1 Player Per Country CONCACAF XI
Hello readers! Long time no blog!
I hope everyone reading this is really being safe and healthy during this scary time, but I really wanted to put out a blog post along with everything else we have going on at MLS Aces. I had the idea of what a CONCACAF starting XI would look like but only having one player per CONCACAF member. In the beginning it was pretty easy! Obviously there are tons of talented players to pick from between the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, and even Honduras. But then getting down to some smaller CONCACAF countries, this starting lineup was difficult to create. I wanted to try and get the best player from each country, but due to some positional decisions, it was necessary to move on to some second or even third options:
Goalkeeper: Keylor Navas, Costa Rica
CONCACAF has a lot of talented keepers to choose from. Between Navas, Steffen, Blake, Ochoa, or Room I had an abundance of choices. To me it came down to what players I would be giving up by taking a goalie from a country. I wasn’t thrilled with the rest of my player options from Costa Rica outside of Randall Leal or even Allan Cruz, so grabbing the best keeper in CONCACAF was the smart choice. Everyone knows Navas; starting keeper for PSG, Ligue 1 winner, long time keeper for Real Madrid, has won mostly everything at the club level, and in CONCACAF is a three time CONCACAF Best XI player.
Left-back: Kemar Lawrence, Jamaica
I was actually surprised with the decent amount of left-back options in CONCACAF. Alphonso Davies plays left-back for Bayern but not truly for Canada so I didn’t want to waste him there. Sergino Dest was an option but did I want to give up on Pulisic, McKennie, Adams, Morris, or Altidore? No. I was even mulling Joevin Jones, but I ended up with they guy who I think is the best pure left-back in CONCACAF, Kemar Lawrence. Lawrence was arguably the best left-back in MLS during his entire career in the U.S., being named to a MLS Best XI, and winning two Supporters’ Shield. His time in MLS has been awarded and he was recently sold to Anderlecht. Kemar has even had his CONCACAF moments being named to a CONCACAF Best XI and eliminating Mexico from a Gold Cup with a stellar game winning free kick.
Center-back: Roman Torres, Panama
For Panama I was down between Torres and Michael Murrillo. I did happen to find a little more depth at the right-back position and a surprisingly lack of depth at center-back, so Roman Torres was the choice. Though he is past his prime, Torres could do in a pinch on the backline. The Panama captain even lead his country to the 2018 World Cup and in that alone he is a Panama legend. He has won MLS Cup twice in his career as a starter as well as adding a few CONCACAF Best XIs to his name too. Also, I would argue that he brings some style and an amazing locker room presence to this squad.
Center-back: Carlos Salcedo, Mexico
Maybe the surprising pick for the Mexican roster? But as I said under the blurb above, the center-back depth in CONCACAF is lacking. I decided to grab Mexico’s best center-back in Salcedo over Jona dos Santos, Rodolfo Pizzaro, or even Raul Jimenez. Salcedo is in his prime and is clearly a Liga MX standout for a league that isn’t known for its defending. He was given a chance in Europe and now has come back to Mexico where he has won so much; a Clasura title, a Copa Apertura title, and a Supercopa MX title. And just to note for the people scratching their heads at this pick, it was really tough for me not to take Jimenez.
Right-back: Cuco Martina, Curacao
Odd choice here? It’ll make sense when you see the other countries that I picked players from. To be honest here, this was the last decision that I made for this XI. He’s clearly fallen out of favor at Everton; going on loan last season and this season couldn’t find a loan home. But it doesn’t mean that Martina isn’t talented and isn’t deserving of a spot of a roster like this. The former CONCACAF Best XI player could still live up to that quality, he just needs to do it outside of a top 5 league in Europe, maybe MLS?!?!
Defensive Midfielder: Ozzie Alonso, Cuba
Am I cheating with this pick? Maybe, but you all know that if Cuba wasn’t so corrupt (and well… Cuba) Ozzie would be starting and probably a long time captain for their national team. He has won it all in MLS; a MLS Cup, four U.S. Open Cups, some Supporters’ Shields, and a Best XI appearance. Ozzie is still playing so well at his older age and I am completely comfortable with adding him to this XI even with options like Tyler Adams, Jona dos Santos, Samuel Piette, and Anibal Godoy are out there.
Central Midfielder: Kevin Molino, Trinidad & Tobago
Am I playing Hot Boi out of position a bit? Yeah but this is my XI not yours. There are a ton of central midfield options, but none really stand out over the others. Outside of Molino there was Allan Cruz, Weston McKennie, Hector Herrera, Mark Anthony Kaye, or even a Bryan Acosta. But with my picking some other players of those national teams, Molino was my choice. I truly believe that Molino is super talented. His injuries hurt him, but when he is out there and he is playing to the best of his ability, he can be a stud for club and country. Molino has scored 20 goals in 48 games for T&T and even helped lead his country to big moments in Carribean action.
Attacking Midfielder: Christian Pulisic, U.S.A
I mean of course I was going to select the best player in CONCACAF to be part of this XI. American Baby Jesus has had a pretty decent first season at Chelsea and playing in the EPL. He is a CONCACAF Best XI player and a Gold Cup Best XI player. At such a young age he is dominant and can BOSS his way throughout CONCACAF. His ability to wiggle and weave around Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, Jamaica, and more is unmatched in the region. His 14 goals and 10 assists for the USMNT is crazy when you think about his age and how much career is left in front of him.
Left Winger: Alphonso Davies, Canada
Following Pulisic, I had to grab the second best player in the region. The starting left wingback for Bayern Munich, starting left winger for Canada, and greatest Canadian soccer prospect ever joins the XI. Davies has already won a Bundesliga title, solidified his role on the team, made a Gold Cup Best XI, won the Gold Cup Golden Boot, and not even at the age of 20 has 5 goals and 8 assists for his country. Imagining Pulisic and Davies on the same XI make me feel like Spongebob visiting Sandy’s treedome. Picking Davies had me miss out on guys like Mark Anthony Kaye, Jonathan David, Lucas Cavallini and more, but I think it was the smart pick.
Striker: Nahki Wells, Bermuda
With the larger countries off the board so are the big name, but that doesn’t mean there is a lack of talent at the striker position. I like to call Nahki the Bermuda Banger! Wells is an English Championship level striker, a guy who has a Championship playoff title under his name, and a player who has 12 goals for Bermuda. I would have complete confidence throwing Wells up top of this XI and putting away balls being fed in from Pulisic, Davies, and my other winger.
Right Winger: Derek Etienne Jr., Haiti
Could I have gone with a winger like Alberth Elis here? Yes but here is my argument for Etienne… he IS the Hatian Messi. Etienne is young and so skilled with a full career in front of him. I feel that he is starting caliber quality in MLS, the same as a winger like Elis. But whenever you watch a Haiti National Team game, Etienne Jr stands out always! He shows and leads by example for his country and I mean what else could you want out of a player for your national team. He’s won on the club level between USL Championship and MLS. He has also had success in the small number of games with Haiti as he has 3 goals and 2 assists. As a CONCACAF fan watch Haiti and watch Etienne… Im telling you.
