The USMNT Will Go as Far as Michael Bradley Leads It in 2013 and Beyond

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: January 2, 2013

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In the coming hexagonal qualifiers and potentially the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the USMNT will go as far as it is led by its roving center-midfielder Michael Bradley.

Bradley, though only 25 years old, has been a U.S. international mainstay since 2007. Much of this time, he played for his father, Bob Bradley, then coach of the USMNT.

His initial impact on the side was obvious. Bradley’s first touch and other technical skills immediately stood out as something special, and enabled him to find space and time to focus on creative playmaking. That’s an element the USMNT had mostly lacked since Claudio Reyna’s retirement from international play.

But the creativity was spotty, and Bradley suffered several rough patches, which some critics turned into charges of nepotism against Bob Bradley.

Five years later, those critics are silent. This is not only because of the turnover at the head coaching position. Bradley has continued to grow as a player, and now is recognized as one of the more important USMNT starters.

More frequently, we even hear him named as the most important player on the national team, over the likes of Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Fabian Johnson and Tim Howard. This article continues that sentiment.

 

‘Technical Perfection’

The USMNT trailed Russia by a goal in last November’s friendly. A ball was played up top, where striker Juan Agudelo laid it back for Bradley.

Agudelo’s effort to win that ball over the Russian defense was good. Bradley’s strike was better.

After the goal, ESPN’s Ian Darke can be heard on the video saying: “And that really is technical perfection from Michael Bradley.”



Maybe not perfect, but Bradley has been technically sound for much of his senior career.

His first touch was superior from the start. One...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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