Real Salt Lake: Beckerman, Rimando, Gil chosen for U.S. team camp

Here's hoping Nick Rimando, Kyle Beckerman and Luis Gil enjoyed their 30-day offseason.

The Real Salt Lake trio was named to Jurgen Klinsmann's 26-man United States men's national team January camp roster Friday morning, exactly 30 days following RSL's MLS Cup final loss to Sporting Kansas City on Dec. 7.

Rimando, Beckerman and Gil will report to the camp Monday in Carson, Calif., to train at the StubHub Center from Jan. 7-12. Following those days of training, Klinsmann will choose a 23-man roster to travel to Brazil for a dry run at the upcoming FIFA World Cup in June 2014. Players will stay train in Sao Paulo from Jan. 13-25 before returning to Carson for the final five days of the camp.

The January camp will conclude with an international friendly against South Korea on Feb. 1 at the StubHub Center.

"We are all very excited for this camp because, as a team, it will give us our first taste of Brazil," Klinsmann said in a release from U.S. Soccer. "This is a very important camp in our preparations for the World Cup.

"It's important for the players to continue developing their bond and sense of urgency for the tournament. It's important for us to see how they do in Brazil, how the new players fit with the group and to make sure everyone is focused on reaching the highest level for next summer."

The selections of both Rimando and Beckerman aren't shocking.

The two RSL staples have worked their way onto the scene with the national team under Klinsmann the last two years. Beckerman, RSL's captain, has 33 career caps with the U.S. and appeared in 10 matches — starting nine — for the Stars & Stripes in 2013. He earned CONCACAF Gold Cup final MVP honors when the U.S. dispatched of Panama in the Gold Cup final in July 2013.

Rimando has 12 caps with the national team and piloted the U.S. back line in the Gold Cup tournament last summer, posting a 6-0-0 record with two shutouts and allowing four goals.

Following a slate of consistent performances down the stretch for RSL, Gil was handpicked for this camp, his first call-up to the men's senior national team. The 20-year-old played every minute of the FIFA U-20 World Cup for the U.S. last summer and helped RSL to its second MLS Cup final in five seasons.

The USMNT drew perhaps the most difficult group of the lot during the World Cup draw Dec. 6, as the Americans will face Ghana, Portugal and Germany in group play this summer in Brazil. —

USMNT January camp

Monday through Feb. 1

At Carson, Calif.

Goalkeepers • Tally Hall (Houston Dynamo), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

Defenders • Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (L.A. Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Michael Harrington (Portland Timbers), Chris Klute (Colorado Rapids), Chance Myers (Sporting Kansas City), Shane O'Neill (Colorado Rapids), Seth Sinovic (Sporting Kansas City), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)

Midfielders • Eric Alexander (New York Red Bulls), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City), Luis Gil (Real Salt Lake), Dax McCarty (New York Red Bulls), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

Forwards • Landon Donovan (L.A. Galaxy), Eddie Johnson (D.C. United), Mike Magee (Chicago Fire), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)