Jurgen Klinsmann is putting his faith in MLS players to get the US team over the hump and into the Round of 16 in Thursday's Group of Death finale against Germany.
The US manager has made two changes to the lineup that started against Portugal. Houston Dynamo captain Brad Davis gets his first World Cup start in place of Alejandro Bedoya, and LA Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez comes on for Geoff Cameron, who was directly involved in conceding both of Portugal's goals during the heartbreaking June 22 tie in Manaus. According to reports, both switches are not injury-related.
The other five MLSers? Sporting Kansas City center back Matt Besler, Real Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman, Sporting KC star Graham Zusi, Toronto FC Designated Player Michael Bradley and Seattle Sounders captain Clint Dempsey.
Two of the other four US starters got their first professional action in MLS. Goalkeeper Tim Howard, from New Jersey, played for his hometown MetroStars, while DaMarcus Beasley was a star for the Chicago Fire before moving overseas.
