Preview: El Salvador Friendly

The United States will play El Salvador tonight at 7:00pm in Tampa. It's a big game for preparation for the World Cup in that it will be domestic based players' last time to impress Bob Bradley in hope to make the World Cup roster for SA. Their is maybe only one player who has a spot locked down, Jonathan Bornstein.

The Roster:
Goalkeepers: Troy Perkins (D.C. United) and Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
Defenders: Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA); Clarence Goodson (IK Start, Norway); Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew); Heath Pearce (FC Dallas) and Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)

Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake); Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo); Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo); Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders); Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew); Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA); Dax McCarty (FC Dallas); Chris Pontius (D.C. United) and Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)

Attackers: Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids); Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo); Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas) and Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake)

What to Watch for: Strikers
Bob Bradley and his coaching staff will probably take two of these four to join Altidore and Davies in SA. If the World Cup was today, I would think Casey and Ching would probably make the roster, but I want to see want Robbie Findley can do. Ching and Casey have virtually the same game as target men up top, but Findley brings a change of pace striker, kind of like Davies. Findley has been improving in the MLS and we don't really know what he can bring to the international game, but he will bring his blistering pace. Also, Ching is 31 and his tank has be dwindling, Findley is 24 and relatively new to the USMNT. Jeff Cunningham is a dark horse, he has always played well in the MLS, but has failed to impress on the international stage. He has terrific pace and is a quality finisher, but does not work well in combination with other strikers.

What to watch for: Midfielders
This part of the roster appears to be rather weak in that maybe only three players could make the roster, those three are Sacha Kljiestan, Eddie Gaven, and Kyle Beckerman. I see maybe one or two of this three make the actual roster as the US has too much quality in the midfield for these players to make the roster. Sacha Kljestan an attacking midfielder would probably be the first man to make the squad of this three, as he has the versatility to play wide and central midfield.  Watch to see if Sacha is creating as the squad will direly need in the midfield.  Look for Robbie Rogers for the next WC as he has great pace and is adept at putting balls into the box. This is the weakest part of the roster because most the US's midfielders play in Europe and we will see them later in friendlies against Turkey and Holland.

What to Watch for: Defense and Keepers
With Onyewu's recovery going to plan he has his spot back and there are probably two spots available in the WC squad. This game will be a try-out for Wynne, Bornstein, and Marshall. look for Bornstein to start and hopefully help out with the attack and the midfield will lack creativity and Bornstein could really help by making some runs up from his wide back position. Bornstein has a chance to steal a starting spot, as Spector has looked over-matched in the Premier League with West Ham United. Marshall, a center back plays for the Columbus Crew and has played well in the MLS, the question iscan he take his form to the international stage? I think he will, he played well in the last Gold Cup. Marvel Wynne has pace and power as a wide back, but he plays the same position as Bornstein so he will have to beat out Bornstein to get on the WC roster. Look for the wide backs Bornstein and Wynne to use the attacking prowess and help out a midfield that lacks quality. As for the goalies don't expect either Perkins or Rimando to either make the squad barring injuries to three of these four Howard, Friedal, Guzan, and Hahnemann.

The Game: I see the US coming out in 4-2-2-2,

DF(left to right)- Bornstein, Marshall, Goodson, Wynne
CDM- Beckerman, Gaven
AM-Kljiestan, Rogers
ST- Casey, Findley

Overview- Look for what the strikers do, these are guys fighting for a spot on the WC and have to show Bradley something. I see Findley starting over Ching, as Ching and Casey have too similar skill sets, but Bradley could very well give the nod to the Hawaiian, and choose to bring Findley off the bench in the second half to unleash his pace on what could be a tired back line for El Salvador. Also, look for Heath Pearce to come in during the second half if either wide back is struggling to get forward in the attack I predict a 2-1 game, advantage to the USA with goals by Kljiestan and Casey.