The United States men’s national soccer team captured the imaginations of soccer fans across the country and around the world with their performance in the 2014 World Cup. It’s no surprise the anticipation is already building for another shot at contending on the national stage. The next 12 months represent a crucial period for several players that are hoping they can leave a positive impression on manager Jurgen Klinsmann. Fans are drooling to see if their Americans can continue to rise in the ranks and take the next step. Here is a look at five U.S. players that we’ll all be watching in 2015.
Julian Green – F, Hamburg
While the casual fan hasn’t seen a lot of Green since he surprised everyone with a late goal versus Belgium in the World Cup, the reality is that when he has played overseas he has been less than spectacular. Nobody will argue that the 19-year-old is one of the most talented US players in their system but this year will go a long way in determining whether he is able to live up to his potential. Green has struggled to get on the field at times with Hamburg but when he does get his chances, he will need to prove he belongs.
Lee Nguyen – M, New England Revolution
An outstanding 2014 campaign pushed Nguyen in to the picture as a key piece that could thrive if he gets a chance to shine for the U.S. men’s national team. Nguyen starred for New England with 20 goals a year ago and it will be interesting to see how he fares with the added pressure of increased expectations and opponents scheming against him. If he is able to even come close to matching his production from a year ago from the middle of the field, then it will be very difficult for Klinsmann to ignore him.
Matt Besler – D, Sporting Kansas City
The pressure will be on Besler to prove that the final five months of last season were an aberration as he attempts to reclaim his status as a top-flight defender. The 27-year-old will take on the No. 1 role in the heart of the Sporting Kansas City defense now that former partner Aurelien Collin has moved on to expansion side Orlando City. It will be interesting to see how quickly he adjusts. The U.S. has a handful of young defenders looking to push their way in to the national team picture and if Besler doesn’t regain his form early on, he could become a forgotten man.
Matt Hedges – D, FC Dallas
One of the younger defender’s that is looking to push Besler for a spot on the national team is Hedges. The 24-year-old is coming off a breakout season and while the talent and skill is there, the most underappreciated aspect of his game is the maturity that he has shown at such a young age. Hedges earned a call-up to the U.S. men’s national team camp in January but it came a week after the original roster was selected. Rather than letting that get him down, it seems as though Hedges has used it as added motivation and another strong season with FC Dallas could push him in to a permanent spot with team USA.
Perry Kitchen – M, DC United
Kitchen will once again have every opportunity to showcase his skills in the nation’s capital and if he continues to build on what he did last year, he should be able to find his way back on to Klinsmann’s radar. Kitchen has always been known for his defensive ability and heart in the midfield but he showed more offensive flare a year ago with five goals and four assists. The 22-year-old must also temper his aggression to an extent because if he can limit the number of yellow cards he gets, it will go a long way to proving he is mature and capable of playing at a high level without hurting his team.
