Position: Midfielder
Born: 24.05.78
Club: Houston

Alongside Jimmy Conrad's inclusion, the naming of Brian Ching was the big surprise of Bruce Arena's selection given the omission of Taylor Twellman.

Yet the fact that Ching is carved from the same mould as likely starter Brian McBride looks to have won him the nod to travel to Germany instead of the New England man, who had looked a certainty earlier this year.

Sitting atop the MLS' goalscoring charts on the day Arena's squad was named in early May must also have helped the 28-year-old, who lists LA Galaxy, Seattle Sounders and San Jose Earthquakes among his former teams and has featured in the MLS' Team of the Year.

The first (and only) Hawaiian to have played for the US national team, Ching is likely to be a bit-part player in Germany but his aerial ability is such that Arena won't be afraid to throw him on late in a game to ruffle some feathers.