US Soccer FourFourTwo

Vol 34 Issue 15

United States Soccer World Cup Brazil 2014

Magazine Editorial Editor.......................................... David Hall Deputy Editor.........................Hitesh Ratna Production Editor............. Charlie Ghagan Writer/sub.................................Huw Davies Writer..................................Andrew Murray Art Editor........................... Anthony Moore Designer........................... David Robinson Designer....................................Tom Chase

FourFourTwo Performance Editor......................................... Ben Welch

Management Brand Director.......................Hugh Sleight Brand Manager..................... Ollie Stretton Advertising Director...............Chris Bullen

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Contents On American pg. 5 Soccer

By Ives Galarcep

pgs. 5-9

pg. 11

Key Players Coach Klinsmann

Original photographs and editorial were taken from: www.ussoccer.com www.soccerbyives.net www.fourfourtwo.com www.goal.com/en-us

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*Adveritsement.

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On American Soccer: Projecting the U.S. World Cup training camp roster

By Ives Galarcep A month from now, Jurgen Klinsmann will convene a training camp of between 25-30 players hoping to make the U.S. World Cup squad. Here is a look at the players likely to be there.

We are just one month away from the final U.S. national team training camp before the World Cup, the decisive camp that will help Jurgen Klinsmann determine just whom he will take to Brazil, and who will suffer the fate of missing the final cut.

Michael Bradley Currently the best American outfield player on the national team, Michael Bradley brings his international experience to a team which is not overflowing with world cup experience. A brilliant soccer mind and the hard edge of an old school midfielder, Bradley’s presence can always be felt on the field.

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Before we even get to that final cut of 23 players heading to the World Cup, there will be the cut to decide which players even get to travel to Northern California in May for that fateful training camp.

Klinsmann will call in anywhere from 26 to 28 players and when you start trying to come up with a roster for that camp, you start to realize just how deep the U.S. player pool really is.

No, the team isn't stacked with Champions League players, and options from the world's best leagues like Germany, but what the currently player pool does have is depth in terms of comparable options.

Players who are very closely matched. Players who will make Klinsmann's selection process even for the training camp a difficult one.

Klinsmann is going to have to make some tough calls on the traning camp roster, and it could mean Julian leaving behind Green some players he has called on regularly through his tenure.

Players like Brek Shea, and more

Clint Dempsey With a recent move back to the United States, captain Clint Dempsey will have all eyes on him to bring leadership, grit and goals to Brazil this summer. A technical and strong attacking midfielder, Clint looks to lead the U.S. team in his third world cup. With his red hot form recently in MLS with the Seattle Sounders Football Club, fans all over the U.S. will have many of their hopes resting on Dempsey’s shoulders.

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recently Brad Davis.

Then there is the Julian Green situation. Green is all but assured of being a part of the training camp, but his inclusion will likely mean the exclusion of a player like Shea and/or Davis. Green's participation won't really surprise anybody, and the real question at this point is whether Klinsmann will actually use a

World Cup roster slot on the 18-year-old Bayern Munich prospect. That decision will bear significantly more scrutiny.

Some might suggest that Klinsmann should just invite some extreme number of players, like 35, or even 40. For practical purposes, working with such a large group would make preparing the team for the World Cup more difficult, and wouldn't really be fair for those on the fringes trying to play their way into the final 23.

So even though the official preliminary World Cup roster list can include 30 players, don't assume Klinsmann will bring quite that many players in for the

final camp. A total of 28 would make sense, and would provide some wiggle room in the event of injuries during the early portion of training camp.

So who will Klinsmann bring with him to that final pre-World Cup training camp? Here is a projected 28-player squad we could see making the trip to Stanford University in May to take part in that camp, as well as those players who look set to miss this initial cut: GOALKEEPERS Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, Nick Rimando The top three goalkeeper slots

are essentially locks at this point as long as Howard, Guzan and Rimando stay healthy, so bringing a fourth goalkeeper isn't really necessary. If Klinsmann were to bring one, Johnson would appear to have the edge based on recent call-ups and appearances.

Missed the Cut: Sean Johnson, Tally Hall, Bill Hamid DEFENDERS Geoff Cameron, Matt Besler, Omar Gonzalez, Fabian Johnson, Michael Parkhurst, Clarence Goodson, DaMarcus Beasley, Michael Orozco, Brad Evans

Tim Howard Goalkeeper Tim Howard looks to bring his vast experience playing for Everton in the Barclay’s Premier League; one of the top teams in England’s top division, to Brazil with him this June. With the U.S. facing off against some of the world’s best attackers, Tim will surely be called upon to make some huge plays.

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A group of nine defenders is a pretty solid group to bring to camp, and all nine on this list have a solid chance of playing their way into the final

Geoff Cameron

23. John Brooks just misses out despite having earned some valuable playing time in the past few weeks at Hertha Berliin. Klinsmann will have to decide to go between a player like Orozco, who has started all year for Puebla and is a more technical central defender option, or Brooks, who is more similar to the likes of Gonzalez and Goodson in the player pool.

Could we see a surprise inclusion? It seems unlikely, but you have to wonder if Klinsmann is considering using Cameron as a central defender at the World Cup given the underwhelming form of Omar Gonzalez. Even if

that happens, it will probably be tough to break into this group.

Missed the Cut: John Brooks, Tony Beltran, Oguchi Onyewu, Tim Ream, Edgar Castillo, Tim Chandler, Eric Lichaj, DeAndre Yedlin MIDFIELDERS Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Landon Donovan, Jermaine Jones, Graham Zusi, Alejandro Bedoya, Kyle Beckerman, Maurice Edu, Mix Diskerud, Julian Green Some of the exclusions from this group will turn some heads.

Landon Donovan For several years the poster boy of the national team, Landon finds himself in a more supporting role in what will be his fourth world cup.

Already holding virtually every United States record, his talent can still make some history at this summer’s competition.

Donovan was the hero in South Africa four years ago, can he embrace his new role and once again emerge heroic in Brazil?

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Brad Davis started against Mexico, and against South Korea, but with Julain Green brought in, Davis will lose ground on the left wing depth chart. Brek Shea has long been a Klinsmann favorite, but he hasn't played much in months so he misses the cut here. Danny Williams has played very well for Reading FC, but fall just short.

And what of Mexican-based options Joe Corona and Jose Torres? Both are playing well in the Liga MX Clausura, but both still appear to be on the outside looking in. You could make the argument that he is just as deserving as Mix Diskerud, but

Diskerud appears to be higher up on Klinsmann's depth chart than Corona.

Missed the Cut: Danny Williams, Joe Corona, Brek Shea, Brad Davis, Benny Feilhaber, Jose Torres, Luis Gil, Sacha Kljestan FORWARDS Jozy Altidore, Aron Johannsson, Terrence Boyd, Chris Wondolowski, Eddie Johnson The group appears pretty straightforward, with Juan Agudelo narrowly missing out on

an invitation. If there is an injury in the next month then we can see Agudelo slippig in, but given Klinsmann's past preferences among this group, it is difficult to see any of these five players not invited. This group will be one of the ones worth watching the most closely given the fight here for the final World Cup roster slots.

And what of veteran Herculez Gomez? His lack of playing time appears ready to doom him to miss out on this training camp, let alone the World Cup. Missed the Cut: Juan Agudelo, Herculez Gomez

Jozy Altidore Last summer Jozy was scoring for fun with his national team and was coming off a season in the Netherlands setting a scoring record for an American playing in Europe. His big summer move to Sunderland in England did not go as hoped, struggling for playing time and goals in a tulmutuous team situation is leaving many fans wondering if Jozy will once again find the net in Brazil.

The powerful striker looks to put his rough season behind him and regain his excellent form for the national team.

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*Adveritsement.

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Jurgen Klinsmann

A World Cup winner with Germany in 1990, Jurgen Klinsmann was hired to help the U.S. evolve into one of the world’s best soccer nations. Bringing a more attacking style and winning experience, the U.S. set a winning record in 2013 under Klinsmann. Challenging every player under his watch, he has managed to turn some heads with the results the team has gotten against some top level competition. Look for the always smiling animated german this summer on the sidelines urging his team forward.

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