With 30 days left (yes, I have been counting) the world has been eagerly anticipating the start of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Host Brazil will play Croatia June 12, to kick off the tournament’s group play stage.

But what many people in the United States are wondering, just who are we taking down to Brazil to represent our country?

On Monday, head coach Jurgen Klinsmann named the 30-man provisional squad from which he will select the final 23-man roster, due June 2. So, he must cut seven players, but three goalkeepers must remain on the squad. Therefore, defenders, midfielders, and attackers are going to have to prove themselves at an intense two-week training camp that the National Team will hold at Stanford University starting May 14.

GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan, Tim Howard, and Nick Rimando

DEFENDERS (11): DaMarcus Beasley, Matt Besler, John Brooks, Geoff Cameron, Timmy Chandler, Brad Evans, Omar Gonzalez, Clarence Goodson, Fabian Johnson, Michael Parkhurst, DeAndre Yedlin

MIDFIELDERS (10): Kyle Beckerman, Alejandro Bedoya, Michael Bradley, Joe Corona, Brad Davis, Mix Diskerud, Maurice Edu, Julian Green, Jermaine Jones, Graham Zusi

FORWARDS (6): Jozy Altidore, Terrence Boyd, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Aron Johannsson, Chris Wondolowski

Players that I believe should be cut

John Brooks, Timmy Chandler, Maurice Edu, Brad Davis, Alejandro Bedoya, and Terrence Boyd.

Why

John Brooks is a young promising talent, but the fact is he lacks experience at the international level. Timmy Chandler has had a promising youth career, but has personally questioned his own “international” identity, that is, which country he should represent. I do not believe we should have this uncertainty in our final roster. Brad Davis, while having a wealth of experience, just has not produced lately and has been outshined by younger players. Alejandro Bedoya is a superb midfielder and winger, but this squad is so close in its level of talent that some players have to go. Bedoya just has not produced enough, despite getting ample playing time in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, to yield a plane ticket to Brazil. Do I think Maurice Edu should be playing in Brazil? Yes! But, he has not been given much playing time under Jurgen Klinsmann and it does not seem like Klinsmann wants to fit him in his system. I believe that the U.S. Men’s National Team needs to bring five attacking players to the World Cup, this is why I have only cut one forward. This group of players within the squad has all been producing on the international level lately, with the exception of Boyd, and I believe that while he brings a great level of play to the squad, he needs to be left behind and allow other, better players to go and score goals for the USA.

Now, what players deserve a shot that are not consensus “locks” to play in Brazil? Fabian Johnson has been getting a lot of playing time lately for the National team and while he has not appeared very much on the score sheet, he has developed himself as a half defender, half winger, which gives Klinsmann a tool to move all around the field, I think he should go to Brazil. DeAndre Yedlin, just 20, is an extremely decorated defender. I love Yedlin’s potential, and if it was up to me, I would allow every team to bring 24 players so we could take this kid down there. But, there is a very real possibility that he will be cut in favor of taking more experienced players to the World Cup. I think as far as midfielders go, Klinsmann has some decisions to make when he makes the cut. I think it will all come down to what formation he plans to employ. Joe Corona is more of a wing player who does work on the sideline. Mix Diskerud has proved himself as a holding, defending midfield player, as well as an attacking midfielder.

The other two bubble players in the middle to me are Julian Green, and Jermaine Jones. Their hypothetical bubble position has to do with their age. Green, while being a promising young talent for Bayern Munich’s youth squad at just 18, has only made one senior team appearance for the US National Team. Jones, 32, has been a long-standing midfield player for the USA but is aging and picking up injuries.  I think that the forwards on the fringe are Aron Johannsson, and Chris Wondolowski. With the little playing time Johannsson has been given, he has stepped up in a major way. He was put in late in the second half of a World Cup qualifying match against Panama. He scored a late goal in the 90th minute to give the US the win 3-2 and sure up their place atop the Qualifying Group. Wondolowski is near the bottom of the list of forwards, but I think he can make it in with a great training camp. He has produced in several international friendlies on U.S. soil, as well as the Gold Cup, and if he can channel that energy in Brazil, he will be a great component of our squad.

No matter which players go to Brazil, each one has a great opportunity to represent the level of play of this sport in our country. This tournament is a way that the United States can put itself on the map in a sport that many around the world doubt it. The United States faces a tough group in Ghana, Portugal, and Germany. I believe there is a possibility for the USA to get past the group stage if the players can keep healthy and limit their mistakes on the field.