RATHER THAN RUMINATING on MLS’s bizarre refusal to acknowledge FIFA-sanctioned international breaks, I will gladly take this opportunity to put that much more pressure on players not included on my preferred U.S. national team roster due to the restraints of the domestic schedule. In other words, this is my attempt to execute some Klinsmannian judo on the whole situation.

Goalkeepers (3)

Brad Guzan, Nick Rimando, Sean Johnson

In the same vein as August’s camp, Rimando gets the call presumably to compete with the Aston Villa net minder for the starting job. Sean Johnson gets the nod thanks to the Fire being all but eliminated from MLS post-season contention.

Defenders (9)

Tim Ream, John Brooks, Michael Orozco, Timothy Chandler, Edgar Castillo, Greg Garza, Eric Lichaj, DaMarcus Beasley, Ventura Alvarado

Excluding playoff-bound MLSers and with injuries to Geoff Cameron and Fabian Johnson looming large, the American backline once again becomes an exercise in “who’s available today?” Among this group, the surprise inclusion is 22-year-old Club America reservist Ventura Alvarado, who has expressed interest in representing the U.S., and could be another solid dual-national pickup if his current trajectory continues. The presence of DaMarcus Beasley presents some intrigue as well. How many more caps can we really expect from the four-time World Cup veteran and, when his time comes, will he get the same kind of public send-off reserved for the likes of Donovan?

Midfielders (11)

Alejandro Bedoya, Joe Corona, Mix Diskerud, Alfredo Morales, Bobby Wood, Emerson Hyndman, Joe Gyau, Jose Torres, Andrew Wooten, Julian Green, Brek Shea

Again, the absence of Bradley, Jones, and Beckerman forces a significant degree of experimentation in midfield. All of the selections for the friendly against the Czech Republic return—joining them is Andrew Wooten, whose four goals in as many games for Sandhausen in the German second division will have no doubt grabbed the attention of the U.S. staff. As personally disappointing as it is for me, Lee Nguyen and Wil Trapp are left at home for this one. Also, Jose Torres is still only 26-years-old.

Forwards (7)

Landon Donovan, Jozy Altidore, Juan Agudelo, Rubio Rubin, Jordan Morris, Alonso Hernandez, Paul Arriola

It’s a bittersweet swan song for America’s all-time everything. Thick with symbolism; Donovan is set to pass the torch to the new generation in East Hartford., Conn. Along with Altidore—who could use an impressive showing of his own—joining him will be a quintet of young strikers. Arriola has impressed of late with Tijuana, while recent U-23 call-up Hernandez made his Liga MX debut over the weekend for Monterrey. Rubin is seeing quality first-team minutes in Holland and Jordan Morris continues to dazzle at Stanford, as well as intrigue, if only by nature of his proximity to the first team as a college prospect.

Then there is Juan Agudelo. Unbelievably, he remains without a club and could use this camp to get some much-needed time on the training ground. It’s also a good chance for the U.S. staff to kick the tires on a potentially promising player.

My Starting XI: