re: Is there a legitimate chance that Jurgen leaves Donovan off the final 23?

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Talking about how all 23 spots are up for grabs is cute but it's going to elicit as many eye rolls as a high school sex-ed teacher who says abstinence is the only form of safe sex.

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I get your point, but I think this is a crappy analogy. Klinsmann wanted to motivate the players, and he has done so.

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Unless you're Brek Shea. Or Danny Williams.

Or on the current roster, Joe Corona and Julian Green

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Ok, like I said, Corona's inclusion doesn't make sense for this reason. Shea wasn't included in the final 23.

Danny Williams was playing (and playing well) right up until his knee injuries. He was voted third in the Reading POTY voting.

We know why Green is here. The kid is something special. See if he is ready to perform. If so, it's very possible he's already one of the top 23 players in the pool. If not, he stays home. The only person who lost out here was EJ (not on form) or Shea (not playing).

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Landon Donovan is, by most estimations, the best player in U.S. Men’s National Team history – but he isn’t taking a fourth consecutive World Cup appearance for granted. As things stand, Donovan is one of the 30 players vying for 23 roster spots, and while he seems every bit like a lock, Donovan isn’t ready to call himself one and neither is his coach. “I liken it to 2002. In 2006 and 2010, I knew for the most part unless I was awful I was going to make the team,” Donovan told reporters Monday before training at Stanford University. “This time is more similar to 2002 when I was wasn’t sure.” “In that way, it’s as competitive as it’s been personally for me in a long time.”

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And that's the point.