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American Top 40: Projecting Klinsmann’s 2014 World Cup roster, 8th edition

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The latest: The American foreign legion recovered from last weekend’s miserable stretch by enjoying a prosperous few days. Aron Johannsson, Sacha Kljestan, Terrence Boyd and Daniel Williams scored. Johannsson has recorded 22 goals in 35 matches across all competitions. Boyd raised his total to 14 in 28 games. … The USSF finalized an April 2 friendly against Mexico in Glendale, Ariz. It does not fall on a FIFA fixture date, so European-based players are not expected to attend. … Oguchi Onyewu, eager to re-enter the center back conversation, is out at least two weeks with a calf injury.

Changes: None. But Kljestan’s stock rose after being stuck in reserve for an extended period, while Stuart Holden, Timothy Chandler and Jose Torres are on the brink of falling off the chart.

Eye on: German-American forward Julian Green, 18, from Bayern Munich, who will train informally with the U.S. squad ahead of the Ukraine friendly March 5.

Our latest 23 on course for Brazil (and how they fared over the weekend), plus the 17 seeking to unseat them:

GOALKEEPERS

  1. Tim Howard (Everton): in the 18, did not play in 3-1 FA Cup victory over Swansea City. Next: at Chelsea on Saturday.
  2. Brad Guzan (Aston Villa): no matches scheduled. Next: at Newcastle on Sunday.
  3. Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake): MLS preseason.

DEFENDERS

Center back

  1. Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City): MLS preseason.
  2. Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles Galaxy): MLS preseason.
  3. Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes): MLS preseason.

— Contenders —

Michael Orozco (Puebla): 90 in 1-0 loss at Cruz Azul. Next: San Luis in Copa MX on Tuesday, at Atlante on Sunday.

Tim Ream (Bolton): 90 in 1-1 draw at Millwall. Next: Watford on Saturday.

John Brooks (Hertha Berlin): in the 18, did not play in 2-1 loss to Wolfsburg. Next: at Stuttgart on Saturday.

Right back

  1. Geoff Cameron (Stoke City): no matches scheduled. Next: at Manchester City on Saturday.
  2. Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders): MLS preseason.
  3. Michael Parkhurst (Columbus Crew): MLS preseason.

— Contenders —

Steve Cherundolo (Hannover): not in the 18 for 2-0 loss at Mainz. Next: Bayern Munich on Sunday.

Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest): not in the 18 (injured) for 3-1 FA Cup loss at Sheffield United. Next: Leicester City on Wednesday, at Burnley on Saturday.

Timothy Chandler (Nurnberg): sidelined two months with knee injury.

Left back

  1. Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim): 90 in 4-1 victory over Stuttgart. Next: at Moenchengladbach on Saturday.
  2. DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla): last 45 in 1-0 loss to Cruz Azul. Next: San Luis in Copa MX on Tuesday, at Atlante on Sunday.

— Contenders —

Edgar Castillo (Tijuana): 90 in 3-2 loss at Santos Laguna. Next: Chiapas on Friday.

MIDFIELDERS

Defensive

  1. Michael Bradley (Toronto FC): MLS preseason.
  2. Jermaine Jones (Besiktas): not in the 18 (injured) for 1-0 victory over Bursaspor. Next: at Galatasaray on Saturday.
  3. Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake): MLS preseason.

— Contenders —

Daniel Williams (Reading): 90 (goal in 10th; video) in 3-1 victory at QPR. Next: Blackburn on Saturday.

Maurice Edu (Philadelphia Union): MLS preseason.

Right side

  1. Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City): MLS preseason.
  2. Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes): 90 in central midfield in 0-0 draw at Nice. Next: Rennes on Sunday.

— Contenders —

Joe Corona (Tijuana): 29 in 3-2 loss at Santos Laguna. Next: Chiapas on Friday.

Left side

  1. Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy): MLS preseason.
  2. Eddie Johnson (D.C. United): MLS preseason.

— Contenders —

Brek Shea (Stoke City, on loan to Barnsley): not in the 18 for 2-2 draw at Doncaster. Next: at Wigan on Tuesday, Millwall on Saturday.

Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo): MLS preseason.

Jose Torres (Tigres): 12 in 0-0 draw at Chiapas. Next: at Correcaminos on Copa MX on Wednesday, Veracruz on Saturday.

Central

  1. Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders, loan to Fulham): no matches scheduled. Next: at West Brom on Saturday.
  2. Mikkel Diskerud (Rosenborg): Norway preseason.

— Contenders —

Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht): 90 (goal in 37th, assist in 49th) in 2-0 victory over Mons. Next: at Lokeren on Friday.

Stuart Holden (Bolton): Late stages of rehabilitation for knee injury suffered last summer.

FORWARDS

  1. Jozy Altidore (Sunderland): not in the 18 for 1-0 FA Cup victory over Southampton. Next: at Arsenal on Saturday.
  2. Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar): 90 (goal in 21st) in 1-1 draw with Utrecht. Next: at Sloven Liberec in UEFA Europa League on Thursday, at Ajax on Sunday.
  3. Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna): 10 (goal in 90+; video) in 2-1 loss at Admira. Next: Groedig on Saturday.

— Contenders —

Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes): MLS preseason.

Herculez Gomez (Tijuana): 26 in 3-2 loss at Santos Laguna. Next: Chiapas on Friday.

Johannsson’s goal:

Aron Johannsson by goalsandmore