Position: Midfielder
Born: 03.05.77
Club: DC United

The only player named in Bruce Arena's 23-man squad who didn't feature at all in qualifying, Ben Olsen is another who has struggled with injury problems.

Yet since making his international debut back in 1998 against Australia he has been one of Arena's trusted lieutenants and proved his fitness beyond doubt during a training camp in January and then by scoring the US' goal in the 1-1 friendly draw against Jamaica in April.

Even so, it was the greatest of all birthday presents when he was named in the squad on the day he turned 29.

A tireless worker and creative force on the right wing, Olsen was an ever-present at international level until his injury problems began in 2001 and despite four ankle operations in the interim he remains a key squad member.

That is perhaps unsurprising as Arena and Olsen go way back; indeed Olsen lived with the US national coach when Arena was at DC United.

Olsen has spent his entire career with DC, except for a brief spell on loan at English side Nottingham Forest during the MLS close season in 2000, and has won over 30 international caps along the way.