By Jacob Klinger

Bruce Arena was criticized for playing too many CONCACAF friendlies at home, Bob Bradley played many European friendlies on the road, and now Jurgen Klinsmann is taking his charges to foreign shores in the CONCACAF realm of Panama. With a well-deserved win over Venezuela behind them, the evaluation of players for the impending hurdles of World Cup Qualifying continues. One more time with feeling, at least until the Italy match, what to watch for.

Goalkeeper

Nick Rimando's experience aside, Hamid appears to be the domestic incumbent. For better or worse, he faced all of one shot on goal in earning his first cap. He had a nice, albeit heart-wrenching, punched clearance and did some impressive back-pedaling when caught off his line by Alejandro Guerra in the 42nd minute. His distribution was solid, regardless of how little Venezuela was pressing. As Klinsmann noted at halftime, the U.S. was given far too much respect by the visitors. Still Klinsmann will want to see how Howard's protégé holds up under more intense international pressure. Maybe Johnson gets to sit on the bench this time, but he seems destined for Olympic duty.

Defense

Geoff Cameron and Michael Parkhurst put in one of, if not the most composed performance(s) by a pair of center backs since Klinsmann has taken over. The back line was coordinated throughout and the distribution was fluid. For that, the central pairing should be rewarded with a second outing together. DeLaGarza, though a defense-first center back-cum-right back was also well-positioned and looked comfortable on the ball. His service was spotty, but sufficient, and has certainly earned future call-ups. Unfortunately for the Galaxy man, Zach Loyd showed a fair amount of his own potential when coming on for Heath Pearce. And while he manned the left flank against Venezuela, his natural position is right back, where Klinsmann will look to compare his offensive abilities to DeLaGarza's in a starting role. Pearce, though lacking a seamless understanding when overlapping with Shea, should get the start again.

Midfield

Despite the team's late success against Venezuela in a 4-4-2, look for Klinsmann to keep that tactical change in his back pocket as a tactical wrinkle. His recent complaints regarding having only three fit strikers in the squad tips the odds in favor of another packed midfield set. Jermaine Jones, for as much as one can be repulsed by his call up and wearing of the captain's arm band, was undoubtedly Man of the Match against Venezuela. He covered massive amounts of ground, broke up opposing attacks, started counters, and otherwise fiercely organized the midfield. He did have a few nearly-costly turnovers, but often made up for his own mistakes. Jeff Larentowicz also acquitted himself well, playing the Kyle Beckerman role - now with less turnovers! Given that the opposition was less than that which the Real Salt Lake midfielder has faced under Klinsmann, Larentowicz has still earned a runout test in a less hospitable environment.

On the wings Break Shea was not as dominant as he needs to be if he wants to be first choice with the full team. That said, he and Heath Pearce should benefit from having a game together under their respective belts. As the game progressed and the opposition grew noticeably more tired from defending the majority of the game, Shea's pace became increasingly effective. He did hesitate on a number of occasions when his defender was there for the taking, but he may have the most talent of anyone in the camp and was still a top performer. He could also be facing as many as two FC Dallas teammates in this game - Blas Pérez and Carlos Rodriguez. After reviewing last week's game tape, Shea's decision making will be further scrutinized by Klinsmann fans alike in regard to his on-the-ball decision making. Zusi, who did not adapt nearly as well as Shea in swapping wings, showed his prowess from set pieces, but his live-ball delivery was not international caliber. Brad Evans only had a brief cameo in his hometown, but on the road look for Klinsmann to see if he can offer a more comprehensive wing threat, especially in combination and in terms of dangerous of offering crosses.

Benny Feilhaber wore the #10-shirt against Venezuela and more than deserved it. He, more than anyone, rivaled Jones for Man of the Match honors. His distribution was tidy, creative, and efficient, most notably putting Shea through for what was very nearly an early goal. Feilhaber fits the bill of exactly what Klinsmann was looking for in a central attacking midfielder, first in Torres, then with Holden publicly in mind, and to some extent, Dempsey has also been shoe-horned into this position. Yet if Feilhaber continues the style and level of play he maintained against Venezuela, he will be starring for more than just the "B" team. His handling of a more physical and athletic Panamanian team will be crucial in deciding Wednesday night's result.

Forwards

Teal Bunbury showed early on why he is a very nice prospect. As the game went on however, he showed why he is just that, a prospect. In a one-striker system with Benny Feilhbaer in the hole, Bunbury cannot be venturing to the wings as often as he was. C.J. Sapong, to his credit, won a number of aerial battles in his 20-minute appearance and certainly brings a more physical edge to what promises to be every bit of a battle against Panama. Yet the manner in which Wondolowski continued to create viable half-chances seemingly out of thin air asks serious questions of Klinsmann. Questions that can very well keep Sapong out of the starting lineup. The Earthquakes striker did not finish, but keep in mind that Jose Morales was having a blinder. Furthermore, Wondolowski's chance creation showed an invaluable poacher's sense in and around the box. Older than his January camp teammates - he turns 29 Saturday - a start for Wondolowski gives Klinsmann the valuable chance to evaluate just how heavily he can count on this veteran striker down the road in tricky away qualifiers. Think of the way Brian Ching was used by both Arena and Bradley; it was hardly ever pretty, but for U.S. stikers, goal-scoring doesn't need to be.

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Notes:

• 7 of the 18 players on the Panamanian roster were in last year's Gold Cup squad (Eduardo Dasent, Gabriel Gomez, Luis Mejia, Kevin Melgar, Alberto Quintero, and Luis Renteria).
• 3 players in the Panama squad play their club ball stateside; the FC Dallas tandem of Blas Pérez and Carlos Rodriguez and Gabriel Gomez, who plays for Philadelphia.
• Jeff Parke is the only player left in the camp yet to receive a cap.
• Parke did start however, in the very same stadium in which Wednesday's match will be played - Estadio Rommel Fernandez - last year in the first leg of Seattle's CONCACAF Champions League tie with San Francisco FC.
• 2 players on the Panama roster also started that game (Rolando Algadona and Amir Waite). San Francisco won that match 1-0 before the Sounders advanced off a 2-0 extra-time win at home.

Jacob Klinger is a regular contributor to Soccer 365 as well as No Short Corners. He is currently a journalism student at Syracuse University. His love for the game goes back as far as he can remember, but was truly christened during the United States' cardiac qualifying campaign for Korea/Japan 2002. Between classes and columns, he still plays. You can follow him on Twitter @MrJacobK or email him at jmklinge@syr.edu.

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