The United States heads into the final set of World Cup qualifiers with a ticket to Brazil already in hand. Although the team's performance in the first eight matches of the hex was enough to earn a berth, the last two fixtures are not throwaway matches.
Juergen Klinsmann still has plenty of roster decisions to make between now and next summer. Matches like the one against Jamaica are a chance to evaluate where players stand right now and which ones deserve more looks moving forward.
Whether it's players hoping to lock down a spot in the starting lineup or those fighting to secure a spot on the World Cup roster, there's no shortage of motivation on the American side. Knowing that, let's examine three players to monitor against Jamaica.
Tim Howard
For most of the last couple World Cup cycles Howard has been the United States' No. 1 goalkeeper almost by default. He's put together a solid string of seasons with Everton in the Premier League, and nobody else stepped up to challenge him for the spot.
That's no longer the case. Brad Guzan is building a strong case that he should take over between the pipes. He's showcased often tremendous form with Aston Villa since the new campaign began and should get some looks with the American squad.
Make no mistake, Howard is still the incumbent and should remain the No. 1 keeper unless Guzan clearly does enough to push him out of the spot. That said, the longtime Toffees star is being seriously challenged for the first time in awhile.
