by Jeff Dieffenbach

Honduras captured FIFA’s 2001 Team of the Year award. Normally given to the national side finishing at the top of FIFA’s World Rankings, the international soccer organization elected this year to make the award based on seven matches accounting for the most World Ranking points. A 2-0 defeat of Brazil in the quarter final of the Copa American tournament topped Honduras’ achievements for the year.

Soccer365 urges anyone with knowledge of Honduras’ whereabouts to come forward. Certainly, last year’s Team of the Year failed to appear at Seattle’s Safeco Field this year for this past Saturday’s United States Men’s National Team World Cup tune-up.

After Sunday’s match against fellow World Cup finalist Ecuador, make your own Roster Report card and send us your selections for the final World Cup roster at opinions@soccer365.com and please put ‘World Cup Report Card’ in the subject field.

The Red, White, and Blue spanked a Honduras squad missing a number of starters, blanking them 4-0 from a 4-4-2 formation that they are likely to use in South Korea. The game offered US World Cup candidate players the latest in a dwindling number of chances to impress coach Bruce Arena.

How did these candidates fare?

Kasey Keller (goalkeeper), grade A: Keller continues to alternate with and battle fellow netminder Brad Friedel. Against Honduras, Keller did all that was asked of him. Perhaps unfortunately for his bid to start, all that was asked of him was a single save. In the 28th minute, Keller charged and then out-waited the breaking Saul Martinez, dropping quickly to his right to parry and then snare a goal-bound shot. Verdict: Certainly on the 23 man roster, a toss-up to start.

Jeff Agoos (defender), grade A-: Quiet and unchallenged defensively, Agoos made his mark offensively, working in nicely to the US passing game. His long free kick from near midfield found Brian McBride’s head in the 14th minute. McBride’s head subsequently found that of Clint Mathis, who made no mistake in tucking it just inside goalkeeper Victor Coello’s right post to open the scoring. Verdict: Despite a lack of foot speed, Agoos has a  starting spot in South Korea, either in the center or perhaps at left back.

Pablo Mastroeni (defender), grade B: Like the rest of the US defenders, Mastroeni’s chances to shine were somewhat limited by Hondura’s lackluster showing. Mastroeni cleared the ball well and tackled strongly, but several times found himself out of position. Verdict: For now, barely making the roster, displacing Llamosa from the last report card.

Eddie Pope (defender), grade B+: The injury-plagued Pope made his return to the national side for the first time in a while, showing no signs of wear or rust. In a mistake-free defensive effort, Pope showed speed but otherwise failed to make his mark offensively. Verdict: A favorite of coach Arena, Pope makes the roster and perhaps starts with Greg Berhalter in central defense, pushing Jeff Agoos out to the wing.

Eddie Lewis (defender), grade B+: The versatile Lewis, most recently seen in an attacking midfield role against Italy and Costa Rica, came in for Pope at halftime to play defense. He continued to make his case for World Cup inclusion, assisting on a long cross from the left side that McBride flicked on with his head to the foot of Clint Mathis and the back of the Honduras net for the third US tally. Verdict: Makes the roster.

Richard Mulrooney (defender), grade B+: Playing error-free defense and working a number of times into the offense on the right side, Mulrooney mimicked the style and recent strong play of leftsider David Regis. Verdict: A solid player who will see continued national team duty from time to time, but won’t crack the roster this time around.

Chris Armas (midfielder), grade A+: Armas, graded perhaps harshly in recent outings by this reviewer, erased any doubts with a stellar performance at both ends of the pitch. His signature crushing tackles stopped Honduras with regularity. Where Armas raised his game was in his passing game, including a perfectly weighted ground ball from the top of center midfield that Landon Donovan ran on to on the way to his first of two goals. Verdict: As strong a lock as anyone, Armas makes the roster and the starting eleven as a fixture at defensive midfield.

Richie Williams (midfield), grade B: Williams, coming on for Armas in the 62nd minute, played his usual solid game, but with little overall impact. A longshot as late game defensive midfield relief for Armas, as the US will be considered fortunate to have late game leads to protect in South Korea. Verdict: Another favorite of Arena, but not quite enough juice to make the final roster.

Brian Maissonneuve (midfield), grade B-: Maissonneuve played the role of Earnie Steward against Italy: the invisible man. Like Mulrooney, Maissonneuve will see more caps in his career, just none in Asia. Verdict: A bubble player, on the outside looking in.

Brian West (midfield), grade B: Coming in for Maissonneuve in the 46th minute, West avoided a “B-“ with a long 67th minute pass up the middle to a streaking Donovan for the final US goal of the match. Playing on the right side, West lost the ball on the dribble too many times for coach Arena’s liking. Verdict: Certain to get national team looks in the future, but not in South Korea.

DaMarcus Beasley (midfield), grade A-: The Jitterbug, known for his darting moves at speed, displayed a defensive tenacity that belies his slight frame. Solid up and down the left side, and as much of a lock for 2006 as is possible at this early date, Beasley made his case for roster inclusion. Verdict: The only thing possibly keeping Beasley off the roster is lack of a few more games to shine, but this bet says he’s in.

Bobby Convey (midfield), grade C: Rumor has it that Convey replaced Beasley in the 62nd minute. The official game report confirms this rumor. Thirty minutes is far too long not to have even a slight impact on the game (did he even touch the ball?). Verdict: His time will come … in 2006.

Landon Donovan (midfield), grade A: Two nearly identical goals marked Donovan’s latest steps in his rise to US soccer preeminence. In the 44th minute, he timed his run perfectly on to Armas’ brilliantly played pass, casually sidestepped the helpless Coello, and slotted the ball on a sharp angle into the empty net. In the 67th minute, it was a longer pass from West that Donovan controlled on the dribble with his head (!) before outdistancing two defenders, dancing again to his left (goalkeepers, take note), and again slotting into an empty net. Verdict: More than making up for his missed breakaway chance against Italy, Donovan not only makes the roster, he makes a compelling case for a starting spot.

Brian McBride (forward), grade A-: With two assists off his head (what else?), McBride’s excellent match was marred only by two point blank misses of his own. Verdict: A lock to make the roster and start in South Korea.

Clint Mathis (forward), grade A: Other reports attributed to Mathis some rust coming back from injury. This observer saw none of that as Mathis added two well-positioned tallies (both on assists from McBride) to those of Donovan. Verdict: On the roster and perhaps the starting eleven.

Jeff Cunningham (forward), grade B-: Like Williams, he made no mistakes, but neither did he have much of an impact. A 67th minute substitute for Mathis, he’ll need to do better with his appearances to hold coach Arena’s attention. Verdict: A strong player, but no candidate for the World Cup roster.

With grading complete, who will be going to South?

GOALKEEPERS (3): The starting nod will go to Friedel or Keller--still too close to call at this point—with Tim Howard to fill the third spot.

DEFENDERS (7): Agoos, Greg Berhalter, Pope, and David Regis will start. Steve Cherundolo, Mastroeni, and Sanneh will fill out the projected seven roster spots likely to supply the expected 4-4-2 formation.

MIDFIELDERS (8): Armas (defensive) and Claudio Reyna (attacking) will start in the middle, with O’Brien and Stewart on the wings. Beasley, Donovan, Cobi Jones, and Lewis will provide able support off the bench..

FORWARDS (5): With a need for size, Brian McBride will start up top, but whom he will be paired with remains an open question. Mathis, Joe-Max Moore, Ante Razov, and Josh Wolff fill out the complement up front, although the latter two have injuries from which to fight back.

Outside looking in: Carlos Bocanegra, Jeff Cunningham, Frankie Hejduk, Brian Maisonneuve, Richard Mulrooney, Ben Olsen, Brian West, Richie Williams, and Zach Thornton.

Changes since last report card: Without playing a game, and in a nod to the future, Howard has displaced Meola for the third goalkeeping spot. If not Howard, then Thornton, both expected to challenge for the starting spot in 2006 with the possible retirements of Friedel and Keller.

On defense, Mastroeni is in at Llomosa’s expense, with Cherundolo and Sanneh looking vulnerable, particularly to Hejduk. At midfield, Beasley’s in by pushing Mathis up front in place of Kirovski. At forward, Kirovski may get a ticket to Asia if injuries prevent both Razov and Wolff from returning.

Next up, Ecuador.