by Jeff Dieffenbach

With U.S. Men’s National Team coach Bruce Arena set to announce his 23-man World Cup Roster on ESPN Sportscenter at 6pm Monday, April 22, this past Wednesday’s match against Ireland afforded many player candidates a last chance to impress.

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

Brad Friedel (goalkeeper), grade A-: Playing the first half before giving way to Kasey Keller in the second, Friedel did all that could be expected, failing only to get lucky on a perfect close range strike from Mark Kinsella in the 7th minute. Verdict: Certainly World Cup bound, Friedel has three remaining tune-up matches (Uruguay 5/12, Jamaica 5/16, Netherlands 5/19) to make his case for the starting spot.

Kasey Keller (goalkeeper), grade A-: A 46th minute entry, Keller’s effort was a near mirror of that of Friedel. He too did all that Arena might have asked, the only mark on his sheet being an unstoppable point blank header from Tottenham Hotspurs teammate Gary Doherty. Verdict: Also headed for South Korea, this observer has Keller holding the slightest of leads over Friedel based on an accumulation of play in the tune-up matches. It’s a shame that one of these two excellent keepers is likely to ride the bench throughout the World Cup.

Gregg Berhalter (defender), grade B+: Berhalter made a strong case for inclusion before leaving in the 46th minute for Greg Vanney. His only serious strike against was allowing Kinsella to get a foot on the Steve Finnan cross to net Ireland’s first tally. Berhalter’s marking on that play was tight, but not tight enough. Otherwise, he was everywhere he needed to be in central defense, repeatedly making strong tackles and clearances. Verdict: Going to South Korea, probably on the bench behind Eddie Pope and Jeff Agoos.

Greg Vanney (defender), grade B: Coming on for Berhalter in the 46th minute, Vanney went to left back, pushing Jeff Agoos to the center. Vanney, a former Los Angeles Galaxy mainstay in MLS and now playing in France’s first division, made his first National Team case for World Cup inclusion. Vanney tackled better than he dribbled in a solid but not spectacular showing. Verdict: Too little, too late.

Eddie Pope (defender), grade A: In a match that saw five second half U.S. substitutions, Pope went the distance playing flawless central defense. As a bonus, he scored the first goal by a visitor to Lansdowne Road since August of last year. Verdict: World Cup bound, and likely to start.

Jeff Agoos (defender), grade B: With David Regis out with an injury, Agoos started at left back before moving to central defense in the second half. His relative lack of speed showed itself on Ireland’s first half goal, as he was without help from either central defense or left midfield and unable to keep up with the overlapping Finnan. Agoos played an otherwise strong match, particularly in his more comfortable spot in the middle in the second half. Verdict: Agoos goes to South Korea and starts in the middle.

Tony Sanneh (defender), grade B: Sanneh played eighty-nine minutes of excellent soccer  at right defense. Unfortunately, his one bad minute was the 83rd, as Doherty snuck in behind on a perfectly placed Steve Saunton free kick to nod one past a helpless Keller. Verdict: South Korea and a starting spot at right back.

Chris Armas (midfielder), grade B: Armas played mistake-free ball, but didn’t really leave his mark on the game. For the U.S. to do well in South Korea, Armas can’t disappear but rather needs to be a Man of the Match candidate in every contest. Verdict: A lock to start in the World Cup as the defensive midfielder.

Claudio Reyna (midfielder), grade B: Like Armas, Reyna had few failings but was unable to place his stamp on the match. Perhaps more than any other position on the field, Reyna’s attacking midfield is one that can look unimpressive yet be the glue that makes everything else work. Certainly, when Reyna isn’t on the pitch, the U.S fails to click against a strong opponent. Verdict: Also a lock as a starter in South Korea.

Frankie Hejduk (midfielder), grade C: The versatile Hejduk came on in the 72nd minute for Reyna but failed to contribute at all from right midfield. Normally used as a wing defender, his speed can potentially be an asset, but wasn’t in this match. Verdict: A bubble player fighting with Steve Cherundolo, Richard Mulrooney, and Vanney, he’ll be on the outside looking in.

Earnie Stewart (midfielder), grade B-: Good hustle, no mistakes, but not much in the way of results, just like the Germany match. Stewart, who left in the 46th minute for Landon Donovan, needs to pick up the pace in the three remaining tune-up matches if he wants to keep his starting spot. Verdict: South Korea and a tentative starting nod at right midfield.

Landon Donovan (midfielder), grade B: Coming on in the 46th minute for Stewart and eventually moving to the attacking midfield position with Reyna’s 72nd minute departure, Donovan displayed a few bursts of creativity but failed to deliver the full spark that the U.S. needed. Verdict: Definitely bound for the World Cup, with perhaps a starting spot at right midfield in Arena’s expected 4-4-2.

John O’Brien (midfield), grade B: O’Brien was nowhere to be found on Finnan’s overlapping run that led to the first Irish goal. He made up for himself on the 34th minute corner kick that found Pope’s head and then the back of the net. Exiting in the 46th minute for Eddie Lewis, his play was solid but not exceptional. Verdict: South Korea and starting at left midfield.

Eddie Lewis (midfielder), grade B+: A 46th minute substitute for O’Brien, Lewis played well on the dribble and crossed the ball effectively, including an 87th minute effort that Josh Wolff nearly buried but for a nice parry by Shay Given. Verdict: A World Cup sub.

Clint Mathis (forward), grade B+: Until the Ireland match, Mathis had been on fire, notching points in what seems like every U.S. match since the 1930 World Cup. He almost kept his string alive with a 40 yard blast that Shay only barely tipped over the bar. Verdict: Mathis keeps his lock status for a starting spot up front with Brian McBride.

Josh Wolff (forward), grade B+: Wolff, a 64th minute replacement for Mathis, almost knotted the score late in the second half off of a Lewis cross. Otherwise, his speed only promised to threaten a well-organized Irish defense. Verdict: South Korea as a second half offensive spark.

Brian McBride (forward), grade B+: McBride’s biggest contribution was drawing defenders on Pope’s goal. Otherwise, a solid effort but one that did not boost the offense to the level needed to beat a quality side like Ireland. Verdict: Like Mathis, a sure-fire bet to start in the World Cup.

Joe-Max Moore (forward), grade B-: A 45th minute substitute for McBride, he showed hustle but not results in an ineffective effort. Verdict: On the downswing of an excellent career, he goes to South Korea but doesn’t start.

The Uruguay, Jamaica, and Netherlands matches will sort out which of the following 23 get the starting nods in the World Cup.

GOALKEEPERS (3): Keller to start, narrowly over Friedel, with Tony Meola in reserve by virtue of his experience and maturity.

DEFENDERS (7): Agoos (CB), Pope (CB), Regis (LB), and Sanneh (RB) to start. Berhalter just misses in the center, joined by wing back substitutes Mulrooney and Vanney for the seven roster spots likely to supply the expected 4-4-2 formation.

MIDFIELDERS (8): Armas (DM), Reyna (AM), O’Brien (LM), and Stewart (LM) to start. DaMarcus Beasley, Donovan, Cobi 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 (Germany): In goal, Meola displaces Zach Thornton for the third spot in a nod to his past contributions and continued strong play. Vanney edges Mastroeni on defense. 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, Pablo Mastroeni, Ben Olsen, Brian West, Richie Williams, and Zach Thornton.

Next up: a report card on the report card, or how this observer did in projecting Arena’s line-up.