Michael Bradley was a late scratch from the USMNT roster for its November Concacaf Nations League matches. Injured in Toronto FC’s defeat in the MLS Cup final a few days prior, coach Gregg Berhalter would not be able to rely on his most experienced midfielder for must-win matches against Canada and Cuba.
Bradley, despite being among the greatest USMNT players all time — he’s third in caps, ninth in goals and second in assists — has often been a target of derision from U.S. fans. He’s been painted as a sort of scapegoat for the team’s failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
Fans have been frustrated with Bradley’s continued appearances for the national team. Frankly, however, any calls for Bradley to be replaced in the USMNT midfield have ignored the fact the U.S. doesn’t really have a great replacement for what Bradley brings to the field: defensive stability, passing range, energy and leadership. Wil Trapp is serviceable at best while other midfielders like Weston McKennie, Cristian Roldan and Sebastian Lletget have different skillsets. (Tyler Adams continues to be missed injured but has been preferred at right back by Berhalter.)
Berhalter may have found his Michael Bradley replacement after back-to-back wins over Canada and Cuba to win Nations League Group A.
Jackson Yueill, a 22-year-old Minnesotan, started both matches as a holding midfielder, taking over the role Bradley usually plays. And he did quite well.
Yueill, a San Jose Earthquakes midfielder with just six caps to his name, wasn’t even on the USMNT’s Gold Cup roster this summer but appears to be growing in stature with every appearance. That he was chosen to start over Trapp says a lot about how Berhalter feels about Yueill.
Jackson Yueill made his USMNT debut in a June friendly against Jamaica, starting and playing 59 minutes in a 1-0 defeat. He played one minute in the USMNT’s 3-0 loss to Mexico and the full 90 in the subsequent 1-1 draw with Uruguay.
Not selected for the defeat at Canada, Yueill played all 90 minutes of the USMNT’s three victories in the Nations League in which the U.S. had a plus-14 goal difference.
Yueill showed the positive passing, energy and biting challenges necessary to fill the role at the international level (well, the Concacaf level at least). He makes himself available as an outlet to teammates and links the defense to the offense. Importantly, he has a unique, hard-to-spell surname that starts with Y, to which I can relate.
In the 4-1 win over Canada, avenging a 2-0 defeat in which Bradley started a month earlier, Yueill was part of a midfield that dominated the opposition.
Hugely validating passage of play. Great pass.
Yueill Dest pic.twitter.com/av2HYJ2fSA— Concacaf Nations League Stan (@JordanDunathan) November 16, 2019
Against Cuba on Tuesday, he was able to push further forward and showed what he can bring to a team offensively, with Cuba pushing so deep defensively.
Yueill set up Jordan Morris’ first goal with this bit of vision, though McKennie was credited with the assist for slightly helping the ball along with his head.
26' And the second of @USMNT has arrived! Jordan Morris scores thanks to the great assist by Jackson Yueill!#CNL #FollowTheDream pic.twitter.com/4aiAbuIEMd
— Concacaf Nations League (@CNationsLeague) November 20, 2019
Yueill’s performances have earned him praise and probably a more prominent spot on the USMNT roster in 2020, when World Cup qualifying begins.
Have to say I thought Jackson Yueill played really well for USA yesterday. Took 2 hard tackles ( 1st could’ve been a red card) and kept fighting and dominating the midfield for 90+ ! Well done young man #Quakes74
— Chris Dangerfield (@ChrisDanger7) November 17, 2019
Seen enough from Lletget and Yueill tonight to know we don’t need to see Trapp or Roldan again anytime soon.
— The Yanks Are Coming (@YanksAreComing) November 16, 2019
Thank Yueill for that goal as well. He moves the defense with his eyes and then makes a tough pass to an open man with space to play the ball. That's how you beat a deep block.
— Concacaf Nations League Stan (@JordanDunathan) November 20, 2019
Was Yueill perfect in these two matches? No. And it must be reiterated that these games didn’t exactly supply the toughest competition in the world; Canada is ranked 69th and Cuba 179th.
Will Yueill be first choice when World Cup qualifying begins in September? Would he be selected over a healthy Tyler Adams? Would he even be picked over a healthy Michael Bradley?
None of these questions can be answered yet, but Yueill showed enough promise to encourage fans who want Bradley out of the national team setup. At 22, he could be the future Michael Bradley, who we will all learn to hate in 10 years after the USMNT misses out on the 2030 World Cup.
Jackson Yueill isn’t exactly the second coming of Claude Makélélé, but he was just what the USMNT needed against Canada and Cuba. And that’s a good enough start.
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