A familiar face has joined the U.S. Men’s National Team roster ahead of Sunday’s friendly against Iceland.
U.S. Soccer announced on Friday that Michael Orozco has joined the USMNT for the match on Sunday. Orozco is set to train with the team Friday and depart to rejoin Tijuana after the friendly.
Recently hampered by an ankle injury suffered during preseason, Orozco missed the first three games of the Liga MX season. The defender has made 20 career appearances for the USMNT, including seven throughout the 2015 campaign.
The addition of Orozco gives head coach Jurgen Klinsmann options in defense following the departure of Matt Miazga, who left the USMNT to finalize a move to Chelsea.
Orozco and the U.S. are set to take on Iceland before facing off with Canada on Feb. 5. Here’s a closer look at the USMNT roster heading into the Iceland friendly:
GOALKEEPERS: David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls)
DEFENDERS: Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), Eric Miller (Montreal Impact), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana), Tim Parker (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Matt Polster (Chicago Fire), Brandon Vincent (Chicago Fire), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC)
MIDFIELDERS: Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Jermaine Jones (unattached), Perry Kitchen (unattached), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution), Tony Tchani (Columbus Crew SC), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC)
FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Ethan Finlay (Columbus Crew SC), Jerome Kiesewetter (VfB Stuttgart), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC), Khiry Shelton (New York City FC), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
And this is one of the reasons I don’t like Klinsmann. People have been busting their butts for weeks now in this camp secret and inthe final hour, he brings in another one of his favorite sons. What message does this send to the team?
It totally reminds me of the hockey story of Timmy Harrer. Herb Brooks brought Timm into camp, just before the 1980 Miracle on Ice, Olympics. In the movie,,,end, Timmy was sent home when the players met with Herb and said he shouldnt be added to the team. IDK if all of that was true but the most of it is. My point is… Here comes JK’s ringer at the last minute. If he starts, or takes minutes from someone busting his butt for 3 weeks in this camp… it SUCKS and is totally a very bad idea by Klinsmann. If Timmy Orozco is there to ride the bench, in case somebody gets hurt, then it’s OK. But if he’s there to sit somebody else down in a meaningless friendly then it STINKS.
Again, these friendlies are the only chance some ever get to show their stuff. Why does he have so many of his core roster taking minutes? They are never going to be better than they are today and we’ve been going nowhere for most of 2015
Yeah but there are only 3 Center Backs with Orozco in the roster. Besler, Birnabaum and Orozco. Evans is not a Center Back, at best he can be a Right Back when needed
Except that Evans did play in the center of defense for Seattle on a number of occasions this past year….
Its just cover because Miazga is gone,
The amount of fresh faces, players under 25 and fringe players in this call-up is the most in recent memory. To be clear, it’s not uncommon in any sport to keep some core players while you integrate new faces into a roster.
Why random people continue to push this false narrative that new faces haven’t been called in or ignore it simply because you recognize other names is laughable.
Please, go back and read the list of call-ups again. It’s evident that you haven’t.
This may be a stupid question, but anyone know what’s going on with Kitchen? I see he is unattached. Any talk of where he may land?
Last I heard he’s considering going back to college since he has a few years left of eligibility remaining and suiting back up for Akron.
If he was a Pro he can’t play college ball. Plus, there is some limit on the away time and remaining eligibility. Knew a guy who tried to return for his last year only to find out he had been away too long and was therefore ineligible
Whoosh…Smitty.
Good question. He’s still listed on the roster for United (and its been updated because it shows Patrick Nyarko and Lamar Neagle) so I wonder if he’s just holding out of more money
Pretty sure there was a press release that indicated DCU have moved on in regards to
negotiations with him. Heard he was getting interest from Denmark and Bundesliga.2 clubs.
According to everything I’ve read while it’s technically an option open to him, it’s not one he or United are pursuing.