USMNT: 5 Bold Predictions about Klinsmann’s World Cup 2018 Roster

Jul 1, 2014; Salvador, Bahia, BRAZIL; United States forward Clint Dempsey (8) looks on as Belgium players celebrate their second goal during extra time of their round of sixteen match in the 2014 World Cup at Arena Fonte Nova. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Prediction #5: Clint Dempsey comes off the bench.

Dempsey is the only name comparable to that of Landon Donovan in terms of American soccer. With that said, he will be 35 a few months before the 2018 World Cup begins. Lucky for Klinsmann and the rest of the US soccer landscape, Dempsey’s game has never been predicated on pace. If one thing other than age is not going in the captain’s way, it is that the youth movement is in full effect at the beginning of this cycle.

With players like Hyndman, Mix Diskerud, Joe Corona, Alejandro Bedoya, and more to be discovered later getting their chances to prove themselves on the senior team, Dempsey will have to prove to Klinsmann that he worth the spot. Dempsey should be given every shot at being a starter in the 2018 World Cup.

However, Klinsmann has showed recently that he isn’t afraid to do what he wants with the roster. This includes the not including the bigger US Soccer players.