United States World Cup roster prediction; all the cool kids are doing it

I wrote a piece for SI.com on who is most likely to pop up on the list late this weekend or early next week when the U.S. manager reveals his list of camp invitees, the “preliminary roster,” from which the final 23 will be plucked. Check it out for own self.

Now I’ll go the final mile along

Goalkeepers (3): Tim Howard, Marcus Hahnemann, Brad Guzan.

Explainer: Is there really an explanation necessary at this position? Howard is The Man. Hahnemann is a capable backup and Guzan won’t cause waves as the distant No. 3. (That’s always the key for a No. 3; you need a good and loyal team-oriented soldier.)

Defenders (7): Oguchi Onyewu, Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Cherundolo, Jay DeMerit, Jonathan Spector, Jonathan Bornstein, Clarence Goodson.

Explainer: Onyewu’s tenuous status makes it tempting to take eight instead of just seven. But Spector’s versatility (comfortable on the right or left) means seven should work out. If there’s an eighth, it will probably Heath Pearce. His speed is a cause for concern, but he’s the best choice beyond the seven listed. Plus, Bradley did invest a lot of time in the guy during the past three-plus years.

Midfielders and strikers after the jump ...

Midfielders (9): Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Benny Feilhaber, Ricardo Clark, Maurice Edu, Jose Francisco Torres, Stuart Holden, Sacha Kljestan.

Explainer: Kljestan’s versatility and recent form puts him on my list. I know a lot of you don’t watch Chivas USAmatches, but I do. And he’s got that 2008 swagger back. Holden is the closest thing this group has to a true winger, and a roster needs some variety. (Sorry, Robbie Rogers, you just never showed enough during ample opportunities.) Nine might sound like a lot, but consider that Donovan, Dempsey and Kljestan could all play as a forward – and at least almost certainly will.

Forwards (4): Jozy Altidore, Edson Buddle, Eddie Johnson, Brian McBride.

Explainer: Notice the surprise there? McBride would not be a candidate to start. Rather, he would be a late option for desperate times; he was impressive earlier this year for Chicago when asked to man a similar role. Yes, he has retired internationally. But this is Brian McBride we’re talking about. There is no way he’d turn down his country in time of need. And looking at the shrunken form of the other candidates (Conor Casey, Jeff Cunningham and Robbie Findley) this damn sure qualifies as a “time of need.” Finally … I just don’t see Charlie Davies being at a point where he can reasonably be expected to contribute. The man is 23. He’ll get another chance to make his World Cup mark.