World Cup Qualifiers Squad Selection Special

With a ticket to Brazil 2014 already punched, we can breathe easy ahead of our final two qualifiers.  It appears that FIFA will use their own ranking system to determine the top 8 nations to be seeded in the upcoming 2014 World Cup Draw, and the US would need nothing short of a miracle to be included in those ranks.  From the standpoint of directly impacting our placement in the World Cup, these next two fixtures mean nothing.  Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann's squad selection, however, proves that this will be business as usual for the Von Trapps.  I would like nothing more than to see our beloved team roll into Brazil with a head of steam with two more victories to their credit.  This could also be a great chance for some of our fringe players, namely Aron Johannsson, to get a run with the starting XI.

Without further delay, here is the 20-man roster selected to represent the United States in World Cup Qualifiers home to Jamaica on October 11th and away to Panama on October 15th:

Goalkeepers:

Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

Defenders:

DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City) Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy)

Midfielders:

Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Jermaine Jones (Schalke), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

Forwards:

Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders FC)

My initial reaction is not so much to dissect the players at Klinsmann's disposal but to point out the two gaping absences from this list.  Both Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey, arguably our two most valuable attacking assets, were left off the roster due to injury.  Both players are crucial in creating chances in front of net and marshalling the midfield.  Bradley's late scratch in Costa Rica could not have been more evident in the way the US continually stuttered, stalled, and coughed up possession in midfield.  Fortunately, there is still plenty here to get two wins against stiff CONCACAF competition.

Hometown Heroes?:

If we continue on the theory that Klinsmann is fielding his best XI Friday in Kansas City, then we almost certainly have to expect to see Sporting Kansas City's Matt Besler playing center back alongside Omar Gonzalez.  Fresh off his suspension due to the most controversial of circumstances, Besler will be seeking to hit the ground running in front of the hometown faithful. I can also see Besler's teammate at Sporting KC Graham Zusi being deployed on the right wing, although, with Alejandro Bedoya's recent run of form, that is anything but a lock.

Dark Horse:

I would love nothing more than to see Sacha Kljestan get at least 90 minutes of playing time within the next two matches.  He has been seldom used by Klinsmann in recent times, usually coming off the bench.  That said, he has become instrumental for his club Anderlecht, and has featured in each of their first two matches in the Champions League group stage, albeit in two shutout losses.  It seems like the time to take a chance on a player like Kljestan is now.  Why not?

Snubs:

Contrary to many of the past squad selections, there are very few notable omissions, aside from those hampered by injury.  One player who could make a case, however, is Michael Parkhurst.  While he has been radically inconsistent for the US, the same can be said of Edgar Castillo.  On the topic of outside backs, it should be noted that it has been a long time since we have seen Timothy Chandler in the conversation - a troubling omen for a player that once had so much potential.

Conclusion:

No shocks, no surprises.  This is a push for two more wins and six more points in the Hex.