By Ridge Mahoney, Senior Editor
Soccer America Magazine

Freddy AduÆs teammates on the U.S. teams at the 2003 and 2005 World Youth Championship included Bobby Convey and Eddie Johnson, two players who, if healthy, should make the 2006 World Cup squad. Others have the potential to excel at the international level …

RICARDO CLARK
A superb rookie year had drawn the interest of U.S. head coach Bruce Arena in 2003, but not until this October did Clark, 22, get into an 18-man game roster. He was picked for the qualifier in Costa Rica and the Hexagonal finale at home against Panama.

ClarkÆs remarkable range and incredible quickness give him legitimate hope of meeting the physical demands of international play. The 2006 World Cup may come too soon for him, but with more pro experience he will be squarely in the picture. The skills and vision are in place. HeÆs a cool customer no matter how frantic or desperate the situation. HeÆs on the right track.

CLINT DEMPSEY
He debuted promisingly for the national team against Trinidad & Tobago in February; since then, his U.S. performances have mirrored an up-and-down sophomore season in MLS.

The pace of the international game leaves him marooned at times and heÆs somewhat stuck between disparate roles: feisty but not sufficiently experienced to play the central holding role, and not yet tactically shrewd enough to channel his audacity into consistent attacking displays. The burden of playing both club and country has dragged at him this season and with another intense workload on tap for next year the World Cup is a long shot. But with a nose for the goal, decent skills and willingness to scrap and battle, the 22-year-oldÆs got plenty of upside.

BENNY FEILHABER
Opened enough eyes at the World Youth Championship last summer to earn a contract in the German Bundesliga with Hamburg but canÆt realistically expect to earn a World Cup berth with less than a year of playing in the HSV reserves.

Still, heÆs another American with enough talent and drive to blossom into an excellent midfielder. U-20 coach Sigi Schmid likens his abilities to those of Claudio Reyna and John OÆBrien: tactical acumen, toughness and flair.

Arena watched Feilhaber, 20, play for Ham-burgÆs reserves during a visit to Germany last summer and is expected to call him in for a training camp in the next few months.

EDDIE GAVEN
This hasnÆt been a great year for Gaven, either for the U.S. or the MetroStars. His play at right midfield in MLS has been hit-or-miss and he seldom rose to prominence for the U-20s at the World Youth Championship.

Blessed though he is with attacking skills, his lack of speed and strength may hamper his progress. Yet he only turned 19 on Oct. 25, will add some bulk as he matures, and needs only to closely observe Youri Djorkaeff to understand how the mind can compensate for what the body may lack.

CHAD MARSHALL
HeÆs been hit hard this season by a sophomore slump and needs to raise his game to earn any shot at the 2006 team. He played well enough for the U.S. earlier this year against Colombia and Honduras in friendlies but didnÆt make the Gold Cup roster and looked shaky in his only qualifying appearance against Guatemala Sept. 7. Still, injuries to Cory Gibbs might open up a slot at central defender.

A tough season with the Crew has battered the 21-year-oldÆs confidence. His physical prowess, especially his power in the air, will always keep him in the hunt for national team selection, but heÆs another young player struggling to keep his head above rough waters. With another year or two of pro ball under his belt, his long-term national team prospects will become much clearer.

JUSTIN MAPP
HeÆs never played for Arena, yet in his third pro season for the Fire has matured into an effective attacker at a spot where the national team doesnÆt have a slew of choices: right midfield. Mapp, 20, can also play on the left, but is often more dangerous on the right as he can cut inside to utilize his stronger left foot.

MappÆs development stagnated at D.C. United, which surprisingly traded him prior to the 2003 season. He made an impressive showing at the 2003 World Youth Championship, and this season was the FireÆs top assist man for much of the season, an important step in his development. If wingers become a fixture in the national team system of play, heÆs a prime candidate.

SANTINO QUARANTA
He could well follow in the steps of Frankie Hejduk and Eddie Lewis, who used the Gold Cup (in 2002) as a stepping stone to the World Cup squad. Quaranta earned his call from Arena for the 2005 competition by solid, occasionally breathtaking performances for D.C. United.

He played only 124 minutes in the Gold Cup but did well enough to be summoned as a sub in qualifiers against T&T (in which he set up Taylor Twellman for a legitimate goal that was disallowed) and Mexico and got a start in Guatemala City.

His play is one reason FreddyÆs AduÆs playing time at D.C. United has been rather limited. Now that Quaranta, 21, seems to have overcome injuries and personal issues, a spot on the 2006 team isnÆt all that far-fetched despite the strides he still must take defensively and tactically. He can play up front or in midfield, heÆs confident taking people on, he has a powerful shot, and he can hit some amazing passes.

JONATHAN SPECTOR
A standout for the U-17s at the 2003 world championships, Spector made his debut for the senior team last November against Jamaica at age 18, and has been loaned by Manchester United to Charlton Athletic for the 2005-06 season.

He has played three league games for Charlton, most recently as a late sub at forward to try to snag a goal in a 3-2 loss to Tottenham. He should see more time for Charlton this season at either left back or central defender and will be monitored by Arena as a long shot possibility for the World Cup squad.

ZAK WHITBREAD
The possible U.S. left back of the future isnÆt likely to prove himself sufficiently for 2006. After an excellent showing at the 2003 World Youth Championship, he returned to Liverpool and has played very sparingly for the first team in League Cup and European matches but never in the Premier League. Liverpool also plays Whitbread, 21, in the middle where thereÆs no shortage of U.S. candidates.

MARVELL WYNNE
This is certainly the prototypical right back once he learns the nuances of timing and positioning and refines his crossing. Yet the 19-year-oldÆs athleticism can also be a drawback; his speed enables him to recover and rectify mistakes at the college and under-20 levels, but he will find such errors unforgiving at the international level. ThatÆs not too steep a learning curve for a player who could be Oguchi Onyewu recast as a right back.

This article originally appeared in the October 17, 2005 issue of Soccer America Magazine.