Michael Bradley Not the Field General, Instead a Liability for United States

NATAL, BRAZIL – JUNE 16: Michael Bradley of the United States and Andre Ayew of Ghana battle for the ball during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group G match between Ghana and the United States at Estadio das Dunas on June 16, 2014 in Natal, Brazil. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

It’s without a doubt that Michael Bradley is one of, if not the most important player on the field for the United States. The midfielder creates plays, possesses the ball, and allows for other players like Fabian Johnson and Kyle Beckerman to attack.

The 26-year-old has 12 goals for the United States in 87 international caps. He is the field general; the face of United States soccer along with Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard. Without him, this team is completely different. He scored the game-tying goal in 2010 against Slovakia that proved crucial for the U.S. to advance to the knock out stage.

Except this World Cup, Bradley has yet to come into his own. He had arguably his worst game in his entire career for the United States, constantly turning  the ball over and never really making his mark on the game. He only completed 35 passes throughout the entire game against Ghana.

Against Portugal, he started out strong, equaling his 35 completed passes in the first half alone. With a chance to redeem himself for the debacle against Ghana, but it all went off the rails in the 55th minute. Bradley had a chance to bury one in the back of the net from only a few yards out. Instead, he hits the ball straight into Portugal defender Ricardo Costa (albeit a very lucky and impressive stop). He had the entire net to work with and could not get the job done.

Michael Bradley receives the ball in space with only seconds remaining. He turns the ball over, leading to Portugal’s game tying goal. (Credit: Business Insider).

Then, his most important mistake came with only seconds remaining. in the 94th minute, Bradley has the ball in space with the closest Portugal defenders yards away. Instead of dribbling the ball forward to the corner, essentially sealing a 2-1 win for the United States, Bradley takes a bad first touch and  turns the ball over, leading to the heartbreaking goal from Silvestre Valero.

In both matches for the United States, Bradley has been more of a liability rather than the leader on the field we have come to expect. Luckily, the United States is in great position to advance to the Round of 16 on Thursday, needing only a draw against Germany (Thursday, 12 p.m. ESPN). But Bradley needed only a good first touch on the ball. Had that happened, this post would have concerned whether or not players rest against Germany.

Bradley has at least one shot to prove that his matches against Ghana and Portugal were in fact flukes.

John Brooks, Meet America. America, Meet John Brooks. USA Earns Three Points.

NATAL, BRAZIL – JUNE 16: John Brooks of the United States scores his team’s second goal on a header past Adam Kwarasey of Ghana during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group G match between Ghana and the United States at Estadio das Dunas on June 16, 2014 in Natal, Brazil. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Ask any casual soccer fan to name player on the United States,  you’ll undoubtedly hear a few familiar names.

Clint Dempsey. Tim Howard. Landon Donovan. Michael Bradley.

But a player only the diehard soccer fans would have heard of became a national hero.

John Brooks, the 21-year-old German born center back making his World Cup debut, headed home a goal in the 86th minute of a 1-1 game to give the United States a needed 2-1 victory and a valuable three points.

“I told some teammates that I had a dream, that I would score in the 88th minute,” said Brooks. “Now it was the 86th minute but I’m happy about it.”

It didn’t come easy though. Striker Jozy Altidore left the game with a strained left hamstring. Clint Dempsey looked like he was in a welterweight championship fight with a bloodied nose. Matt Besler also left the game with a hamstring problem, though it was far less serious than that of Altidore’s.

Clint Dempsey is kicked in the face during the first half of the USA’s 2-1 victory over Ghana. Dempsey claimed to have broken his nose on this play.

After giving up an absolutely beautiful goal from Dempsey 31 seconds into the match, Ghana looked lost. Seemingly stunned, the Black Stars could not get anything going offensively in the first half. But in the second, things changed. Ghana controlled possession, forcing the United States to turn the ball over. When substitute Kevin Prince Boateng came on for Ghana, they poured on the attack even more. Tim Howard made a few big saves, coupled with timely defending from Jermaine Jones and Geoff Cameron to keep the Black Stars at bay. Ghana finished with 21 shots, and controlled 62 percent of possession.

But late in the game, Ghana finally broke through off a beautiful give and go that Andre Ayew was able to touch past Howard. With only minutes remaining, it looked as if Ghana had stolen the two points back from the United States.

The aforementioned Jermaine Jones played one of his best matches of his career. Though he did not create offensively, he did set up the ball on a superb pass to Dempsey for the first goal. He was stalwart defensively and played with a tenacity not before seen by Jones.

Geoff Cameron also had a big game for the US. He was able to block big shots when needed and dealt with balls in the air extremely well to aid the defensive unit.

This win came at a price though. Altidore’s hamstring sounds serious, and he could miss the match Sunday against Portugal. Besler, also coming out with a hamstring injury, should be okay to go Sunday but will still be of concern. It was an extremely hard played match that left both teams coming out black and blue.

Also discouraging is that star midfielder Michael Bradley did not look sharp for the United States. He gave away the ball countless times uncharacteristically and completed only 50 percent of his passes.

What’s encouraging to United States fans though? They got the three points they needed while still playing their best game.

It was an American win. Play hard though sometimes sloppy, have the opposition attack, score on set pieces, be physical and score a stunning goal late in the match.

But the United States can play better. Bradley was not himself that game and should be back in form. And with five days off between now and Portugal, the Yanks will have time to recover to hopefully pounce on a demoralized Cristiano Ronaldo and company.

For right now, the United States are second in Group G with three points. Three points manager Jurgen Klinsmann said they had to have. Three points they needed if they hoped to continue to have any chance to advance. Three points they deserved.

And it was all thanks to some grit, a little luck, and a German-born American no one had ever heard of, and whom no one will soon forget.