Feilhaber during Confederations Cup (CC.org/ US State Dept.)

Benny Feilhaber has both the technique and vision that no other American player has outside of Giuseppe Rossi. The US have an incredible opportunity to get out of the group stages and possible make some noise in the latter round of the tournament- if Feilhaber is the team's metronome.

There is no doubt that he is that stabilizing figure in the middle and will be the difference between the US making it out of the groups stages or not.

The best of all worlds: Benny's attributes

The Germanic physicality, the Iberian, the Brazilian flair and shot, the American winning mentality. Feilhaber is the definition of the poly-cultural soccer player that needs to be given more opportunities in the United States soccer elite. The reason why is because he is the only player that does not play the game for the Stars and Stripes- he feels it. His passing and ball movement are instinctive. He knows where his players should be and the change of pace he offers any game is makes a big difference. His presence on the pitch does put opponents on their heels as they, too, know that he adds a dimension to the US' near-robotic movement on the pitch. Benny is the poetry slam in a world full of iambic pentameter. If you need proof, just ask Mexico, Honduras, and Spain. In Mexico his goal in the final of the Gold Cup brought up comparisons to that goal that Maxi Rodríguez scored on el Tri in the World Cup the year before.

Feilhaber is that pinch of Jogo Bonito, picardía (slickness), and street smart footy that the US so direly need in their regimented system that allows little to no individual expression when it comes to reading a game.

His potential

For many outside of the United States, Feilhaber has the potential to be the next best thing since Claudio Reyna. The foreign media have caught on to the UCLA grad's ability moving around the pitch and his superb technical skills.

Obviously to have that type of quality on the pitch makes a huge difference for Bob Bradley's side. This is why a tip-top Feilhaber would be vital especially against Slovenia and Algeria. The AGF Aarhus midfielder will offer Bob Bradley the vision that sometimes lacks on the pitch when other midfield tandems are present. Feilhaber not only gives the US yet another solid defensive layer in the back; but more importantly that first sharp pass towards the opponents' goal.

As he has developed on the national team, his role has increased significantly. His evolution as a player has seen him become starter 1A alongside Borussia Monchengladbach and US coach's son Michael Bradley. Spanish journalist Julio "Maldini" Maldonado hailed Feilhaber after the Spain and Brazil matches and said that the former Derby County man "should be the undisputed starter for the United States in South Africa. He is too good a player for the Danish Superliga". Diario De Mallorca also mentioned that the US were "serious contenders for the Confederations Cup

Cadena Ser had mentioned in their preview that Feilhaber would be key against Spain as he "supports well in the middle and incorporates in the attack...he also crosses and passes very well." Diario De Mallorca even mentioned him along with other players on the US side that made them "serious contenders for the Confederations Cup". Could it be that the foreign media know the US tea better than the US media? As we know now, they were spot on in their assessment.

Even Brazil and Argentina know him well. For many Argentine media types, Feilhaber was the star of the team in the 2007 Copa America. They called him "the different American player". He, alongside Eddie Johnson, were the two players that gave the Albiceleste a tough time in the Copa opener that year. Brazil got to see their native son three times and in all three matches he shone.

In various World Cup predicitions regarding the US starting XI, Feilhaber shows up. Without a player like him, Landon Donovan and whoever else will be up front for the US, might not even sniff the ball. Algeria and Slovenia are already looking at everything at their disposal to see how they will neutralize Landon Donovan and one of the ways would be to clog up the middle where the distributors have the ball. Feilhaber will be vital to have as a change of pace to what the US can offer as he can play the ball and be a distributor as well as move up and work the ball to the American forwards.