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SANDY — When Real Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman was a child, he would sign every letter to his parents with the same signature: “Kyle Beckerman, USA, #15.”
The number isn’t the same; he's traditionally donned No. 14 for the USA. But the Maryland native is on the verge of fulfilling a lifetime dream.
Beckerman’s name was called Monday as one of 30 U.S. players to head coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s preliminary national team roster that will meet in Palo Alto, California, in preparation for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. FIFA mandates a 23-man roster by June 2, when the team will travel to Brazil.
“This is something I’ve been working for three years,” Beckerman said. “The dream started when I was 8 years old, when I found out about the World Cup. But to be with the national team for three years, this is what it all comes down to.
“If I have to go to battle for a couple of weeks to get on this team, I’m willing to do whatever I’ve got to do.”
Beckerman will be joined on the roster by RSL teammate Nick Rimando, one of three goalkeepers named to the camp. U.S. stars Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley and Tim Howard were also among the rotation named Monday.
While the RSL captain regrets leaving his club for a lengthy stretch of the MLS season, the opportunity to play with his longtime friend and goalkeeper is an honor, he said.
“We’ve been talking about it for a while,” Beckerman said of going to Brazil with Rimando. “When we got going to the Gold Cup, we started really talking about it. To be able to go with him, it would be an unreal experience. We’ve been able to go on this ride for a while now, and to be able to say we went to the World Cup together is unreal.”
Along with Beckerman and Rimando, leading scorer Alvaro Saborio was named to Costa Rica’s roster on the road to Brazil. The loss of a trio that represents the spine of RSL’s team won’t go unnoticed — but head coach Jeff Cassar is confident the other players will make do in their absence.
“They’ve been great ambassadors for our club, on and off the field and in the community,” Cassar said. “Everyone here in the club is really happy for them.
“When they leave, it’s just an opportunity for somebody to step in and take a new role in the team. I’m looking forward to it. I’m also looking forward to watching them play with the national team during the World Cup, and guys stepping in and filling the void.”
Cole Grossman is expected to step into Beckerman’s holding midfield role during the captain’s absence, and forwards Devon Sandoval and Olmes Garcia will likely see more time for Saborio. Jeff Attinella will fill Rimando’s place in goal, with reserve goalkeeper Lalo Fernandez set to back him up.
The U.S. team will report to Stanford University on May 14 for the start of training. The U.S. Soccer Federation will host a send-off series of friendlies in San Francisco, New York and Jacksonville against Azerbaijan, Turkey and Nigeria, respectively.
Below is the entire 30-man preliminary roster, by position, courtesy of U.S. Soccer:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (11): DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (L.A. Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Michael Parkhurst (Columbus Crew), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)
MIDFIELDERS (10): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Maurice Edu (Philadelphia Union), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (6): Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Landon Donovan (L.A. Galaxy), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
Sean Walker is a local news writer at KSL.com and Real Salt Lake beat reporter. Follow him on Twitter @ReporterSean.
