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When the United States plays South Korea on February 1, Chris Klute, Shane O'Neill, Chance Myers, Seth Sinovic, and Tally Hall won't be with the team. The five have been sent back to their clubs after the Americans' trip to Brazil, while Michael Parkhurst has been added to the team, leaving Jurgen Klinsmann with 22 players for the final week of January camp and the friendly.
The cuts are not unexpected, although which players were cut is a surprise. Most expected Klinsmann to make a few cuts before the team went to Brazil, but he didn't and having 27 players for a match is silly so some cuts were bound to happen.
Klute is the biggest surprise cut. After a tremendous season for the Colorado Rapids, the left back was touted as a player who had an outside chance to force his way onto the World Cup team before the camp, but clearly he did not impress in training. That is a blow to the U.S., who could use any fullback options they can get. Myers and Sinovic are slight surprise cuts as well because they are fullbacks, but neither is as good as Klute so it's hardly a shocker that their January camp has come to an end.
The Americans' desperation at fullback is part of why Parkhurst got a call up. It was only 15 months ago that he was starting for the U.S., but his lack of playing time for Augsburg torpedoed his international chances. Now that he's left the German side and joined MLS, he has a chance to play himself back into the squad, beginning this week.
With fullback under the microscope, it's worth mentioning that DeAndre Yedlin made the cut and could get his first cap against South Korea. The 20-year-old right back is a tremendous talent, but has some serious defensive issues so there were concerns that he might not be able to handle the international game. Apparently, he's done enough to prove to Klinsmann that his defending is not a liability that can't be overcome and maybe a ticket to Brazil is still in the cards.
Of note, Michael Bradley was not called into the team. There was some speculation that he would join up for the final week after completing his move to Toronto FC, but Klinsmann has elected not to bring him in.
Goalkeepers: Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
Defenders: Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Michael Harrington (Portland Timbers), Michael Parkhurst (Columbus Crew), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)
Midfielders: Eric Alexander (New York Red Bulls), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City), Luis Gil (Real Salt Lake), Dax McCarty (New York Red Bulls), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
Forwards: Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Eddie Johnson (D.C. United), Mike Magee (Chicago Fire), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
