Jurgen Klinsmann has called in his first group of players for the summer, but plenty of questions still need to be answered.
The first 16 players for Jurgen Klinsmann's U.S. national team camp have been called in, and not surprisingly is heavily populated with players from our list.
Six of 16 players in Klinsmann's group are also in this group. Among the four omissions - Brad Friedel, Jozy Altidore, Landon Donovan, and Herculez Gomez - three are likely to be part of the team in the near future, with the fourth having retired from international football.
Donovan is almost certain to be included when the next set of players is called in next week, and with Clint Dempsey listed as the only forward called in to the team, it seems highly likely that both Jozy Altidore and Herculez Gomez will join up with the squad in the near future if both are healthy enough to do so.
None of that comes as a surprise. On any list of the top 10 players in the country, most should make the cut into the national side on most occasions, but then again this list could change drastically once the national team is full swing.
What did come as a slight shock was Timmy Chandler deciding to not take part in the summer activities. That seems to answer the question of how Klinsmann will use Fabian Johnson - the left back spot is now his to lose - but it also leaves a defensive group that looks tissue thin heading into the early stages of World Cup qualifying.
Only four players are listed as defenders by U.S. Soccer, and of those four only two have proven credentials at the international level. That also coincides with our list of the top 10 players, where defenders have been scarce of late. The normally steady duo of Carlos Bocanegra and Steve Cherundolo have both dropped out of the list in 2012. Cherundolo seems to have hit his stride down the stretch in the Bundesliga and Bocanegra can still do a job, but for all the promise shown by the USA's midfielders and forwards this season, the defense still looks more than a little troubling.
The inclusion of Jose Torres and Joe Corona may be part of the solution, with both Johnson and his club teammate Danny Williams having the ability to play at the back, but the next group of players called in will still have to include few other options.
The problem as it stands right now is that none of the other options are exactly ideal.
As for these rankings, they'll stay pretty stable for the next couple of weeks.
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Age: 29
Club: Fulham |
Position: Midfielder
Last Week: 1 |
Comment: The injury that caused Dempsey to miss Fulham's final match of the season is nothing that should worry USA fans. Hopefully his club form has come back to the States with him. |
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Age: 22
Club: AZ |
Position: Forward
Last Week: 2 |
Comments: Altidore missed out of the first call-up list, but should still play a part in the squad this summer. |
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Age: 33
Club: Everton |
Position: Goalkeeper
Last Week: 3 |
Comments: One thing that should help USA rest a bit easier about the defense is the fact that Howard has been in really good form lately.
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Age: 24
Club: Chievo |
Position: Midfielder
Last Week: 4
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Comments: Bradley is back in the national team and it'll be interesting to see how he responds without the cries of nepotism constantly prodding him.
|
 |
Age: 40
Club: Tottenham |
Position: Goalkeeper
Last Week: 5 |
Comments: Friedel had another good season and can now take the summer to rest. |
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Age: 30
Club: LA Galaxy |
Position: Midfielder
Last Week: 6 |
Comment: USA fans are still waiting to see Donovan on the field with Dempsey under Klinsmann. Surely that will happen at some point this summer. |
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Age: 29
Club: Santos |
Position: Forward
Last Week: 7 |
Comments: Gomez has a title to play for before he can worry about the USA, but the lack of other strikers called in on the initial list certainly leaves the door open for him. |
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Age: 24
Club: Hoffenheim |
Position: Midfielder/Defender
Last Week: 8 |
Comments: Johnson at left back. Expect to see a lot of that with Timmy Chandler out of the mix.
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Age: 26
Club: Rangers |
Position: Midfielder
Last Week: 9 |
Comments: Edu will have a battle on his hands for playing time with the USA, but he should at least get a shot in the friendlies to earn his place.
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Age: 24
Club: Pachuca |
Position: Midfielder
Last Week: 10 |
Comments: Torres' inclusion was far from shocking. He was a key cog for Klinsmann before his injury last season and he should also benefit from Chandler being gone and Johnson's probable move to the back four. |
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