As we await Jurgen Klinsmann's expected announcement today on who he is calling into a camp that also begins Tuesday in Orlando, Fla, there are a number of domestic and foreign options available to the US coach. Klinsmann figures to announce which foreign-based players will be available today, with the rest of the squad being named Sunday after another weekend of MLS action.
Klinsmann is expected to bring in 29 players and cut the squad down to 23 before camp breaks ahead of the first of five games, a friendly against Scotland May 26 in Jacksonville, Fla.
Paul Kennedy of Soccer America takes a look at the candidates to get called in to help lead the US in World Cup qualifying.
GOALKEEPERS. The No. 1 and No. 2 goalies remain Tim Howard (Everton) and Brad Guzan (Aston Villa). Howard, 33, signed a new four-year deal with Everton. Guzan is one of the few foreign-based who was not starting consistently, but he was excellent when he did fill in for Shay Given at Villa.
DEFENDERS. Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Timmy Chandler (Nuremberg), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Clarence Goodson (Brondby) and Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim) are locks.
Edgar Castillo (Tijuana), Eric Lichaj (Aston Villa) and Tim Ream (Bolton Wanderers) should get recalls based on their play this spring.
Klinsmann will probably bring in Oguchi Onyewu (Sporting Lisbon), based on his seniority, but he could not have been too pleased to see Onyewu's comeback from a knee injury at Sporting cut short by a red card against Portuguese champion Porto.
The versatile Danny Williams (partially torn muscle in his shoulder) will be missed if his shoulder isn't ready.
Michael Parkhurst is competing for the Danish league title, which is both good and bad news for the Wake Forest product. Klinsmann is big on bringing in players taking on key roles for their clubs, but Nordsjaelland won't finish until May 23, two days before camp ends.
MIDFIELDERS. Michael Bradley (Chievo Verona), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04) and Maurice Edu (Rangers) will be fighting for the two holding midfielder spots.
Besides Corona, DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla) and Jose Torres (Pachuca) could be recalled from their Mexican clubs.
Sacha Kljestan will be the only foreign-based player to return with a league title if Klinsmann calls him in from Belgium's Anderlecht. Until now, though, Kljestan has been pretty far down Klinsmann's depth chart in midfield.
FORWARDS. Clint Dempsey (23 goals in all competitions for Fulham) and Jozy Altidore (19 for AZ) are both coming off their best seasons in Europe.
And the streaky Herculez Gomez (18 goals in all competitions for Estudiantes Tecos and Santos this season) should get called in after the Torneo Clausura final against Monterrey even though his playing time in the last month has been limited.
There are a number of foreign-based options available, and we'll all be curious to see who gets called in today.
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