World Cup 2014 Preview – USA

"I believe that we will win! I believe that we will win!" is the mantra that is being heard around the world, and its origins is here in the United States of America.

The Americans better believe they can win, because the group they are in this World Cup is terrifying. Portugal, Ghana, and world power Germany await the Americans in Group G, and nothing here will come easy. However, there's no other player in this country we should want leading our national team than Landon Donovan (#10). Donovan is arguably the greatest American to ever play the game, so his experience and sheer talent are crucial if the USA want to be successful this summer. He is a natural midfielder, but has the skills to move up front in the attack, and head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has shown that he is willing to play him up front more than usual, when he has added Donovan to the lineup. Some have criticized Klinsmann for not playing him a lot the past few months, but Klinsmann knows what he's doing and he won't, for any reason, go to the World Cup and not play Donovan.

Clint Dempsey (#8) is now heralded as the best American soccer player, and there's little reason to argue otherwise. Dempsey is fast, has a great leg, and is a natural leader. He played for quite a while in the English Premier League for Tottenham, but has just recently moved back to the States to play for the Seattle Sounders in the MLS.

In the midfield is former USA head coach Bob Bradley's son, Michael Bradley. Michael is a solid central midfielder, and isn't afraid to mix things up, making overlapping runs, switching up with forwards, and even staying back and playing as a solid defensive midfielder if need be.

Julian Green is a name that you need to be familiar with if you're not already. This kid is as talented as they come, especially when it comes to 18 year olds (he'll be 19 on June 6). Green has played well for German club power Bayern Munich's "B-team," and is an absolute blur on the pitch. He plays a deceitful style of soccer, but can beat you with pure skill if allowed to. The combination of him and Dempsey up front, not to mention Landon Donovan and Bradley maneuvering the ball around the pitch to get them the ball, will be a great thing to watch this summer.

Holding down the goal is none other than goalkeeper extraordinaire, Tim Howard. Howard is a stonewall in goal; scoring on him is extremely difficult. Although our defensive line is pretty good, including players like DaMarcus Beasley, Timmy Chandler, and Fabian Johnson, all of which play their club soccer outside of the country, teams will get shots off, but Howard has proven time after time that teams will have to earn each and every goal.

My prediction: the USA is as good as it has been in many years, with as good a coach that we've ever had as a country. However, we're playing in the "Group of Death," and getting out of the group stage will be difficult. Germany is the odds-on favorites to win the group, and the other three teams are just playing for second place. We finish just shy of advancing, maybe a point behind Portugal... Life isn't fair, nor is getting placed in the most difficult group of the 2014 World Cup. I wish I could pick my country to advance, but I also know that we aren't quite at the level of Portugal yet, although if we keep getting better, we'll soon surpass them and become a world power to be reckoned with.

*NOTE: Please disregard the first paragraph about Landon Donovan and Jurgen Klinsmann. Apparently he will, in fact, go to the World Cup and not bring along Donovan.