SoccerBlogs

Holden ... no more looking at the past!

And there it is. Jurgen Klinsmann going wide and expansive with his camp roster next week. The roster dominated by the return of golden boy Stu Holden and no place for Steve Cherundolo (or Carlos Bocanegra).

GOALKEEPERS (6) : Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tally Hall (Houston Dynamo), Bill Hamid (D.

And there you have it.

No cards and good passes, okay?

Klinsmann's crew to face Costa Rica in Colorado and Mexico at the Aztecz.

Discuss.

G: Brad Guzan, Nick Rimando, Sean Johnson

DEF: Tim Chandler, Geoff Cameron, Omar Gonzalez, Matt Besler, Justin Morrow, Tony Beltran

MF: Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones, Danny Williams, Maurice Edu, Jose Torres, Kyle Beckerman, DaMarcus Beasley, Sacha Kljestan, Brek Shea

FW: Clint Dempsey, Graham Zusi, Eddie Johnson,

STR: Jozy Altidore, Herculez Gomez, Terrence Body

Jurgen Klinsmann will debut the US squad for two vital qualifiers tomorrow morning.

Here's a look at who might be on that list Monday. We did not confine the list to a set number so expect less names tomorrow.

Again, as always, this who Klinsmann might pick not who TSG would.

My time!

Let's be clear about something right away: the United States has absolutely nothing invested in this match against Canada. Competitively, it's a meaningless exercise. For a lot of these players, though, it's an opportunity to get into Jurgen Klinsmann's immediate consciousness, and maybe even play their way into his plans for the World Cup Qualifier against Honduras on February 6th.

Game: Philadelphia Union vs. LA Galaxy

Where: PPL Park, Chester, PA

When: 7:30 PM ET

Channel: Comcast Sportsnet

Commentators: JP Dellacamera and Alejandro Moreno

Meet the Opposition: LAG Confidential

Philadelphia Union starting XI: (4-4-2) Zac MacMath; Raymon Gaddis, Bakary Soumare, Amobi Okugo, Sheanon Williams; Brian Carroll, Kleberson, Keon Daniel, Danny Cruz; Jack McInerney, Sebastien Le Toux

Philadelphia Union bench: Aaron Wheeler, Chris Konopka, Chris Albright, Michael Farfan, Antoine Hoppenot, Roger Torres, Conor Casey

Los Angeles Galaxy starting XI: (4-4-2) Carlo Cudicini; Todd Dunivant, Tommy Meyer, Omar Gonzalez, A.

BY OMAR SHAMOUT

CARSON, Calif. For 45 minutes, the Los Angeles Galaxy had the look of a team more than capable of knocking off the two-time defending CONCACAF Champions League title holders.

Monterrey had other ideas, turning the second half of their semifinal first leg into a vivid reminder of why the Rayados have won the past two installments of this tournament.

The back-to-back champs are looking for a three-peat. The LA Galaxy made that very clear on Sunday afternoon as they throttled the Chicago Fire 4-0 in front of 20,124 fans at the Home Depot Center. Mike Magee is currently the leader for the MLS Golden Boot as he scored three goals and showed no mercy for his hometown.

By OMAR SHAMOUT

The LA Galaxy are looking to become the first "three-peat" winners of the MLS Cup during the 2013 season.

The Galaxy started 2012 in anything but championship form, and the team will be hoping that an offseason free of overseas tours provided adequate time for rest and recovery after a grueling stretch run.

Welcome back, SK.

No real surprises in this one here and only a few minor takeaways.

First, the roster:

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION (World Cup qualifying Caps/Goals) – Detailed Roster

GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa 5/3 SO), Tim Howard (Everton – 22/9 SO), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire – 0/0)

DEFENDERS (9): Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City – 0/0), Carlos Bocanegra (Racing Santander – 31/5), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City – 5/0), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana – 0/0), Timmy Chandler (Nuremberg – 0/0), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders – 0/0), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy – 0/0), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim – 3/0), Michael Parkhurst (Augsburg – 3/0)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Michael Bradley (Roma – 19/5), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo 0/0), Maurice Edu (Bursaspor – 9/0), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04 – 5/0), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht – 12/0), Jose Torres (Tigres – 9/0), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim – 4/0), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City – 3/0)

FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar – 17/6), Clint Dempsey (Tottenham Hotspur – 26/10), Herculez Gomez (Santos – 6/2), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders – 11/10)

By OMAR SHAMOUT

The Los Angeles Galaxy defeated the U.S. Under-17 national team, 5-0, on Friday in their first match of the pre-season. The goals came from

Mike Magee (9'), Robbie Keane (PK, 15'), Jose Villareal (49'), Greg Cochrane (50') and Jack McBean (76') provided the goals for the defending MLS Cup champions.

By IVES GALARCEP

Jurgen Klinsmann has some tough decisions to make.

The U.S. Men's National Team has some good depth at some positions, and with so many new faces stepping up to offset the rash of injuries in March, there are much more options heading into this summer's action than there was a year ago.

The Estadio Azteca is one of the most difficult places to play in world football and getting a point at the vaunted Mexican stadium is a very difficult task. The draw with Mexico actually moved the United States down the CONCACAF standings, but a draw at Mexico's home field is an encouraging result.

Clint Dempsey's 16th minute goal proved all the U.S. Men's National Team would need to get a crucial three points from a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica in blizzard-like conditions in Denver on Friday night. The win moves the U.S. (1-1-0, 3 points) from the basement of the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying final round group into second place.

By IVES GALARCEP

With Carlos Bocanegra out of the picture for now, and Oguchi Onyewu still in "Can't Get Minutes for His Club Team" asylum, the centerback pool for the U.S. Men's National Team has an inexperience feel to it heading into the March World Cup qualifiers.

Geoff Cameron and Omar Gonzalez started in the team's last qualifier, but with the fullback position down to the bare bones, there is a very good chance Cameron will spend these next qualifiers as a fullback, which isn't a stretch considering that's where he plays for Stoke City.

U.S. Men's National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has called 23 players into training camp in Denver to prepare for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica and Mexico. The U.S. will face Costa Rica at sold-out Dick's Sporting Goods Park on March 22 at 8 p.m. MT. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN, WatchESPN and UniMas.

The USMNT got off to a rough start in Honduras with a loss, but now is their time to earn something back. With Mexico having drawn Jamaica in Estadio Azteca, it's easily within their grasp to at least get the jump on Mexico. After all, an away loss is bad, but a home draw can be even worse depending on the right circumstances.

In a word, that sucked. The U.S. Men's National Team dropped the first game of the final round of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, losing 2-1 to Honduras. This despite going up 1-0 late in the first half through Clint Dempsey. Even when ahead 0-1, the Americans were generally outplayed over the entire 90 minutes, and the Hondurans deservedly went ahead on Jerry Bengston's 78th minute game-winner after a miscommunication between Geoff Cameron and Tim Howard allowed Oscar Boniek Garcia to square for Bengston, who ran past a ball-watching Omar Gonzalez to slot the winner home into an open net.

It's make it or break it time for the US Men's National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann as he gets ready to take part in the first Hexagonal World Cup Qualifier of the year. Wednesday's result, while it certainly doesn't seal the fate of the USMNT in the 2016 World Cup, could very well set the tone of what we can expect from team this year.

The match will air at 3 PM CST on Wednesday and it will be televised on beIn Sport (channel 620 for those of you with DirecTV). Here's the full roster for you USMNT fans out there:

GOALKEEPERS (3) : Brad Guzan (Aston Villa - 5/3 SO), Tim Howard (Everton - 22/9 SO), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire - 0/0)

DEFENDERS (9) : Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City - 0/0), Carlos Bocanegra (Racing Santander - 31/5), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City - 5/0), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana - 0/0), Timmy Chandler (Nuremberg - 0/0), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders - 0/0), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy - 0/0), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim - 3/0), Michael Parkhurst (Augsburg - 3/0)

MIDFIELDERS (8) : Michael Bradley (Roma - 19/5), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo - 0/0), Maurice Edu (Bursaspor - 9/0), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04 - 5/0), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht - 12/0), Jose Torres (Tigres - 9/0), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim - 4/0), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City - 3/0)

FORWARDS (4 ): Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar - 17/6), Clint Dempsey (Tottenham Hotspur - 26/10), Herculez Gomez (Santos - 6/2), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders - 11/10)

The numbers are world cup qualifying gaps and goals, respectively.

By IVES GALARCEP

Veterans Tim Howard, Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley headline the U.S. Men's National Team roster chosen to travel to San Pedro Sula ahead of Wednesday's vital World Cup qualifying clash against Honduras, a roster heavy on European-based players.

Graham Zusi, Eddie Johnson and Matt Besler headline a contingent of seven MLS-based players.

Here's your game thread for the USMNT vs Canada tonight.

Here's your starting lineups.

GK: Sean Johnson
D: Justin Morrow, Matt Besler, Omar Gonzalez, Tony Beltran
M: Brad Evans, Kyle Beckerman (captain), Graham Zusi, Brad Davis
F: Chris Wondolowski, Eddie Johnson

Bench: Joshua Gatt, Alejandro Bedoya, Bill Hamid, Juan Agudelo, Benny Feilhaber, Alfredo Morales, Will Bruin

GK: Simon Thomas
D: Nikolas Ledgerwood, Dejan Jakovic, Ashtone Morgan, Nana Attakora
M: Tosaint Anthony Ricketts, Terry Dunfield, Kyle Bekker, Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault, Russel Teibert
F: Dwayne De Rosario

A list of DFW connected players in MLS.

Are you still paying attention! Part II is a bad choice!

Are you still paying attention?

Recovered from Wells Thompson dating your sister yet?

We forge on. In search of truth, hope, and something, anything interesting to say.

(If you missed Part I yesterday, look no further.

Landon Donovan of the LA Galaxy (Google Creative Commons)

Two of the top three teams in the Western Conference face off Saturday as third place LA Galaxy visits first place FC Dallas in the weekend's most intriguing match.

LA Galaxy is coming off a 2-2 draw away at Toronto FC in their last MLS match and currently sits with a 2-0-2 record and a solid eight points.

It's time for the Hex! The United States is about to take on Honduras, and while the Yanks' roster features several former New England Revolution players, no one will draw more attention from Fort fans than Los Catrachos' striker Jerry Bengtson. This is a good opportunity for all of us to see him in action for his national team, where he appears to be scoring all the goals.