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Digest: Beckerman, Zusi and Birnbaum named to U.S. World Cup qualifying roster

Real Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman (Arundel) was named to the U.S. men's soccer team's 26-man roster for two forthcoming World Cup qualifiers. (Rick Bowmer)

Real Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman (Arundel), Sporting Kansas City midfielder Graham Zusi (Maryland) and D.C. United defender Steve Birnbaum were named to the U.S. men's soccer team's 26-man roster for two forthcoming World Cup qualifiers: at St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Friday in the CONCACAF semifinal round and against Trinidad and Tobago on Sept. 6 in Jacksonville, Fla.

Coach Jurgen Klinsmann retained 19 of the 23 players who competed in Copa America, where the U.S. placed fourth. "We definitely think the group that got fourth in the Copa America deserves a certain priority going on to the next World Cup qualifiers," Klinsmann said, "because they did tremendously well."

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Two key players — forwards Clint Dempsey and Gyasi Zardes — will not return because of injuries. Training camp will begin today in Jacksonville. With a 2-1-1 record in the qualifiers, the Americans are three points behind Trinidad and Tobago (3-0-1) and one ahead of Guatemala (2-2-0). St. Vincent (0-4-0) has been eliminated from contention. Two teams will advance to the six-nation final round this fall.

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