23 USA soccer players playing club ball around the world have been called up by USMNT Coach Jurgen Klinsmann for September friendlies in preparation for an October playoff against Mexico.
As the October 10th date draws ever closer, USMNT Head CoachJurgen Klinsmann has a lot to consider. Who he'll call up for that crucial match against Mexico for the Confederations Cup slot. How he'll line them up in order to achieve victory. Perhaps most importantly for Jurgen is to keep his undefeated streak against Mexico alive (he's never lost to them as a player or coach). With all that in mind, US Soccer has released the roster of players for a pair of friendlies against Peru and Brazil.
The US will face off against Peru on September 4 at RFK Stadiumbefore heading up to Gillette Stadium in Foxboro on September 8 to test their mettle against 5-time World Cup champions Brazil. Here are the players Jurgen will trot out against them.
Goalkeeper: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton),William Yarbrough (Club Leon)
This is about as good a trio as possible at the moment. The most noteworthy aspect is that with the return of the Secretary of Defense, Brad Guzan is still the number one goalkeeper. If Tim Howard wants his job back, he'll have to prove himself in training and any minutes he can get on the field. His start with Everton this season has been mixed. While those two fight it out for the number one spot, William Yarbrough will be looking to gain some much needed experience and help to regain his form. Since being called up to the US, his performances for Leon have been disappointing.
Defense: Ventura Alvarado (Club America), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Greg Garza (Atlas), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana), Tim Ream (Fulham)
The heart of the Gold Cup defense returns in these friendlies. After being just north of a total mess in that tournament, they'll be looking to put on a much better performance. Part of any improved performance will likely rely on more veteran center backs. During the Gold Cup, the young John Brooks and Ventura Alvarado had the duty to be the defense. Neither covered themselves in glory. Giving the nod to World Cup veterans Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler is more likely to keep Brazilian and Peruvian attackers in check.
Whether Klinsmann sees it that way is a valid question.
A huge boost to the side is the return of Geoff Cameron. The versatile defender missed out on the Gold Cup due to some lingering injuries he suffered during his club season with Stoke City. His return is huge as he's the only US field player to get consistent minutes in England'sPremier League. With this group of players, he's likely to line up at right back, though he can just as easily play in the center or even at defensive midfielder. That leaves either Tim Ream, recently moved to Fulham, or Greg Garza to take up the left back position.
Midfield: Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Joe Corona (Veracruz), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution), Alfredo Morales (FC Ingolstadt), Danny Williams(Reading), DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham Hotspur)
First things first, let's talk about the glaring absense: Michael Bradley. The current US captain is left off the squad at the behest of his club, Toronto FC. It's probably a wise move as Bradley has nothing to prove (he's played Brazil a half dozen times already, once in a competitive match) and there is little need to wear out the best player the US has.
With that out of the way, the current crop has several talented defensive midfielders but lacks true wide players. Having a healthy Alejandro Bedoya is a huge lift to the squad. He is the most complete winger on the squad. While DeAndre Yedlin is certainly the fastest one on the team, he lacks the technical skills needed to make him a truly dangerous threat beyond the physical traits.
If the US is to enjoy any kind of success, they'll need Jermaine Jones to do the heavy lifting in creating chances from the middle while shoring up the defense. His partner will need to help clean up anyone that gets by him.
Offense: Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Aron Johannsson (Werder Bremen), Bobby Wood (Union Berlin), Andrew Wooten (SV Sandhausen), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
All hail the return of Jozy Altidore! After being dropped from the Gold Cup roster for coming back too early from injury poor form, the target man is back on the squad. Likely his return was part of the deal to keep Michael Bradley with Toronto. To be fair, Jozy has been better of late, scoring a few goals.
The real gem is Aron Johannsson, fresh off a move to Werder Bremen where he has already bagged his first Bundesliga goal. He has yet to show much on the international level and this is the perfect chance for him to stake a claim to a starting spot. Not only is Jozy's form erratic at best, but Johannsson's form and confidence is high at the moment. The perfect chance for him.
Bobby Wood and Andrew Wooten are interesting prospects who have been cutting their teeth in the 2. Bundesliga. Not much is known about either player on the big stage but this will be a prime opportunity to showcase their abilities.
Overall this is a good group of players to test against Peru and Brazil. Most of the team will be fighting for spots come October and doing good here will go a long way towards cementing that spot. Whether Jurgen has the tactical know-how to get the best of Ricardo "Tuca" Ferreti and Mexico is another article for another time.
Klinsmann: 'This is about proving a point'
The countdown to the Oct. 10 winner-take-all match against Mexico at the Rose Bowl began in earnest with Jurgen Klinsmann's selection of players for friendlies against Peru and Brazil. There was heavy turnover with the return of Tim Howard and Geoff Cameron, who have not played in 2015, and Matt Besler and Jermaine Jones, who have not played since February. Out for the Peru game at least are nine players who started at the 2015 Gold Cup.
"This is really now time for the guys to make a really strong impression that they understand the situation we’re in because of what happened in the Gold Cup," Klinsmann said in an interview with USSoccer.com. "These games are not about developing things for the future. This is about proving a point towards the Mexico game.”
It's a good thing the 2017 Confederations Cup playoff game is more than five weeks away as injuries have taken a toll on the U.S. squad. Over the weekend, Timothy Chandler and DaMarcus Beasley were injured, joining Fabian Johnson on the injury list.
Clint Dempsey again didn't play for the Seattle Sounders though he is scheduled to join the team for the match against Brazil. NeitherNick Rimando nor Kyle Beckerman was selected as Klinsmann said the players, both of whom played 90 minutes for Real Salt Lake Saturday night, were nursing injuries.
When you add in Klinsmann's decision not to bring back Brad Evans, that leaves only one of the five outside backs who played at the Gold Cup in the squad, Greg Garza, who was in the team for the group stage, was called up even though he has not been dressing recently for league games at his new Mexican club, Atlas.
The situation at outside back is the most dire, but throughout the lineup are major question marks.
"Some positions are definitely there to grab," Klinsmann said, "but you've got to grab them with a lot of determination and a lot of ambition and that's why bringing back Tim Howard now and Jermaine Jones and Geoff Cameron kind of signals the fight and the competition now happening between the older established ones and the new wave of players."
Klinsmann signaled an intense training camp ahead of the two friendlies.
"We will just want to make it very, very intense and competitive from the first day on in training," he said, "so the veterans need to set the tone and they need to understand that there's a high energy there."
U.S. Friendlies:
FRIDAY, SEPT. 4
USA vs. Peru, RFK Stadium in Washington D.C.
(7 p.m. ET; FOX Sports 1, Fox Sports Go, UniMas, UDN)
TUESDAY, SEPT. 8
USA vs. Brazil, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts
(8 p.m. ET; ESPN2, WatchESPN, UniMas, UDN).
U.S. Training Camp Roster:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa/ENG), Tim Howard (Everton/ENG), William Yarbrough (Leon/MEX)
DEFENDERS (8): Ventura Alvarado (Club America/MEX), Matt Besler (Sporting KC), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin/GER), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/ENG), Greg Garza (Atlas/MEX), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Michael Orozco (Tijuana/MEX), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG D2)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes/FRA), Joe Corona (Veracruz/MEX), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution), Alfredo Morales (FC Ingolstadt/GER), Danny Williams (Reading/ENG D2), DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham/ENG)
FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Aron Johannsson (Werder Bremen/GER), Bobby Wood (Union Berlin/GER D2), *Andrew Wooten (Sandhausen/GER D2), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy).
*Uncapped.
Note: Michael Bradley (Toronto FC) and Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders) will be added to the U.S. roster for the match against Brazil. William Yarbrough will return to his club and be replaced bySean Johnson (Chicago Fire).
Klinsmann: 'This is about proving a point'
The countdown to the Oct. 10 winner-take-all match against Mexico at the Rose Bowl began in earnest with Jurgen Klinsmann's selection of players for friendlies against Peru and Brazil. There was heavy turnover with the return of Tim Howard and Geoff Cameron, who have not played in 2015, and Matt Besler and Jermaine Jones, who have not played since February. Out for the Peru game at least are nine players who started at the 2015 Gold Cup.
"This is really now time for the guys to make a really strong impression that they understand the situation we’re in because of what happened in the Gold Cup," Klinsmann said in an interview with USSoccer.com. "These games are not about developing things for the future. This is about proving a point towards the Mexico game.”
It's a good thing the 2017 Confederations Cup playoff game is more than five weeks away as injuries have taken a toll on the U.S. squad. Over the weekend, Timothy Chandler and DaMarcus Beasley were injured, joining Fabian Johnson on the injury list.
Clint Dempsey again didn't play for the Seattle Sounders though he is scheduled to join the team for the match against Brazil. NeitherNick Rimando nor Kyle Beckerman was selected as Klinsmann said the players, both of whom played 90 minutes for Real Salt Lake Saturday night, were nursing injuries.
When you add in Klinsmann's decision not to bring back Brad Evans, that leaves only one of the five outside backs who played at the Gold Cup in the squad, Greg Garza, who was in the team for the group stage, was called up even though he has not been dressing recently for league games at his new Mexican club, Atlas.
The situation at outside back is the most dire, but throughout the lineup are major question marks.
"Some positions are definitely there to grab," Klinsmann said, "but you've got to grab them with a lot of determination and a lot of ambition and that's why bringing back Tim Howard now and Jermaine Jones and Geoff Cameron kind of signals the fight and the competition now happening between the older established ones and the new wave of players."
Klinsmann signaled an intense training camp ahead of the two friendlies.
"We will just want to make it very, very intense and competitive from the first day on in training," he said, "so the veterans need to set the tone and they need to understand that there's a high energy there."
U.S. Friendlies:
FRIDAY, SEPT. 4
USA vs. Peru, RFK Stadium in Washington D.C.
(7 p.m. ET; FOX Sports 1, Fox Sports Go, UniMas, UDN)
TUESDAY, SEPT. 8
USA vs. Brazil, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts
(8 p.m. ET; ESPN2, WatchESPN, UniMas, UDN).
U.S. Training Camp Roster:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa/ENG), Tim Howard (Everton/ENG), William Yarbrough (Leon/MEX)
DEFENDERS (8): Ventura Alvarado (Club America/MEX), Matt Besler (Sporting KC), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin/GER), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/ENG), Greg Garza (Atlas/MEX), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Michael Orozco (Tijuana/MEX), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG D2)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes/FRA), Joe Corona (Veracruz/MEX), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution), Alfredo Morales (FC Ingolstadt/GER), Danny Williams (Reading/ENG D2), DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham/ENG)
FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Aron Johannsson (Werder Bremen/GER), Bobby Wood (Union Berlin/GER D2), *Andrew Wooten (Sandhausen/GER D2), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy).
*Uncapped.
Note: Michael Bradley (Toronto FC) and Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders) will be added to the U.S. roster for the match against Brazil. William Yarbrough will return to his club and be replaced bySean Johnson (Chicago Fire).
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