Chris Wondolowski

18. Chris Wondolowski Forward | Club: San Jose Earthquakes Wondolowski is the definition of a goal poacher, pouncing on half-chances by hovering around the

Liviu Bird | Jun 2, 2014

Chris Wondolowski /

18. Chris Wondolowski

Forward | Club: San Jose Earthquakes

Age	Hometown	Height	Weight	Goals	Caps
31	Danville, Calif.	6-0	165	9	20

Wondolowski is the definition of a goal poacher, pouncing on half-chances by hovering around the goal and capitalizing on defensive errors. The 2012 MLS MVP and San Jose Earthquakes star could prove to be important for the U.S. if it needs an attacking spark off the bench.

OUTLOOK: If he gets his chance to score a much-needed goal for the U.S., Wondolowski will have to get himself in the right positions and make his opportunity count. He won’t get the vast number of looks at goal that fall to him in MLS play, so he will have to be efficient, which is sometimes a problem.

Chris Wondolowski — AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

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Published Jun 2, 2014

LIVIU BIRD

Liviu Bird is a soccer analyst with more than 20 years of experience in the game. He learned how to play in the streets of Romania before moving to the soccer wilderness of Fairbanks, Alaska, escaping to play collegiately as a goalkeeper at Highline Community College and Seattle Pacific University, where he also earned his B.A. in journalism. Bird played semiprofessionally and had tryouts at professional clubs but hung up his gloves in 2012 to focus on writing and coaching at the youth and collegiate levels. He joined Sports Illustrated in March 2013 as a freelance contributor and has also written for NBC Sports, Soccer Wire, The New York Times, American Soccer Now and the Telegraph (UK).