SARAJEVO, Bosnia—Could the Seattle Sounders develop a relationship to the United States national team like Barcelona has with Spain or Bayern Munich has with Germany? Brad Evans, who plays with Eddie Johnson and Clint Dempsey for club and country, won't go that far but it certainly doesn't hurt.

“Building relationships with national team players at club level can only benefit you on the field,” he said. “If you look at Munich and Germany, and Barcelona and Spain, these countries have a core of players that play together every week and know each other inside out. I like to think we have the beginnings of something like that at Seattle. There’s me, Eddie (Johnson) and Clint (Dempsey) now and there are more players at the club that could make the jump up to international level.”

Evans and the rest of his teammates trained at Grbavica Stadium in Sarajevo late afternoon on Monday, with coach Jurgen Klinsmann integrating first-time call-ups Aron Johannsson and John Anthony Brooks into his session.

Having recently solidified his spot in the U.S. roster Evans offered some insight into what it’s like joining up with the team for the first time.

“It’s only a short time ago I was that new guy, working my way into the team and getting in with the guys, so I know what it’s like,” Evans said. “It’s an easy team to get along with. It’s a warm group of guys and whenever we’re together there’s plenty of chatter and banter.

“It’s good to hear different players’ stories, whether it was someone who was born in the U.S. and moved away, or vice versa. It says a lot about our country that these bright talents who play at a high level are choosing the U.S.”