USMNT Daily Update: 23 for 2014 (July 2013 Edition)

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

By IVES GALARCEP

After a month of July that saw the U.S. Men’s National Team impressively dominate the field at the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the competition for places on the U.S. World Cup team is only getting stronger.

The impressive showings by players such as Joe Corona, Alejandro Bedoya, Clarence Goodson, Kyle Beckerman and Mix Diskerud have shaken up the USMNT depth chart, while the recent developments surrounding Aron Johannsson and John Anthony Brooks has them looking like potential challengers for World Cup places.

In case you are wondering why this is our July projection, we had to push it back with the Gold Cup and MLS All-Star Week overlapping, so you can consider this the July Edition, with an August edition set to drop in the last week of the new month.

Here is our latest projection for the USMNT World Cup roster, and the 23 players who missed the cut to make up the USMNT World Cup B team. We also include a 23-player roster of young American prospects who just might yield a surprising option for the 2014 World Cup squad:

PROJECTED USMNT WORLD CUP 2014 ROSTER (July 2013)

(Changes from April in bold, new additions to the Missed the Cut list are in bold italics)

GOALKEEPERS– Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, Nick Rimando

Outlook– This trio stays the same from last month, with Nick Rimando having a firmer hold on the No. 3 spot, and with Sean Johnson looking like the clear-cut No. 4.

Missed the cut– Johnson, Bill  Hamid, Tally Hall

Youngsters to Watch– Cody Cropper, Zac MacMath

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DEFENDERS– Fabian Johnson, Matt Besler, Omar Gonzalez, Geoff Cameron, Clarence Goodson, DaMarcus Beasley, Steve Cherundolo, Michael Parkhurst.

Outlook– One change to this group sees Michael Parkhurst replace Chandler. We know Chandler is the more talented player, but concerns about his commitment to the United States persist and Parkhurst’s solid showing at the Gold Cup makes him a clear-cut option.

Cherundolo’s inclusion might surprise some, but by all indications, Klinsmann plans on giving him every chance to be on the World Cup team. If Cherundolo is healthy next May, he will be on the squad.

Some players who could be making noise to push into this list in the coming months include John Anthony Brooks, who is looking like a more likely option to play for the U.S. rather than Germany.

Missed the cut– Timmy Chandler, Carlos Bocanegra, Edgar Castillo, Michael Orozco, Brad Evans, John Anthony Brooks, Oguchi Onyewu, Corey Ashe, Eric Lichaj.

Youngster to watch: DeAndre Yedlin, Shane O’Neill, Andrew Jean-Baptiste, Andrew Farrell, Greg Garza.

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MIDFIELDERS– Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones,  Graham Zusi, Landon Donovan, Joe Corona, Alejandro Bedoya, Kyle Beckerman, Mix Diskerud.

Outlook– Some serious shake-up with this group after the torn ACL suffered by Stuart Holden, and injury layoff by Maurice Edu. Bedoya did very well to boost his stock as another good wing option, though his club situation will tell the tale on whether he holds on to this spot.

In central midfield, Beckerman and Diskerud stand to benefit from the summer injury maladies of players like Holden, Edu and Danny Williams, though there is still time for Edu and Williams to fight for their places in the group.

Brek Shea avoided a major knee injury last Tuesday after a horror challenge took him out, but even without the injury he stays off the list until he establishes himself with some regular playing time at Stoke City.

Sacha Kljestan is a player who figures to mount a serious challenge to these spots, and will put Diskerud and Bedoya to the test.

Missed the cut– Sacha Kljestan, Maurice Edu, Danny Williams, Brek Shea, Jose Torres, Brad Davis, Stuart Holden.

Youngsters to watch: Luis Gil, Jose Villarreal, Sebastian Lletget, Joe Gyau, Paul Arriola.

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FORWARDS– Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Eddie Johnson, Terrence Boyd

Outlook– All four forwards listed here were in the June projection, but we move Johnson to this list and drop Gomez out for now. It isn’t a serious injury that sidelined Gomez, but he did miss out on the past two months of game and lost ground in the process. He has battled back before, but for now we see this quartet going.

Terrence Boyd is an interesting case. He didn’t feature in the June qualifiers, and was left out of the Gold Cup squad to focus on his pending club season. He stays on our projection because he has the qualities to keep improving and shining in the Austrian League, and he offers a physical presence up top that no one short of Altidore really does.

Missed the cut– Herculez Gomez, Chris Wondolowski, Aron Johannsson, Juan Agudelo, Jack McInerney.

Youngsters to watch– Julian Green, Alonso Hernandez, Gyasi Zardes, Mario Rodriguez, Daniel Cuevas, Bobby Wood.

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PROJECTED USMNT WORLD CUP ROSTER (July 2013 Edition)

GOALKEEPERS– Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, Nick Rimando

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