Shaqiri and van Buyten in World Cup Squads; Green on Preliminary Roster

Just because someone is a role player for Bayern Munich does not mean that they are insignificant players.

Xherdan Shaqiri and Daniel van Buyten are both on the plane to Brazil with their respective countries. Julian Green has a chance himself, named yesterday to the United States preliminary roster.

Shaqiri participated in a full training session on Monday, increasing his chances that he will make an impact for the Swiss. As one of only three wingers on the team, the 22-year-old is one of the first names Hitzfeld puts on his team sheet – he started nine World Cup qualifiers for Switzerland.

Van Buyten was one of seven center backs for Belgium, although Belgium manager Marc Wilmots has used options like Atlético Madrid's Toby Anderweireld and Tottenham Hotspur's Jan Vertonghen as fullbacks. At 36, van Buyten is by far the most seasoned player in the squad, although Wilmots has started him in five of Belgium's World Cup qualifiers and four friendlies over the passed two years.

After making a switch from Germany to the United States, Green is on Jürgen Klinsmann's preliminary roster. Green has played only one friendly for the stars and stripes, a friendly against Mexico in which he injured his shoulder. The 18-year-old is following in the footsteps of David Alaba, making his debut for his country while playing primarily in the Bayern reserves.

Here is what Ryan Rosenblatt, editor of Stars and Stripes FC, had to say about Green's chances:

Right now, it looks like Julian Green is going to make the World Cup team. Even if he doesn't figure to play a giant role, the experience will be invaluable for a player Jurgen Klinsmann thinks can be one a centerpiece for future teams. That said, he can't afford to take a player who can't play at the international level period, so Green needs to show he's capable, even if its for 10 minutes off the bench. Because he's spent so little time with a senior team at club or country, that's still a question mark, but if he can cut it, he'll be on the plane to Brazil.

All three have played less than 1500 minutes this year for Bayern, in part to the injuries they have had to deal with. The only Bayern player to do the same before the World Cup in South Africa was Edson Braafheid, who signed from Celtic FC in February of 2010.

Belgium and the United States play three friendlies each before the World Cup while the Swiss only play two.

Full 23-man Squads

Belgium

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Atlético Madrid), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool), Koen Casteels (Hoffenheim), Silvio Proto (Anderlecht) *

Defenders: Toby Anderweireld (Atlético Madrid), Lauren Ciman (Standard Liege), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Nicolas Lambaerts (Zenit St. Petersburg), Daniel van Buyten (Bayern Munich), Anthony Vanden Borre (Anderlecht), Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders: Nacer Chadli (Tottenham Hotspur), Kevin de Bruyne (VfL Wolfsburg), Steven Defour (FC Porto), Mousa Dembele (Tottenham Hotspur), Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Axel Witsel (Zenit St. Petersburg)

Forwards: Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Adnan Januzaj (Manchester United), Romelu Lukaku (Everton), Dries Mertens (Napoli), Kevin Mirallas (Everton), Divock Origi (Lille)

*Wilmots will drop one goalkeeper for final 23

Switzerland

Goalkeepers: Diego Benaglio (VfL Wolfsburg), Yann Sommer (Basel), Roman Buerki (Grasshoppers).

Defenders: Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus), Michael Lang (Grasshoppers), Steve von Bergen (Young Boys), Fabian Schaer (Basel), Philippe Senderos (Valencia), Johan Djourou (Hamburger SV), Ricardo Rodriguez (VfL Wolfsburg), Reto Ziegler (Sassuolo).

Midfielders: Valon Behrami (Napoli), Blerim Dzemaili (Napoli), Gokhan Inler (Napoli), Valentin Stocker (Basel), Tranquillo Barnetta (Schalke 04), Gelson Fernandes (SC Freiburg), Granit Xhaka (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Xherdan Shaqiri (Bayern Munich).

Forwards: Haris Seferovic (Real Sociedad), Josip Drmic (Bayer Leverkusen), Admir Mehmedi (SC Freiburg), Mario Gavranovic (Zurich)

Preliminary 30-man Squad

United States

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (1. FC Nürnberg), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Michael Parkhurst (Columbus Crew), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders)

Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Maurice Edu (Philadelphia Union), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)