Three guys with a lot riding on the USA-Bosnia Friendly

Friendlies don't matter, but the Bosnia-USA Match-up sure as hell matters to these three guys.

There isn't much at stake between the two sides besides fitness ahead of the fall World Cup qualifiers, but several players have a chance to make strides toward meaningful contribution on the USMNT.  Many of the players that have gotten the call will have a chance to get more looks on the team, but I believe these players in particular are at a crossroads in their international careers.  This friendly will inform what will happen with these players for the next year, and will matter a whole lot to these guys.

Aron Johannsson

At only 22, Johannsson is a total unknown on the US stage.  He has simultaneously announced his allegiance to American Soccer (forsaking his Icelandic heritage), and succeeded Jozy Altidore as the lead striker at Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.  On top of that, he's pretty damned talented.  More than likely this will simply be his first chance to make an impression on the national stage, and put his name into the ring for the 2018 cycle and beyond.  However...

It's not impossible that Johannsson could slide his way past the likes of Hercules Gomez and Chris Wondolowski on the team pecking order.  A strong showing during the friendly could lead to a chance during the fall qualifiers, and from that point it's up to him.  I think it's still a long shot, but don't count out the possibility of Aron Johannsson being on the plane to Brazil in 2014.

John Anthony Brooks

Brooks, who has been on the radar for quite a while as a contributer at the youth level, is reminiscent of a young, more athletic Oguchi Onyewu.  With Gooch's recent struggles with injuries and inability to get back into the National team picture it might seem like faint praise, but don't let recent history fool you.  Leading up do and during the 2006 World Cup, Onyewu was easily our best defender and one of the strongest center backs in US history.  He was nothing short of dominant in the air, and an imposing physical presence that made opposing forwards look over their shoulders before trying anything too daring.  Age and health have made for a sudden and precipitous decline, but in his prime Onyewu was a total beast.

Brooks possesses a similar 6'4" frame, but is more adept on the ball than Onyewu was even in his prime.  He will need time to come into his own, considering he is only 20 years old, but this is his first chance to start competing more looks on the senior level.  If Brooks managed to solidify a starting position for Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga, it isn't impossible that he could be considered for the 2014 cup as well.  We all know that Klinsmann is very encouraging of players that can make their way in the best leagues, and Brooks just might have a chance to have a breakout season.

Brad Evans

When Brad Evans was first called up or the USMNT, I remember thinking "well it's nice that another high quality MLS player is going to get his chance to make an impression".  But when it came out that he would be getting a shot at right back (as a starter no less), I had no idea what Klinsmann was playing at.  He had been in and out of US camps since 2009, but had always come on as a midfield substitute and been somewhat vanilla.  But Klinsmann has been desperately searching for fullbacks that can pose a threat going forward while remaining competent defensively, so it makes some sense that he'd be willing to try an intelligent midfield player at a somewhat unnatural position.

From my point of view, the experiment was a huge success.  It transformed Evans' national team prospects in 90 minutes of play, and suddenly he is a viable candidate to be on the 2014 roster.  There is even a chance that he could wind up being the starter, if he continues to display the same amount of defensive reliability that he displayed against Germany and Jamaica.  This Bosnia matchup is not necessarily the be all end all for Evans' prospects, but he is at crossroads in his career.  He can either seize the chance and be a contributer for this WC cycle and possibly the next, or he can be overtaken by more seasoned fullbacks and fade into USMNT oblivion.  I can't wait to find out where the next year takes him.

None of this really matters... except that it absolutely does.

Every time the National team takes part in a friendly, I need to remind myself not to put too much stock in the outcome.  And that is absolutely true, the result of the game really doesn't matter.  But individual performances will definitely effect Klinsmann's opinion of the players at his disposal, and these three in particular have a chance to shape their futures.  I can easily see all three of these players being on the plane to Brazil, but I can see all of them sitting at home wondering what their future on the team holds.

Which one of these players do you think has the best chance to make a difference in 2014?  Comment and let me know what you think!