Sunday, January 06, 2013

Besler, Feilhaber, and Zusi Called into US Camp

Jurgen Klinsmann announced his call ups for the January "Camp Cupcake" beginning Monday in Carson, California.  Three Sporting KC players were named to the roster, Matt Besler, Benny Feilhaber, and Graham Zusi. 

Zusi was already expected to be there after the announcement that he'd be joining the camp late due to his training session with West Ham that he is doing this week.  Of the three, Zusi looks the most established for a potential call up for the February World Cup qualifier against Honduras.  In the second half of World Cup qualifiers last year, Zusi established himself as a consistent performer on the wing for Klinsmann.

MLS Defender of the Year, Besler, is earning his second call up and hoping for his first cap.  He'd been called in for the friendly against Mexico last year, but did not get on the field.  With the USA's struggles at center back, Besler, certainly has a chance to break into the team and make a case for call ups in the future.  He'll have LA Galaxy defenders Omar Gonzalez and AJ De La Garza and Philadelphia defender Jeff Parke to battle to win a spot over. 

KC's newest national team player, is Feilhaber.  He didn't have the greatest 2012 but his experience in the World Cup is going to be a help in the midfield for the US.  His 39 caps are the most of KC's representatives and also one of the most experienced on the roster as a whole.

While KC has the most representatives on the roster with 3, along with San Jose and Houston, a case could be made for another 1-2 KC players called in, especially with the players that were called in.  First was the inclusion of New York defender, Connor Lade over Chance Myers.  Lade had a good rookie year, but from everything I saw of him, he offers less than Myers has and has been doing it for less time than the KC right back who has enjoyed two very good years the last two years.  The other KC player that got a snub was CJ Sapong.  Specifically because of the call up of Edson Buddle and a lesser extent Juan Agudelo.  The 31 year old Buddle played in only 19 games last season, starting 10 and scored 3 goals.  Sapong brings much of the same skill set, younger, a higher ceiling, and scored 9 goals last year for KC.

Congrats to those 3 though and good luck to them.  Hopefully we'll see them on the field in Houston against Canada/

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