Michael Bradley has been playing further up the field in the attack, which is a risky though possibly necessary strategy for the United States.

Bradley was often the lone attacker in the center of the field early in the United States' win on Sunday against Turkey.

Bradley did not always rush back to help his fellow midfielder Jermaine Jones defensively.

“I think a lot of times it gets blown out of proportion — the diamond, the 4-4-2, whatever,” Bradley said Friday. “It doesn’t change what I’m about as a player. It doesn’t change my mentality of what I bring to the team.”

Bradley is often called a box-to-box midfielder, but he was only fulfilling half of that function on Sunday.

In order to have goal scoring opportunities, the United States will need Bradley's playmaking.

“My role is in the center of the field,” Bradley said. “In the center of the midfield, I try to do as much as possible to help the team whether it’s scoring goals, setting up goals, winning tackles, intercepting balls, you know? I try to have as big an impact on the game as possible.

“I think when you look around the world now, midfielders who can do everything are so important for their team. That’s what I try to do.”