By ADAM SERRANO
Could another American be interested joining a different national team other than the United States?
FC Dallas defender George John recently trained with the Greek national team prior to Greece's friendly with Ecuador in New York earlier this month. John, who many say should get a shot with the U.S. national team, did not participate in January's U.S. training camp due to a groin injury. He admitted following his club's victory over Chivas USA on Saturday that he was impressed by Greece.
"I talked to the coaches, and it was a real fun experience," said John, a second-generation Greek-American who holds dual citizenship. "Hopefully I get an opportunity with them in the future, them or the United States."
One Dallas player whose national team position is much more secure is Fabian Castillo, who was named to Colombia's preliminary squad for next month's FIFA U-20 World Cup, for which his country is the host. Castillo has joined the Colombia U-20s for a training camp and won't be with FC Dallas for the next few weeks.
More news from around the Western Conference is after the jump:
CHIVAS USA
Chivas USA has tailed off in the last few weeks after going unbeaten in the month of April. Central to this has been a great deal of change in the normally stable Chivas USA backline.
In the last five matches, Chivas USA have changed their backline repeatedly, but the lone constant has been Heath Pearce, the converted left back, who has now playing a central defense for the Rojiblancos.
COLORADO RAPIDS
Ejections can be learning experiences for players and Colorado forward Caleb Folan is no different. The Irish forward was sent off for a costly foul against the LA Galaxy last week, but admitted that he believes that experiences like this are only proving to help his development and transition to MLS.
L.A. GALAXY
Bruce Arena announced that it was unlikely that David Beckham will be making the trip when the Galaxy take on the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday. Beckham has dealt with back spasms since last week and missed last week's trip to Colorado.
The Galaxy also announced that it re-signed A.J. DeLaGarza to a multi-year contract. The defender has come into his own this season, starting 16 of the Galaxy's 18 games this year playing mostly in central defense.
PORTLAND TIMBERS
The Timbers may welcome back Futty Danso this week in their match up against FC Dallas. Head coach Jon Spencer told The Oregonian that Danso will be a game-time decision for Portland ahead of its match against Dallas.
Danso has been out since June 11 when he suffered a separated shoulder in a 1-0 loss to the Rapids. The defender practiced on Thursday and just one week ago told reporters that he planned to return early from his injury.
REAL SALT LAKE
Real Salt Lake was able to earn a draw on Wednesday night against the Chicago Fire despite another injury to a major clog in the team's offense. Fabian Espindola was injured in the seventh minute and was forced to leave the match.
The injury to Espindola only compounds the troubles that have plagued RSL recently with Javier Morales out with a broken ankle, Alvaro Saborio and Arturo Alvarez away on international duty, RSL has been forced to rely on unproven players like Collen Warner and Artur Aghysan to boost their struggling attack.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
San Jose is ready for one of its biggest games of the year on Saturday when it hosts archrival Los Angeles. The Quakes have been doing well as of late despite the absences of Chris Wondolowski and Ryan Johnson to international duty and Ike Opara to injury. Central to that success has been Steven Lenhart, who has impressed with Wondolowski away with the United States.
The Quakes will get a boost this week as Johnson will return to action after duty with the Jamaican national team.
SEATTLE SOUNDERS
The Seattle Sounders are searching for reinforcements and may get one from injury within a month.
The team announced that forward O'Brian White is around 3-to-4 weeks away from returning from a blood clot injury that nearly ended his career. In addition, the team has welcomed several new trialists including Gianfranco Di Julio, a 24-year-old Venezuelan midfielder, and Cordell Cato, an 18-year-old midfielder from Trinidad and Tobago.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS
Who is the real Eric Hassli? Is he a goal scoring dynamo or the careless player who has picked up three red cards this season?
In recent weeks, we're starting to believe that the former is true. The Whitecaps Designated Player has become extremely effective in the last weeks helping a Vancouver team that had been struggling. In response to his run of form, his teammates have rallied behind him stating that he will be central to the team's planned success.