Final Push for WC 2014

Hi! We’re the Red, White and Blues Brothers and this is our color-coded U.S. Soccer blog. Chip writes in red and Danny writes in blue. We cheer for the U.S. and you better too! 

Up Next:
Friday, October 11. USA vs. JAMAICA, Sporting Park, Kansas City, Kansas 
6:30pm EST, 5:30 pm CST, 4:30pm MST, 3:30pm PST
Watch on: ESPN, WatchESPN, UniMas
Follow on Match Tracker at ussoccer.com
and via Twitter @ussoccer 

Last month the U.S. qualified for World Cup 2014 but we're back at it again... Two upcoming games with two very desperate sides are upon us and then qualifying will be over except for a few inter-continental playoff games to determine the final World Cup slots. Thankfully we don't have to worry about that. In this upcoming game with Jamaica we can't let our guard down... they are in last place but they beat us last year in qualifying. And earlier this year they battled back to tie the U.S. late in the game but an extra-time heroic goal by Brad Evans gave the US a very exciting 3 points. What do you think, Chip?

Well, it is getting down to the nitty gritty of preparing for the final push to win the World Cup. (Coach) Jurgen (Klinsmann) sure has the right attitude, that we need to continue to build on what we have established. And everything we do NOW sets the tone for WC 2014!

Jurgen called in 20 players to camp, but Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey and Omar Gonzalez are all injured so there are some gaping holes in the roster.

Without Michael Bradley, Jurgen says it will give a chance for players like Mix (Diskerud)  and Aron (Johannsson)  to step in and show what they can do. Mix showed some gumption against Mexico, so I am hoping he gets to play more to see if he can really play well for a longer period of time, or if he's just a bit player. So, you're saying Jurgen should throw him in the MIX? Either way, we still NEED Bradley if we hope to win the WC!

Without Clint Dempsey, it leaves Jozy (Altidore) up front with?? Jurgen mentions Eddie Johnson as the other forward. I would personally like to see Landon (Donovan) up with Jozy. And I really wish he would have called on Chris Wondolowski to come in and show what more he can do! He is a pure goal scorer I feel, and could really help if Jozy gets tired and we need a goal to win. Yeah, it would have been fun to see Wondolowski in there, but Terrence Boyd and Johannsson are both hot for their club teams now, so we're stacked up front. He can put any of them up there.

Also without Clint, it opens up a captain's spot. Will it be Landon? Will it be DaMarcus (Beasley)? I really don't know how he can't give it to Landon. He has been captain before and has the coolest head on the team in my opinion. I was thinking Tim Howard, but if you want a cool head, yeah maybe not.

I'm going to go out on a limb and predict the starting lineup...
GK: Howard
Defense: Evans, Besler, Cameron, Beasley
Midfield: Beckerman, Jones, Donovan, Zusi
Forwards: Altidore, Johnson

and the three subs will be Diskerud for Zusi, Johannsson for Johnson and Bedoya for Beckerman and I'll say Donovan will have the captain's armband.

The most interesting matchup... At midfield we have Jermaine Jones and they have Jermaine Johnson There could actually be 2 Johnsons and a Johannsson on the field at the same time and 4 Jemaines: Jones (US) Johnson, Anderson and Taylor (Jamaica)

OK, let's go out and support the Red White and Blue on Friday. Come on KC, show us what you got from your fan base! Lets not get complacent! I was very impressed with KC's Supporter section in last year's World Cup Qualifier so I know they will not disappoint! They also have to prove to Columbus that they can be even louder! Let's Go U.S.!