by Jeff Dieffenbach

According to coach Bruce Arena, on the heels of the Men’s National Team’s 4-2 dismantling by Germany, U.S. players have only two more chances to convince him of the merit of World Cup roster inclusion: against Mexico on April 3rd and then again versus Ireland on April 17th.

This edition of the Report Card looks at those who played in the Germany match and assesses their prospects.

Send the editors your thoughts on Dieffenbach's selections and who you would select for a 23-man squad after seeing the Germany match by emailing opinions@soccer365.com

Kasey Keller (goalkeeper), grade A: Only the fact of the loss itself, in which Keller was blameless, keeps this grade from being an “A+.” With a stellar first half, Keller appears to have finally broken the starting goalkeeper log jam. While fellow candidate Brad Friedel piles up the minutes for Blackburn Rovers in the English Premier League, Keller took advantage of his backup status for Tottenham Hotspur to put in the most impressive U.S. goalkeeping performance in recent memory. First half point blank stuffs coupled with an agile second half tip over the bar marked one of only two bright points—the other being Clint Mathis—for the Red, White, and Blue against a superior German squad. Verdict: The starting job is now Keller’s to lose. Only a dismal effort by Keller or an exceptional one by Friedel in the upcoming tune-up matches seems likely to reverse this conclusion.

Jeff Agoos (defender), grade B-: On an individual skill level, Agoos and the rest of the U.S. played reasonably well. Tackles and clearances were effectively unleashed, although heading suffered against the taller Germans. The consistently low marks on defense result instead from positional deficiencies. The U.S. repeatedly exposed itself to the German attack, surviving the first half only with the incredible play of Keller. In a seven minute second half span, however, their failures caught up with them to the tune of three goals against. Verdict: Despite the performance, Agoos gets to go to South Korea, and he gets to start.

Greg Berhalter (defender), grade B+: Berhalter, a 72nd minute substitute for Agoos, benefits primarily from timing—the German scoring machine had already lost its enthusiasm by the time that he came in. Nonetheless, he made the tackling and clearing plays that he needed to make. Verdict: Going to South Korea, perhaps starting.

Eddie Pope (defender), grade B-: Like Agoos, Pope gets poor marks for overall team defense, not for individual play. Verdict: Also World Cup bound, and likely to start.

David Regis (defender), grade B: The best of the starting defenders, Regis once again made his presence felt at both ends of the pitch. His long vertical ball up the left sideline to Jovan Kirovski led to the first U.S. goal. On defense, his lack of speed wasn’t such a liability against Germany as it would have been against a speedier team, and he was in position for key clearances. Verdict: Start making travel plans, with a possible starting spot in store.

Steve Cherundolo (defender), grade C: Cherundolo is a bubble player who hurt his chances considerably against Germany. More than any other defender, he was caught out of position time and time again, forcing the rest of the defense to chase and lose shape. Verdict: May have lost his starting spot to the stronger and more experienced Tony Sanneh and his roster spot to the speedier Frankie Hejduk or the sturdier Richard Mulrooney.

Tony Sanneh (defender), grade B+: A 72nd minute substitute for Cherundolo, Sanneh’s timing, like Berhalter’s was good. He played mistake-free defense against a satiated German attack. Verdict: South Korea and a starting spot at right back.

Chris Armas (midfielder), grade B-: After several great outings, Armas slipped several  notches. Poor positional play coupled with a lack of height to challenge on head balls made his evening a long one. Verdict: Mark this down as a learning experience—even a broken leg won’t keep Armas from starting in South Korea.

Landon Donovan (midfielder), grade B+: Creative passes, hustle, and a blown scoring chance marked Donovan’s night. More of a scoring threat than Claudio Reyna, he nonetheless isn’t ready to carry the team against top opposition from the central midfield spot. Verdict: Definitely bound for the World Cup, with perhaps a starting spot at right midfield in Arena’s expected 4-4-2.

Earnie Stewart (midfielder), grade B: Good hustle, no mistakes, but not much in the way of results—this game’s invisible man. Verdict: South Korea and a starting nod at left midfield.

Eddie Lewis (midfielder), grade B: Solid defense but not much else marked Lewis’ game against Germany. Verdict: A World Cup sub.

Cobi Jones (midfielder), grade B: Jones, a 69th minute replacement for Lewis, did not make much of his time on the field, either positively or negatively. Verdict: South Korea yes, will challenge Donovan and John O’Brien for the right midfield starting spot.

Clint Mathis (forward), grade A: A first half missed chance from close range but under pressure is all that separates Mathis from a grade of “A+.” He opened the scoring in the first half, receiving a nice but easy pass from Kirovski, taking a few steps through the penalty area, unleashing a laser beam that caught the far post solid, finally pouncing on the rebound and slotting it home from a tight angle into the empty net. He closed the scoring in the second half with a perfectly placed square ball from Joe-Max Moore that left him alone on the keeper. He calmly blasted it low past second half goalkeeper Jorg Butt’s right leg to complete his brace. Verdict: Mathis has now earned lock status for a starting spot up front with Brian McBride.

Jovan Kirovsky (forward), grade B+: The “+” in “B+” is the result of Kirovsky’s well played but nonetheless easy assist on the first Mathis goal. Otherwise, another candidate for the invisible man award. Verdict: Crystal Palace in June, not South Korea.

Joe-Max Moore (forward), grade B+: A 59th minute substitute for Kirovsky, he gets similar marks for his assist on the second Mathis goal. Verdict: On the downswing of an excellent career, he goes to South Korea but doesn’t start.

Without further ado, the roster and the starting lineup.

GOALKEEPERS (3): Keller to start, narrowly over Friedel, with Zach Thornton in reserve by virtue of his relative presence and maturity.

DEFENDERS (7): Agoos (LB), Berhalter (CB), Pope (CB), and Sanneh (RB) to start. Regis a close call at left back in competition with Agoos—Regis might push Agoos into center at Berhalter’s expense, with Mastroeni and Mulrooney as backups for the seven roster spots likely to supply the expected 4-4-2 formation.

MIDFIELDERS (8): Armas (DM), John O’Brien (RM), Claudio Reyna (AM), and Earnie Stewart (LM) to start. DaMarcus Beasley, Donovan, Jones, and Lewis off the bench.

FORWARDS (5): McBride and Mathis to start. Joe-Max Moore, Ante Razov, and Josh Wolff in support.

Changes since last report card (Ecuador): In goal, Keller gets the starting nod, with Thornton displacing Tim Howard based on early MLS play. On defense, Sanneh starts, pushing Regis to the bench, with Mulrooney displacing Cherundolo as a right back reserve. The midfield and forward positions remain set.

Outside looking in: Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Cherundolo, Jeff Cunningham, Frankie Hejduk, Tim Howard, Jovan Kirovski, Carlos Llamosa, Brian Maisonneuve, Ben Olsen, Brian West, and Richie Williams.

Next stop: Mexico in Denver April 3.