Klinsmann USMNT roster for January Camp: focus on defense

The 26-man roster U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann named for the national team's annual, year-opening January training camp includes nine uncapped players. The January camp will start in Carson, Calif., but the players will travel to Brazil for two more weeks of training in São Paulo. For the group of players, limited to MLS and Scandinavian-based players, it will be maybe the last chance to make their case for a roster spot for the World Cup in Brazil. The squad included some veterans such as Landon Donovan or Eddie Johnson and youngsters like U-20 teammates Luis Gil and DeAndre Yedli with MLS MVP Mike Magee as the most interesting pick. Also in the list are Mix Diskerud and Benny Feilhaber. M.L.S. champions of Sporting Kansas City are represented by defenders Matt Besler, Chance Myers and Seth Sinovic as well by midfielders Graham Zusi and Feilhaber. Not all the positions on USMNT team have openings. The main focus is on defence, where Klinsmann still didn't find a sure back four. Left-back DaMarcus Beasley appears to be the only sure starter right now although there are questions of whether Fabian Johnson is a better option there. Besler, Clarence Goodson and Omar Gonzalez are fighting for the centre-back starting spots. Geoff Cameron, who recently impressed at right back and center back for Stoke, is looking for the righ-back position but Brad Evans showed enough to put some pressure on him and young Yedlin is looking to impress during this camp to make Klinsmann’s final 23-man World Cup roster. Both Evans and Yedlin are part of Seattle Sounders’ defense. Eric Lichaj too is not to be forgotten after the 26-year-old regained his place in the starting XI for Nottingham Forest, although is not on the camp, as other European-based players such as Clint Dempsey and Juan Agudelo. Klinsmann has a lot to think about his back four.

The complete roster: 

Goalkeepers (4): Tally Hall (Houston Dynamo), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

Defenders (10): Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Omar Gonzalez (L.A. Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Michael Harrington (Portland Timbers), Chris Klute (Colorado Rapids), Chance Myers (Sporting Kansas City), Shane O’Neill (Colorado Rapids), Seth Sinovic (Sporting Kansas City), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders)

Midfielders (8): Eric Alexander (Red Bulls), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City), Luis Gil (Real Salt Lake), Dax McCarty (New York), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

Forwards (4): Landon Donovan (L.A. Galaxy), Eddie Johnson (D.C. United), Mike Magee (Chicago Fire), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)