recently found a home for the National Team playing left back, and that's where I've decided to play him. He's feeling pretty pacey at the moment, boasting a 90 in the sprint speed department. This allows him to get up the left flank to put crosses in with his better foot and still get back on defense with relative ease. Also, his speed allows him to quickly recover from any mistakes on defense that result from him not being a natural defender.

LCB - Matt Besler (Key Attributes: 79 Strength, 76 Sprint Speed)

          My choice to start the game next to Beasley, he is relatively quick for a 6'0" centerback, with 75 Acceleration and 76 Sprint Speed to his credit, allowing him to get over and cover Beasley should he get caught up the pitch. Although Geoff Cameron is rated higher overall than Besler, I feel that Besler's nearly ten point advantages in the strength and speed ratings justify giving him the cap.

RCB - Omar Gonzalez (Key Attributes: 6'5" Height, 81 Strength, Aerial Threat Specialty)

          The best thing about Gonzalez is his size, standing at 6'5" he's always a threat whenever your team wins a corner. His size and strength are obviously an asset when defending your goal, he's saved me many times by putting his massive frame in front of an opposition's shot or cross attempt.

Right Back - Fabian Johnson (Key Attribute: 88 Sprint Speed) 

           Again, Geoff Cameron is a thought to start in this spot, but I prefer my fullbacks to be full of pace, and Johnson is. He's got 88 for Sprint Speed, which admittedly isn't among the world's elite, but at the 3.5-4.0 star level it's more than enough to cause opponents problems when pushing up the channel. Listed as a left back, he'll have to settle for playing time as the defender on the right side. In this formation the outside backs will often make runs up the field and provide service in to the attackers, so I prefer him to be on his stronger foot. Johnson and Beasley's pace rating afford you to play the lumbering centerbacks in favor of smaller, quicker ones, as they can chase down many loose strikers.

Left Midfield - Eddie Johnson (Key Attributes: 91 Strength, 85 Acceleration, 84 Sprint Speed)

          An MLS striker in real life, he finds a spot on my team by playing left midfield. While he can make his way around the pitch with 84 Sprint Speed and 85 Acceleration his biggest asset is his strength. Playing in the midfield utilizes his 91 Strength rating to win back balls, but don't be afraid to push him forward. Johnson's natural position is striker, and that's most evident when he gets on the end of a cross. His Power Header Trait can result in a lot of goals, especially when combined with his 84 Agility rating and 81 Jumping attribute which allow him to get to most balls you send his way.

CDM - Jermaine Jones (Key Attributes: 92 Aggression, 85 Stamina, 82 Strength)

          Jermaine Jones is an absolute monster in FIFA 13 that plays at a much higher level than his 77 Overall rating would indicate. He's an animal in defense, and can take the ball from any attacker coming his way. His Strength rating of 82 allows him to have a chance at any loose ball, just what you want from your holding midfielder. Big and strong with outstanding endurance, he controls the center of the field as well as anyone in the game from the first whistle until the last.

Right Midfield - Graham Zusi (Key Attribute: 77 Crossing)

          In addition to having the coolest name on the team, Zusi is also the best crosser of the bunch. Put him on the right side and let him work to the corner, where he can whip in a cross. He has many targets to pick from, including Altidore on the front post and Eddie Johnson on the back. His four-star weak foot and 88 shot power attribute also means that he can be effective by cutting into the middle and looking to have a shot on goal.

CAM - Michael Bradley (Key Attributes: 86 Stamina, 82 Strength, 81 Ball Control, 80 Aggression)

          Another player playing out of position, Bradley usually assumes a more defensive role than what I have him playing here. He's not the fastest player on the field, but he is tall and strong with great ball control, which means he can hold the ball in the middle of the field and allow his more creative teammates to make runs around him. Although he's playing toward the top of the formation, you'll still find him winning a lot of balls for your side, combining him with Jones in the middle of the pitch creates an extremely solid and reliable pairing to start your attack with.

RS: Jozy Altidore (Key Attributes: 88 Strength, 86 Shot Power)

           The logical choice to sit in front of goal, his size and strength makes him a great target for Beasley and Zusi to find in the box. His four star weak foot and 86 Shot Power combined with a decent 79 rating for Finishing make him a great target man to have at the top of your formation.

LS: Clint Dempsey (Key Attributes: 83 Attacking Position, 82 Finishing, 81 Ball Control, 80 Vision)

          While I'd rather have him playing CAM, I'm not going to take Bradley off of the field for Dempsey to play there, and Duece is more than capable playing as the second forward. While he doesn't boast much pace, he's deadly when given service in front of goal, as evidenced by his 6'1" frame, 87 Heading Accuracy, 84 Jumping, 82 Shot Power, and 82 Finishing. He works surprising well as a striker, able to put the ball in the net from anywhere in the box. Also, his 83 Attacking Position puts him in great spots to be fed the ball with an opportunity to have a crack at goal, and a solid 80 Short Pass rating allows him to slide the ball over to Altidore when Josmer finds himself open.

          Strategy: Overall, I have found success with this lineup online, even though the team lacks blazing speed in its attacking players. As a result, the way to score with this team isn't to play over-the-top balls and let the strikers run onto them, but have a patient offense and utilize the tremendous team strength up the middle. For the dedicated FIFA players out there, you can further customize your team shape by altering your players' positioning through Team Management. When customizing my formation, I've found this to be the best positioning for my players...

         - Beasley works best up the flank, utilize his speed.

         - Drop Bradley and Dempsey a bit to utilize their possession skills and combine them with Jones to control the middle of the field.

         - Move Eddie Johnson slightly toward the middle as he pushed up the field, this will help utilize his strength to win back clearances, as well as put him in better position to volley home a cross or two.

         - Send Zusi to a position where he can easily send crosses in for your powerful men in the middle.

           Good luck to all my fellow USA fans out there, give this strategy a try and see how they play. Thanks for reading!