Tim Chandler and Tim Ream in U.S. national team uniforms aren’t great ones

The memories of Tim Chandler and Tim Ream in U.S.

Jurgen Klinsmann is considering which players to bring into the pre-World Cup training camp to battle for World Cup roster spots and both Chandler and Ream have very realistic chances of being invited to that camp.

He has played everywhere along the backline, and even in midfield, but has settled in as a consistent central defender and left back for the Trotters, and on Tuesday Ream was voted the team’s Player of the Year by the club’s supporter’s association.

Klinsmann took notice of Ream’s progress, and called Ream in for the March friendly against Ukraine, but Ream passed on the call-up to stay home after the birth of his first child.

The initial invitation was proof enough though that Klinsmann was watching him again, which shouldn’t be a complete surprise given that he mentioned Ream’s name in the past when talking about players on the national team radar who could eventually make their return.

And other than Cameron, none of the other right back options can really match up to Chandler, who it is easy to forget was impressive for the U.S.

There is some belief that Chandler’s absence from the national team setup for more than a year somehow makes him a less viable option for the World Cup.

What will ultimately matter is if Chandler can stay healthy, regain match fitness and sharpness in the final weeks of the Bundesliga season, and then impress Klinsmann enough during the pre-World Cup training camp to give him a World Cup roster spot ahead of other fullback options such as Michael Parkhurst and Brad Evans.

Ream and Chandler stand very good chances of being invited to that all-important camp, and given how wide-open the competition is all across the U.S.

the best chance to win, and after years away from the national team, having done well to regroup on the club level, both Chandler and Ream should have chances to make their cases for not only being back in the national team fold, but also on that plane to Brazil.