Landon Donovan of the Los Angeles Galaxy and Pablo Mastroeni of the Colorado Rapids -- can be reasonably certain they will be selected to the USA's World Cup roster, the remaining seven are all locked in the battle for places as the big event draws closer.
The only MLS defender called in for the Poland match is the Galaxy's Todd Dunivant. The three-year MLS veteran has gotten his first taste of international soccer this winter, playing the full 90 minutes in his debut on Jan. 29 against Norway and going 89 minutes against Japan on Feb. 10. A quiet but tough defender with a good left foot, Dunivant is one of a handful of options to fill the left back role, a troublesome area for Arena and the USA.
In the midfield, Donovan and Mastroeni are joined by perhaps the two most impressive players in the squad's winter camp, Clint Dempsey of the New England Revolution and Kerry Zavagnin of the Kansas City Wizards. Dempsey appeared in the USA's first three games of the year, turning in a breakthrough performance against Norway as he ran riot through the Scandavians' rearguard from his position on the right. He also scored against Japan. Zavagnin, meanwhile, came into camp as an injury replacement for Mastroeni and has played in all four of the side's matches so far this year.
Four forwards called up for the Poland match ply their trade in MLS, and all four of those are fighting for spots alongside former Columbus Crew and current Fulham FC forward Brian McBride. Kansas City Wizards teammates Eddie Johnson and Josh Wolff and the New England Revolution's Taylor Twellman will all be in Germany on March 1 looking for a return trip two months later.
Johnson burst onto the national team scene in late 2004, scoring eight goals in his first eight games before being slowed with a toe injury in 2005. He appears to be back in top shape now, though, having scored the third goal in the USA's 4-0 win over Guatemala on Feb. 19. Wolff is the only player to have started all four of the team's games so far this year and holds the advantage of having World Cup experience.
Twellman has had an impressive training camp this winter. After the U.S. and Canada played to a scoreless draw to start the year, Twellman has been on fire, notching four goals and two assists in his last two games. That total includes a hat trick in the USA's 5-0 win over Norway.
Twellman's Revolution teammate Pat Noonan was on the original list of players to be called in for the match, but he injured his hamstring in New England's Champions' Cup match Wednesday night in Bermuda. He has been replaced on the roster by Real Salt Lake midfielder Chris Klein.
The European contingent called in for the match includes six former MLS players. Manchester United's Tim Howard, formerly of the MetroStars, joins Borussia Monchengladbach's Kasey Keller in goal. In defense, former Chicago Fire defender Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham FC) and former San Jose Clash player Eddie Lewis (Leeds United) are joined by Gregg Berhalter (Energie Cottbus), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege) and Jonathan Spector (Charlton Athletic). Former Fire man DaMarcus Beasley (PSV Eindhoven) and one-time D.C. United winger Bobby Convey (Reading FC) will test the Polish defense from the midfield, while McBride is the only European forward called in.
Jason Halpin is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
