New York: In a sign that Jurgen Klinsmann is unsettled on his defense a month before the World Cup, the U.S. coach selected the mostly untested trio of John Brooks, Timmy Chandler and DeAndre Yedlin on Monday for his 30-man preliminary squad for Brazil 2014.
Chandler, a speedy right back with Nuremberg in Germany, made his U.S. debut in 2011 and balked at playing in 2012 qualifiers. He has not played for the U.S. since February 2013, when he made his first competitive appearance at Honduras in the opening match of the final round of qualifying.
"I think he's a player who can make a difference if he's on his highest level," Klinsmann said.
Yedlin, a 20-year-old right back, has made just two international appearances, as a late second-half substitute in friendlies against South Korea and Mexico. Brooks, a 21-year-old central defender, made his international debut in August and has just three appearances -- all in international friendlies.
Klinsmann also selected 18-year-old winger Julian Green, who broke into the national squad last month.
"We have two huge talents," Klinsmann said of Green and Yedlin. "It will be interesting to see now how they take that challenge because, obviously, they don't have the experience like other players have."
Klinsmann omitted several veterans, including Eddie Johnson and Sacha Kljestan. He selected 11 defenders, 10 midfielders and six forwards for a two-week training camp in California, where he will decide on his final 23.
"There is going to be a lot of competition. That's why Jurgen is bringing in 30 rather than cutting it down to 23 right away," said defender Michael Parkhurst, who joined the Columbus Crew this season after an unsuccessful stint in Germany. "I don't know going into camp right now if I'm fighting for left back or right back."
The 30-year-old Johnson, who was on the 2006 World Cup squad but didn't make the cut for 2010, scored five goals in qualifying for the 2014 tournament.
"It was a very difficult decision based on what he's done with me the whole time, and not now having that chance at the last moment then is a very tough one on him," Klinsmann said.
As the Americans prepare for their seventh straight World Cup appearance, another interesting competition could come at forward. While Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore appear to be likely starters, Klinsmann said he views Landon Donovan as a striker, and the group going to camp includes Boyd, Aron Johannsson and Chris Wondolowski.
The Americans play warmup matches against Azerbaijan on May 27 at San Francisco; Turkey on June 1 at Harrison, New Jersey; and Nigeria on June 7 at Jacksonville, Florida. They travel the following day to their base camp in Sao Paulo.
At the World Cup, they open against Ghana on June 16, face Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal six days later in the Amazon rain forest city of Manaus and close the group stage against Germany on June 26.
Preliminary Squad:
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Salt Lake)
Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke), Timmy Chandler (Nuremberg), Brad Evans (Seattle), Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles), Clarence Goodson (San Jose), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Michael Parkhurst (Columbus), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle)
Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto), Joe Corona (Tijuana), Brad Davis (Houston), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Maurice Edu (Philadelphia), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Graham Zusi (Kansas City)
Fowards: Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Clint Dempsey (Seattle), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose).
