Aron Johannsson
9. Aron Johannsson
Forward | Club: AZ (Netherlands)
Age | Hometown | Height | Weight | Goals | Caps |
23 | Mobile, Ala. | 6-0 | 165 | 2 | 8 |
If Jozy Altidore can’t find his goalscoring form for the national team again quickly, Johannsson is poised to step into the position. Much like Altidore, he enjoyed a career year in the Dutch Eredivisie — the two were teammates before Altidore left for England — and scored 26 goals in all competitions. The Icelandic-American hasn’t received much time for the national team, but he does have a couple of goals to his name.
OUTLOOK: Despite his scorching club form, Jóhannsson will fight to make the starting lineup at the World Cup. Forwards in his position have only one form of recourse: when he gets on the field, he has to score. The Dutch league is often criticized for its lax defenses, but at least Jóhannsson knows what it feels like to score often and how to get himself in position to do it.
EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO
