Anticipation is building after January served up a nice set of appetizers for the season to come, both for MLS and the US National Team. We begin with Klinsmann's first go-round at Camp Cupcake, the annual January gathering of the "best of the rest" in the USMNT pool...

One-Nil to the USMNT

Results were slow to arrive early in Klinsmann's tenure as USA boss, but a pair of 1-0 wins (home to Venuzuela and on the road in Panama) sees him start 2012 with an unblemished record.

photo by Rick Osentoski/ISIphotos.com

It appears U.S. men's national team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann is making a concentrated effort to get to know CONCACAF teams prior to World Cup qualifying.

According to a report, the United States will travel to Canada to take on its northern rival in a friendly before World Cup qualifying begins in June.

Photo: Earl Gardner

UPDATE: The Union have officially announced that Kyle Nakazawa has been traded to the Los Angeles Galaxy along with a 2013 natural second-round pick in exchange for an international slot. The Union are now permitted to have nine internationals on their roster.

For the full quote sheet, click here:
U.S. Men's National Team head coach JURGEN KLINSMANN On the game against Panama:
"I think we saw a very close game, a very tight game which we luckily won because Panama didn't finish off the chances that they had.

Congratulations to Menomonee Falls' Kurt Windbiel, the winner of our "Rise and Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story" contest.

Windbiel fared the best in predicting the recent U.S. men's national team matches and won the grand prize: a DVD of the documentary along with a t-shirt and poster from the movie's theatrical release.

Last night, I was at work and I missed the USA at Panama match on Galavision from Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City. Too bad, it would have been my first look at lots of young USMNT prospects making their debut with the senior NT. The starting lineup was Nick Rimando in goal, AJ De La Garza, Michael Parkhurst, Geoff Cameron, and Zach Loyd in the back, Ricardo Clark and Jermaine Jones in the
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Most of last night's headlines might have been about the U.S. men's national team's friendly in Panama, but that was not the only place south of the border where an American was playing.

Lost amid the U.S. team's 1-0 win, Jonathan Bornstein made his season debut, starting and going the distance in Tigres UANL's 1-0 first-leg loss to Chilean club Union Espanola in the Copa Libertadores.

We review the USA's 1-0 win over Panama in the Camp Cupcake climax. It was Klinsmann's third straight victory as USMNT coach...so why did it feel so disappointing?

Gabriel Gomez was signed by the Philadelphia Union in late December. Last night was the first chance Philly fans have had to examine the versatile Panamanian.

In a 1-0 friendly loss to the United States, Gomez played as a calming link between Panama's back four and skittish front five.

The good news: He was fantastic.

Last night the US Soccer's "Camp Cupcake" Team followed up Saturday night's 1-0 win over Venezuela with a 1-0 win over Panama. I admit that the "Camp Cupcake" moniker is not my favorite for the annual US Soccer winter camp that primarily gives numerous MLS players and some European journeymen an extended audition for the US National Team, but I think it's important to use this moniker in light of the apparent "every match is a live or die match" attitude that seems to dominate the most vocal of the US Soccer fan base.

Last night the US Soccer's "Camp Cupcake" Team followed up Saturday night's 1-0 win over Venezuela with a 1-0 win over Panama. I admit that the "Camp Cupcake" moniker is not my favorite for the annual US Soccer winter camp that primarily gives numerous MLS players and some European journeymen an extended audition for the US National Team, but I think it's important to use this moniker in light of the apparent "every match is a live or die match" attitude that seems to dominate the most vocal of the US Soccer fan base.

U.S. 1, Panama 0. First thing's first, there is a special ring of purgatory reserved for an American soccer blogger/writer with the temerity to poo-poo a result on foreign soil ... even in a no-stakes friendly. In that regard, let's say a hearty well done for Graham Zusi for being Johnny on the spot and scoring inside of 11 minutes and the rest of the U.

Graham Zusi got his first National Team goal in his second National Team game, putting the United States up eight minutes into Wednesday night's friendly against Panama. Both teams pressed the offense in the first-half, with US goalkeeper Nick Rimando and his counterpart Luis Mejia called into service.

Here's tonight's play by play for the Comets and Silver Knights game. Fair warning, I may mention tonight's US-Panama game for a moment or two as well.
<a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=d433002775" >Comets vs Silver Knights</a>

As I mentioned in my earlier Hat Trick post, we will have a gamethread on HTIOT going for the USMNT match tonight. The US will look to carry over the momentum from their win at the death vs. Venezuela into tonight's match. I am pretty excited to see how the USA will look tonight against an up-and-coming Panama side.

US Soccer Communications updates us on what's happening with the United States National Team in Panama.

*Galaxy defender A.J. DeLaGarza and the U.S. plays Panama at 5:30 p.m. today live on Galavision. *Mexico faces Chivas USA's Alejandro Moreno and Venezuela in Houston (live 6 p.m. KMEX). More here. *FOX Soccer announced today it will air live the FA Cup showdown between Americans Landon Donovan, Tim Howard

It's high time again for another hat trick and QOTD. Today's piece will focus a bit more on the USMNT as a couple of big games loom tonight and this weekend. One of the matchups includes two American soccer icons in a clash this weekend, which should make for must watch TV. Also follow after the break to have your say in the QOTD.

Come join Minnesota supporters of the Men's National Team, along with readers of IMSoccer News, duNord Futbol, and members of Minneapolis and St. Paul American Outlaws and the Dark Clouds supporters group for a US National Team World Cup watch party. The US National Team plays Panama in a friendly from Estadio Rommel Fernandez [.

Come join Minnesota supporters of the Men's National Team, along with readers of IMSoccer News, duNord Futbol, and members of Minneapolis and St. Paul American Outlaws and the Dark Clouds supporters group for a US National Team World Cup watch party. The US National Team plays Panama in a friendly from Estadio Rommel Fernandez [.

For the past three weeks, Jurgen Klinsmann has emphasized how valuable an opportunity this training camp and games are for the young and up and coming players. Every training session, every game counts, as you'll see from way back in 2005.
The U.S. was preparing to play Panama on Oct. 12, 2005 in an essentially meaningless World Cup Qualiifer.

Jon Levy The Yanks are coming off what's becoming the typical Jurgen Klinsmann USMNT performance when faced with less skilled competition. They possessed the crap out of ball, moved it well in their opponent's half, but failed to generate clear cut scoring chances against a well organized defense. But they did get a pinch of [.

The United States is away to Panama at 8:30pm on ESPN3 (web only) and Galavision. Mexico hosts Venezuela at 9pm on Univision. Liverpool - Manchester City 2:30pm - Fox Soccer Carling Cup semifinals, and a tricky second-leg for our Premier League leaders Manchester City. Down an away goal and facing the unfriendly confines of Anfield, City are coming off a late win against Spurs over the weekend.

The last time the United States and Panama met was the 2011 Gold Cup. The US lost the June 11th group stage game in Tampa Bay 2-1. Trailing from the 19th minute, the US was down two goals after giving up a 36th-minute penalty. Clarence Goodson pulled a goal back in the 68th, but the USA was unable to come up with an equalizer.

This game against Panama represents the USA's first friendly match on Central American soil since March 25, 1993, a 4-1 loss to Honduras in Tegucigalpa. So why now?
"We wanted to take the players out of their comfort zone and give them a different experience," said U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann.

photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com

After months of stagnating, the U.S. men's national team is back on the rise in the FIFA rankings, although barely.

The United States improved one spot to No. 33 in the latest rankings after having spent the last three months at the No.

The United States moved up one place to 33rd in the January 2012 FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. Mexico stays 21st, remaining first overall in CONCACAF. Spain remains the World #1, with Holland, Germany, Uruguay, and England rounding out the top five. Elsewhere in CONCACAF, Panama moves up to 47th and Honduras is 51st.

Jay DeMerit worked his way up from Bay Port High School all the way to the Premier League and the U.S. national team – his incredible tale was turned into a documentary, "Rise and Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story."

Now you can win a DVD of the movie, a t-shirt and a poster from the theatrical release from Wisconsin Soccer Central.

Their Words "It's true, I am not totally familiar with the way things are over here in CONCACAF, but I will be. This is one of the main reasons that we will go play a friendly in Panama later this month." US National Team coach Jurgen Klinsmann. Other Sources Solving the U.S. back line puzzle - from ESPN.

Last night, the US men's national team took on the US under 23 team in a scrimmage in LA. Both teams are currently involved in camps. The US team for their upcoming games against Venezuela and Panama, and the U23's as they continue to prepare for their upcoming Olympic qualifying. Three Sporting KC players appeared for the full national team last night.

US national team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has added Schalke midfielder Jermaine Jones to the US national team roster for the upcoming games against Venezuela and Panama.

While the USMNT has not officially announced it yet, Brazil is saying they are traveling to the US to face the USMNT either May 30th or 31st.This is good news for the US as this now tallies our friendlies up to 4 and all against pretty good competition before we enter the WC qualifying cycle.USMNT Schedule:Jan 21 USMNT v Venezuela Univ.

What started as a rumor on the ECS message board can now be confirmed: Brad Evans has been called into the United States national team camp as they prepare for games against Venezuela and Panama later this month. The source was of the confidential variety, but I can assure you that it's highly reliable and is someone who is in position to know.

H/T to The Front Men
Trinidad and Tobago has named their training squad in preparations for the Olympic qualifying coming up in March. Sporting KC defender, Daneil Cyrus has been named to the TnT squad that is currently training in Port of Spain in Trinidad. The team is preparing to be in Group B of Olympic qualifying with Honduras, Panama, and Mexico in Los Angeles which begins on March 22nd.

FC Dallas has emerged from its offseason slumber in a big way.

The club signed Panama striker Blas Perez and young Colombian defender Hernan Pertuz on Tuesday, addressing two areas of need with international-caliber talent. Neither deal was classified as a Designated Player signing according to a team release.

Photo: Paul Rudderow

Philadelphia Union

Is Freddy Adu already thinking about returning to Europe?

A report from SI titled "Adu to train with Spanish club with eye on move" says Rayo Vallecano sporting director Felipe Minambres told The Associated Press on Thursday, "This is the first step, that he comes and trains and gets to know us and the club, and we get to know him.

Bolton Wanderers and West Brom have stepped up their interest in the highly-rated New York Red Bulls defender Tim Ream.
The 24-year-old USA international has spent time recently training with both Premier League sides and was impressed with what he saw.
He said: "I really enjoyed both clubs and I was treated very well.

This may seem a little preemptive, but the American Outlaws are selling tickets in the Supporters Section for the semifinals and finals of the Olympic qualifiers at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park on March 31st and April 2nd. The tickets are $30 for AO members and $35 for non-members. No word yet from Sporting KC on whether season ticket holders will get a chance at a presale for the game as well or not.

Jurgen Klinsman today announced a 20 man roster for the annual upcoming friendlies against Venezuela and Panama.

United States National Team coach Jurgen Klinsmann has named 20 players to participate in the January training camp. The camp concludes with games against Venezuela on January 21st and Panama on the 25th. "We have an internal ranking of players in each position based on how we want to play, and many of these players are next in line," Klinsmann said.