The five best U.S. players of the Copa America Centenario group stage

As it turns out, the pessimism and concerns were unwarranted.

The United States men's national team did just fine in the Copa America Centenario group stage, thank you very much. Following a 2-0 loss to Colombia in their opener, they hammered Costa Rica 4-0 and then ground out a 10-man 1-0 win over Paraguay when a tie would have done the job. We suspect that this soccer blog isn't the only one to have been surprised by this sudden rush of good form.

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The Americans have been so sound in their last few games, in fact, that we felt compelled to highlight the five best among them in the group stage as they prepare for Thursday's quarterfinal against Ecuador.

Alejandro Bedoya, midfielder

In spite of his flowing locks, Bedoya isn't necessarily the most visible American out on the field. He doesn't send the flashy long ball or make the last-ditch tackle. And he hasn't scored for his country in almost two years. But he does the all-important midfield work that allows others to thrive: tracking runs, pressing, helping to build up the attacks and plugging gaps. Without his toil, the U.S.'s outlook probably isn't as rosy as it looks now, having not only survived the group but won it.

John Brooks, defender

The Berlin-born Hertha player was imperious against Paraguay. But that was hardly his first good performance of the tournament. He's been strong in every game. Whereas he was once prone to errors and bad judgment – back in the 2015 Gold Cup, most notably, where he started to the consternation of many – the robust center back has matured and is presently looking like the best American defender in some time.

Clint Dempsey, forward

There is a tendency to write off Deuce from Nacogdoches. He's 33. His form with the Seattle Sounders meanders from dominant to forgettable. He isn't a good fit for the target man role head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has shoehorned him into in his 4-3-3 for the national team in the absence of the injured Jozy Altidore. (The 4-4-2 against Paraguay suited him much better, underneath Bobby Wood, until he had to come off for a defender following DeAndre Yedlin's sending off in the 48th minute.) But Dempsey continues to produce. The U.S. had five goals in the group stage. Dempsey has scored twice and assisted twice more. And he has netted both game-winners. He remains a difference maker.

Jermaine Jones, midfielder

This winter, the New England Revolution decided JJ was no longer worth his considerable paycheck and lowballed him on a new contract deal. So the Colorado Rapids took a chance on him, although apparently not for a whole lot more money than he was being offered in Foxborough. Jones, however, has been reborn and instrumental in the out-of-nowhere surge of the Rapids. And he's carried that form over into the national team. He is again that two-way player the U.S. needs him to be when he and Michael Bradley are the only central midfielders. And against Costa Rica in particular, he was absolutely everywhere, winning balls and scoring a goal.

Bobby Wood, forward

For his first five appearances, it was hard to understand what Woods was doing on the national team. He looked lost and unprepared. But then, in the summer of 2015, he began scoring goals. He got winners in friendlies against Germany and the Netherlands, and in the fall bagged an equalizer to send the Confederations Cup playoff with Mexico into extra time and another in a World Cup qualifier against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – in which the U.S. had shockingly gone behind. But this Copa has been his coming-out party. Wood has been immense, scoring goals, holding up play and showing astonishing strength in the air for his mere 5-foot-10 stature. Suddenly, the 23-year-old, who has already earned an offseason move to Hamburg, is the most exciting young U.S. forward since Juan Agudelo. Except he's much further along already.

Leander Schaerlaeckens is a soccer columnist for Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter @LeanderAlphabet.