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Stanford, Calif. • Jurgen Klinsmann cut right to it: The U.S. has some serious catching up to do a month before its World Cup opener.
Klinsmann was eager to get started on a scorching Wednesday afternoon at Stanford Stadium as the Americans began a two-week training camp leading up to a May 27 exhibition with Azerbaijan at San Francisco's Candlestick Park.
While all 30 Americans have yet to arrive in the Bay Area, Klinsmann will have the tough task of cutting his roster to 23 by June 2.
Real Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman and goalkeeper Nick Rimando are on the 30-man roster.
"The reason we take 30 is we're not sure yet," Klinsmann said before his team took the field. "There will be intense training sessions ahead of them in order to show what they have, in every position not only as a center forward, the entire team."
Defender Geoff Cameron and goalkeepers Tim Howard and Brad Guzan are scheduled to arrive Sunday, as Klinsmann gave them a few extra days coming from their Premier League clubs in England.
Clarence Goodson, a defender with the nearby San Jose Earthquakes, led the U.S. team through the Stanford Stadium tunnel and onto the field for Day 1.
"Whoo hoo hoo!" hollered left back DaMarcus Beasley in the heat.
Forward Chris Wondolowski smiled and said he had consumed plenty of water.
Beasley is trying for his fourth World Cup.
"I still get butterflies," he said. "I haven't been with the team for a while. To see all the guys' faces, it's good to be back with the team and obviously it's very important. We have a lot of work to do, and a lot of work to be done in these three weeks before the team goes to Brazil."
Klinsmann said defender Omar Gonzalez, the Los Angeles Galaxy defender who is nursing a left knee injury from a May 3 game against Colorado, should be close to full strength later in the week.