Pro Soccer Talk’s Top 100 World Cup players: 100-76

By Nicholas MendolaMay 27, 2014, 10:18 AM EDT

Pro Soccer Talk asked each of our writers to submit a list of the 50 top players heading to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, which would then be combined to make our Top 100 players for the tournament. The rationale was to be pretty broad, with neither limitation nor minimums placed on number of representatives per country or position. After the submitted lists, players were given weighted points for their position on individual lists. A bonus was given if a player was named by each of our writers.

Surely there will be some awful omissions, players placed higher or lower than expected and a bevy of other issues with the list… but that’s why we do lists. There’s much to be discussed. How does player No. 77, for instance, sit that low (or high) on the list? Are English and American players being overvalued (probably and maybe)?

MORE: Pro Soccer Talk’s Top 100 World Cup Players: 100-76 | 75-51 | 50-26 | 25-1

In the meantime, we promise not to make you click “next” 100 times. Just check back every day for the next 25 until we arrive at Friday’s thrilling finale.

100-91

100. Joe Hart, England

99. Rafa Marquez, Mexico

98. Diego Benaglio, Switzerland

97. Antonio Valencia, Ecuador

96. Bryan Ruiz, Costa Rica

95. Ashkan Dejagah, Iran

94. Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Greece

93. Aleksandr Kokorin, Russia

92. Madjid Bougherra, Algeria

91. Emmanuel Emenike, Nigeria

Analysis: Some of the best players from World Cup “outliers” make their appearances here, with Valencia (Manchester United), Bryan Ruiz (PSV Eindhoven) and Ashkan Dejagah (Fulham) familiar to those who follow English football. Old MLS nemesis Marquez makes his way to the list, while Hart clearly shows that England gets a lot of love from our voters.

90-81

90. Clint Dempsey, United States

89. Ezekial Lavezzi, Argentina

88. Xherdan Shaqiri, Switzerland

87. Wilfried Bony, Ivory Coast

86. John Obi Mikel, Nigeria

85. Jack Wilshere, England

84. Gervinho, Ivory Coast

83. Aleksandr Kerzhakov, Russia

82. Shinji Kagawa, Japan

81. Fabio Coentrao, Portugal

Analysis: Did you have Dempsey anywhere near your Top 100 (assuming, of course, that you’ve done a Top 100)? The former Fulham and Tottenham player is in fine form for Seattle and will be counted on for leadership in Brazil. Names like Coentrao and Kerzhakov being in the 80s certainly say a lot for just how much talent is headed to the tournament.

80-76

80. Thomas Muller, Germany

79. Diego Forlan, Uruguay

78. Asmir Begovic, Bosnia and Herzegovina

77. Bastian Schweinsteiger, Germany

76. Diego Godin, Uruguay

Analysis: Yup. Look at these final five. Wow. Godin may have raised his profile in his final two matches of Atletico Madrid’s season, while Schweinsteiger at No. 77 is a head scratcher. As for Begovic, the World Cup could take his profile to new heights.

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Study: MLS improves racial hiring, slides in gender hiring

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Associated PressNov 13, 2019, 10:14 PM EST

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A diversity report shows improved racial hiring practices for Major League Soccer but also highlighted a continuing decline in gender hiring efforts.

The annual report card from The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES) at Central Florida on Wednesday gave MLS an A with 93.9 points for racial hiring in 2019 for its highest score in 15 years.

[ MORE: Top 25 players in USMNT pool ]

But the gender score of 72 points for a C grade fell for the third straight time, down from 76.8 points in 2018 and 81 points as recently as 2016.

The overall grade for MLS was a B at 82.9 points, falling from a B-plus and 85 points in 2018.

TIDES director Richard Lapchick, the lead report author, called lower gender hiring numbers across men’s professional sports a “systemic problem.”

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Online: http://tidesport.org/

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Medel: Chile players decline friendly over civil unrest

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By Nicholas MendolaNov 13, 2019, 9:20 PM EST

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Chile had already canceled a home friendly with Bolivia this international break, and now the players will not play Tuesday in Peru either due to unrest in their country.’

A nationwide strike and protests against the government, spurred by a rise in metro fares, have Chile on edge.

[ MORE: USMNT-Canada preview ]

La Roja stars Gary Medel and Arturo Vidal both posted lengthy messages on their Instagram accounts, saying that the decision was made “in response to the social moment in our country.”

They urged both protestors and law enforcement to turn away from violence.

From Mega.CL:

“We are soccer players, but above all people and citizens. We know that we represent a complete country and today Chile has other priorities much more important than next Tuesday’s game.”

Chile is ranked No. 17 by FIFA and 22 in Elo Ratings.

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Slumping USMNT big favorites v. Canada

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By Nicholas MendolaNov 13, 2019, 8:30 PM EST

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Let’s start with two statements which might be a bit controversial given the tone and tenor of the United States men’s national team program.

The CONCACAF Nations League very much matters to Gregg Berhalter’s era and the program in general, even if the coach’s job is not in jeopardy and the tournament is in its infancy.
The USMNT are the oddsmakers’ heavy favorites to win (nearly +500), even given the current injury problems, and it will be shocking but not surprising if they lose to the Canadians.

Point No. 1 might be a bit surprising, but this is a competition with silverware and Berhalter hasn’t won any of it yet in his tenure as USMNT boss. It’s also relevant because losing to Canada twice in a month after not losing to them since the Billboard No. 1 single was the sensual “One More Night” by Phil Collins.

And even without Christian Pulisic and a raft of injury excuses, plus taking into account Canada’s sincere re-emergence on the CONCACAF scene, the USMNT has no business losing a meaningful match at home to a team that, while improved, has far more holes than the hosts.

If you remember from October, Berhalter didn’t call upon his men to press an inexperienced Canadian back line (I just realized I’m still angry about this). There is literally no way he’ll do that at home.

If John Herdman keeps his backs the same as the one that shut out the Yanks at BMO last month, he’ll have Kamal Miller, Derek Cornelius, Steven Vitoria, and Richie Laryea out there. Three of the four aren’t full-time starters for their MLS clubs (Vitoria is an every week man in Portugal’s top flight). Goalkeeper Milan Borjan (Red Star Belgrade) is capable of stealing a result, but shouldn’t have the chance if the Yanks pressure the ball on Friday.

The midfield and attackers are where the U.S. will have its hands full. Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David beg speedy and/or smart defenders. John Brooks being in the mix should help in both counts, plus he’s the best passing back in the pool right now.

Whether the match is cagey or comfortable will come down to the midfield. Scott Arfield is going to make it difficult on the Yanks, but Alfredo Morales plays with a nasty streak and will not be as bullied as his peers were in Toronto.

The one thing to fear is how bamboozled Berhalter was by Herdman’s plan in Ontario. This isn’t to pile on the coach, who is known for his tactics but hasn’t seen them deliver against too many opponents of quality. Herdman may be the novice in terms of overall club experience, but he’s got a better handle on the international game.

If the Yanks look out-foxed and unprepared on Friday, that’s a big problem.

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How will the USMNT line up versus Canada?

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By Nicholas MendolaNov 13, 2019, 6:58 PM EST

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No Christian Pulisic.

No Tyler Adams.

No Timothy Weah.

No Michael Bradley, Matt Miazga, and no Zack Steffen, either.

Ugh.

[ MORE: NYCFC teen signs for Gladbach ]

Still, the United States men’s national team will be favored to get a home decision over Canada on Friday as the CONCACAF Nations League begins its final two match days of the group stage.

How will Gregg Berhalter line up his team without so many key components?

Goalkeeper: Brad Guzan is probably going to get the start here, and he won’t kill the team, but we’d love to see Sean Johnson get a chance to improve on his 100% clean sheet success rate across two tournament caps for the U.S.

Back line: It would be insane if Sergino Dest didn’t start at one of the full back spots given his election of the USMNT over the Netherlands. Also insane would be not starting a finally-healthy John Brooks.

After that, it seems likely Berhalter will opt for Aaron Long to pair with Brooks. If his left back option is Dest, then it’ll be DeAndre Yedlin at right back (or Reggie Cannon). If Dest is on his preferred right side, than Daniel Lovitz may get a look over Tim Ream on account of the speed in Canada’s attack.

Midfield: Might Berhalter pull back an attacker and use a four-man midfield against the Canucks? Weston McKennie and Alfredo Morales will take two spots, and it seems pretty likely Jackson Yueill will get the chance to be a deep-lying playmaker with McKennie and Morales running their shorts off to make his life easier. We suppose Berhalter could opt for Wil Trapp over Yueill. It’s possible. A little too possible.

Attack: Josh Sargent is going to get the center forward spot, and it would be wild if Jordan Morris doesn’t join him. Then it’s down to Tyler Boyd or Paul Arriola, exciting versus a bit safer. And Arriola would give him more of a midfield presence than the forward-thinking Boyd.

Here’s how we think Berhalter starts in Orlando:

Guzan

Yedlin — Long — Brooks — Dest

Yueill

Morales — McKennie

Morris — Sargent — Arriola

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