Dozen players in line for Klinsmann call-ups

With the notable exception of its two goalkeepers, with on the bench, key U.S. national team players are enjoying some of their best form in recent years in Europe.The USA's two March World Cup 2018 qualifiers against Guatemala are still more than three weeks away, but as many as a dozen players look to be in line to be called for the two games. They include Bobby Wood, who scored his 10th goal of the season for Union Berlin, and Fabian Johnson, whose sixth goal of the season matches his total over the last five seasons.

Wood is closing in on the American record for goals in a season in German's second division. His 10 goals are two shy of Eric Wynalda's record set with Saarbruecken in 1993-94. David Wagner scored 11 goals with Darmstadt in 1992-93.


Wood's 10th goal came on a deflected shot after he stole the ball at the top of the penalty area. It was the winner for Union Berlin in a 2-1 victory over Karlsruher. He has scored in all three games he's played since the winter break for Union Berlin, who has climbed into a tie for ninth place.
Johnson continues to excel in midfield for Borussia Moenchengladbach for which he scored on a shot from inside the penalty area to earn it a 2-2 at Augsburg. Gladbach is tied for fourth in the Bundesliga as it bids to qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the second year in a row.
With MLS players just beginning their season, U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann will be counting on as many Americans playing abroad as possible for the matches against Guatemala on March 25 and March 29.

Neither Brad Guzan (Aston Villa) nor Tim Howard (Everton) is starting, but Klinsmann says he pick from them for the games against Guatemala. An option as the No. 3 keeper is Mexican-based William Yarbrough (Leon, third in Liga MX).

Geoff Cameron returned to the starting lineup at Stoke City for the first time in six weeks. Other options at center back are John Brooks (who plays for Hertha Berlin, third in the Bundesliga) and Omar Gonzalez, who is in his first season at Pachuca (second in Liga MX's Torneo Clausura).

Until Cameron's return, DeAndre Yedlin (Sunderland) was the only American starting in the English Premier League. Alejandro Bedoya has been instrumental in French club Nantes' unbeaten run of 16 games. Left back Jorge Villafana has never for the national team, but his play in helping the Portland Timbers win MLS Cup 2015 and at Mexican club Santos since his transfer make him a likely pick to earn his call-up.

Tim Ream, who started the two November 2015 qualifiers, has only played in three of struggling Fulham's 10 English League Championship games since the start of the year.

U.S. Abroad, Weekend:
England, Premier League
Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), 90 minutes, 2-1 vs. Aston Villa
Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), on bench, 1-2 at Stoke City
Tim Howard (Everton), no match
Matt Miazga (Chelsea), did not dress, 2-1 at Southampton
DeAndre Yedlin (Sunderland), 90 minutes, 0-1 vs. West Ham United

England, League Championship
Cody Cropper (MK Dons), 90 minutes, 2-3 at Blackburn Rovers
Emerson Hyndman (Fulham), on bench, 0-2 vs. Middlesbrough
Eric Lichaj(Nott. Forest), 90 minutes, 1-2 vs. Bristol City
Tim Ream (Fulham), did not dress, 0-2 vs. Middlesbrough
Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City), on bench, 0-2 at Queens Park Rangers
Danny Williams (Reading), sub-26 minutes, 4-3 at Charlton

France, Ligue 1
Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), 90 minutes, 0-0 vs. Monaco

Germany, Bundesliga
John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), 90 minutes, 1-0 at FC Cologne
Timmy Chandler (Ein. Frankfurt), did not dress, 0-0 vs. Schalke 04
Aron Johannsson (Werder Bremen), did not dress, 2-2 vs. Darmstadt
Fabian Johnson (Bor. Moenchengladbach), 90 minutes, 1 goal, 2-2 at Augsburg
Alfredo Morales (FC Ingolstadt), did not dress, 1-1 at Hamburg
Christian Pulisic (Bor. Dortmund), did nor dress, 3-1 vs. Hoffenheim

Germany, 2. Bundesliga
Shawn Barry(FSV Frankfurt), 90 minutes, 0-0 at Eintracht Braunschweig
Terrence Boyd (RB Leipzig), did not dress, 1-0 at Paderborn
Caleb Stanko (Freiburg), did not dress, 2-0 vs. Kaiserslautern
Bobby Wood (Union Berlin), 80 minutes, 1 goal, 2-1 vs. Karlsruher
Andre Wooten (Sandhausen), did not dress, 2-3 at VfL Bochum

Israel, Ligat ha’Al
Aaron Schoenfeld(Hapoel Tel Aviv) vs. Hapoel Acre on Monday

Mexico, Liga MX
Ventura Alvarado (Club America), on bench, 1-4 at Tigres
Paul Arriola(Tijuana), sub-23 minutes, 1-1 at Guadalajara
Jonathan Bornstein (Queretaro), on bench, 1-1 at Morelia
Edgar Castillo (Monterrey), 45 minutes, 0-4 at Monterrey
Joe Corona (Dorados), did not dress, 2-1 vs. Atlas
Greg Garza (Tijuana), did not dress, 1-1 at Guadalajara
Luis Gil(Queretaro), 90 minutes, 1-1 at Morelia
Omar Gonzalez(Pachuca), 90 minutes, 1-0 at Toluca
Sonny Guadarrama (Dorados), did not dress, 2-1 vs. Atlas
Austin Guerrero (Puebla), did not dress, 1-1 at Santos
Alejandro Guido (Tijuana), did not dress, 1-1 at Guadalajara
Miguel Ibarra (Leon), did not dress, 1-3 at Chiapas
Michael Orozco (Tijuana), did not dress, 1-1 at Guadalajara
Sebastian Saucedo (Veracruz), on bench, 0-0 vs. UNAM
Luis Silva (Tigres), did not dress, 4-1 vs. Club America
Jose Torres (Tigres), on bench, 4-1 vs. Club America
Jorge Villafana (Santos), on bench, 1-1 vs. Puebla
William Yarbrough (Leon), 90 minutes, 1-3 at Chiapas

Netherlands, Eredivisie
Rubio Rubin (FC Utrecht), did not dress, 1-2 at Feyenoord
Desevio Payne (Groningen), sub-36 minutes, 0-2 at FC Twente

Portugal, Segunda Liga
Erik Palmer-Brown (Porto B), on bench, 0-2 at Varzim

Scotland, Championship
Gedion Zelalem (Rangers), did not dress, 1-0 vs. St. Mirren