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Pulisic, Wondolowski, Kitchen among 23 USMNT players named to Copa America squad

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Photo by Trevor Ruszkowski/USA Today Sports
Photo by Trevor Ruszkowski/USA Today Sports

Christian Pulisic and Jordan Morris have both impressed in their first year playing as professionals, but only one of them will be taking part in Copa America.

Pulisic, Ethan Horvath and Perry Kitchen were among the fresh faces included in the 23-man U.S. Copa America squad, which was unveiled on Saturday. Familiar faces Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Geoff Cameron and Fabian Johnson headline the group, which kicks off on June 3 with the USMNT facing Colombia in Santa Clara, California.

In total, 15 players from the 2014 World Cup squad are on the Copa America roster, while 18 have already appeared in the current World Cup qualifying cycle.

One player not in the 23-man roster is Morris, who was considered a good bet to make it after his recent run of goals for the Seattle Sounders.

Following the Colombia match, the USMNT will take on Costa Rica in Chicago on June 7, before wrapping up the group stage against Paraguay in Philadelphia on June 11.

Prior to the Copa America, the U.S. will play a trio of friendly, starting with Sunday’s match against Puerto Rico, which will be played without MLS players. With the full roster set, the U.S. will then take on Ecuador and Bolivia in the run up to the tournament.

Here is the USMNT Copa America roster:

GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids), Ethan Horvath (Molde IK)

DEFENDERS: Matt Besler (Sporting KC), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt),  Fabian Johnson (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana), DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham Hotspur)

MIDFIELDERS: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (FC Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Jermaine Jones (Colorado Rapids), Perry Kitchen (Heart of Midlothian), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Graham Zusi (Sporting KC)

FORWARDS: Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Bobby Wood (Hamburg SV), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)

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What do you think of the USMNT roster? Any surprises or notable snubs? Who do you see starting against Colombia?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

    • Fabian Johnson is not a playmaker, never was, not even close, for club or country. Comments like this lead me to believe that Americans still don’t know much about this game.

      He is very probably our best left back, the options are indeed very thin, and it is a critical position if a team is to play attacking soccer in the modern game, where only two guys on the field will remain rooted to the touchline – left back, and right back.

      His playing there is not a demotion, nor a compromise. Rather it is a clear indication of how the coach is going to go tactically.

      Reply

  3. I think what is more concerning to me is that it appears we are headed back to the old 4-4-2 diamond formation based on the forward selections. Still hope with this possibility.

    ————–Dempsey——————
    Wood—————————-Zardes
    ————Bradley–Jones————–
    —————Beckerman—————-
    FJ/Timmy-Brooks-Cameron-Yedlin
    —————–Guzan——————–

    Backups
    Dempsey: Wondo or Wood
    Wood: Pulisic, Bedoya, or Zusi
    Zardes: Pulisic, Bedoya,
    Bradley/Jones: Bedoya, Nagbe, Zusi
    Beckerman: Kitchen, Jones, Bradley
    FJ: Timmy, Birnbaum (Am I imagining him playing LB before)(Castillo or Ream if FJ isn’t ready in time)
    Brooks: Besler, Birnbaum
    Cameron:Orozco
    Yedlin: Chandler, Orozco

    Questions: Could we see Birnbaum, Besler, or Brooks at LB, seems odd to have 3 leftsided CBs? Who replaces FJ if he cannot play?

    Reply

    • To me the LB depth chart would be FJ, Chandler, orozco, Cameron, Brooks, zardes THEN birnbaum. Lol. Idk tho. I’ve never seen birnbaum play LB. he plays like a “I play CB ONLY; even in pickup games at the park” type of player. Comfortable on the ball because he knows he’s not gonna be trying any stepovers or fancy moves. Solid passer but nothing wildly fancy. Strong nose for the ball, great in the air and good vision generally. That speaks CB all day and lends nothing to playing LB but that’s my perspective. He may very well feel comfortable at LB.

      Side note: I think he took Omar’s spot more so than orozco. I feel orozco is there is there because his ceiling might not be a skyscraper but his floor is pretty high and sturdy. He’s not gonna wow most people but he is a very capable CB (“capable” is not what we need moving forward thus he’s a utility back up and occasional starter if injuries are present.

      Your point on if jk brings too many utility back ups is an interesting one. I see both sides but also people argue about him not having backups etc but isn’t having utility players a way to have extra backups at certain positions? I just wonder if that goes unnoticed.

      Unintended ramble.

      Reply

    • How about getting Nagbe into the lineup to improve our ability to transition into the attack, instead of just turning the ball over constantly in the midfield?

      Wood Dempsey Pulisic
      Jones Nagbe
      Beckerman
      Johnson Brooks Cameron Yedlin
      Guzan

      Reply

  4. I have a few issues…Why Orozco? Is Fabian going to play fullback? looks that way and I think that is a major mistake. If he ends up playing LM because we are behind (a mostlikely scenario), who is going to play LB? Looks to be Chandler, when was the last time he played LB for us? I would have taken Castillo instead of Orozco and Williams over kitchen, you already have Beckerman why take another clone? Williams at least gives you more punch from the 6. Without Morris we are going to rely on Wood as the only speeders on top. I would have selected Morris over Zusi. You already have Pulisic that can play backup at either wide mid positions.

    Reply

  7. Morris in / wondo out
    miazga in / orozco out
    Jones or beckerman in, Both are a mistake
    have Morales, willians, lichaj, lletget better options. no surprises if the usmnt eliminated in group round

    Reply

  8. I really dislike DLOA and all his stuffy comments and I’m better than you attitude, but this roster is really not bad. Debating the 22 and 23 man is not worth our time.

    Howard is better than Guzan but not by enough to think it makes a difference.

    Reply

    • The beauty of fandom, people can not like each other yet still agree. What a time to be alive

      Btw, “stuffy comments and I’m better than you attitude”? can you cite references where I said I was better than anyone?…. Also I’m more than happ to open a window when I comment….. Guffaw

      You are all beautiful balls of energy vibrating in harmony with each other.

      Have a great day!

      Reply

  9. The only real issue(s) I have with this group of 23 are the inclusions of Orozco & Wondo. I cannot see any reason why these 2 players continue to be called up considering how poor they are with the US National Team. Hopefully neither see the field at any time during the tournament and are not part of the team after this summer.

    Reply

  11. Knowing there is no shot at winning and some of the players left off would not have changed that why not give the older vets one last tournament for a nice send off. Beckerman, wondo, zusi and maybe even Dempsey and Jones good luck

    Reply

      • You don’t see the benefit of including younger players in this tournament long term? If we want to have a nice send of for a vet let’s do it in a meaningless friendly.

      • Oh I see the benefit, but just because I see a benefit in something doesn’t mean if that doesn’t happen that it’s a travesty. I could live with Morris over wondo but Im not upset that it doesn’t happen.

        Let’s look at this from the perspective of 4 years from now
        2020:
        Morris hopefully by then will be playing in Europe with potentially a WC under his belt and will be 24/25 hopefully gaining confidence two years out of another WC. By then will we really be crying over him playing or not in the 2016 copa? I doubt it. There’s plenty of time for a 20 year old to develop. And for a back up at a tourney it’s better to have a known than a rookie, regardless of context.

      • Tru but Williams/morales/hyndman haven’t made wild strides since then. And had jozy not been hurt I oddly see Morris making it over wondo. I know that doesn’t make sense off top but in a sense it does. 2 Main starters + 2 youths if jozy is not injured. With him injured he loses a main starter and has to dip into his consistent reserve over one of the youths.

        Again, I don’t ever really WANT wondo on the field ever but with the circumstances it makes sense

  12. Wondo. Orozco. Zardes.
    My brain hurts…and I want to hurt someone.
    Guzan is not playing well and his distribution is terrible. We will be bunkering and countering against all of our opposition and we can’t have a keeper who constantly kicks the ball out of bounds. I’m not sure I’m going to be able to watch this.

    Reply

  16. Anyone who is satisfied with this roster is insane. Against a Team like Columbia, who is there to comtrol the tempo and pace of the game? Who is skilled enough to hold onto the ball when pressured in the middle of the pitch. Both Guzan and Howard need to be farmed out. We need new blood in the goal, defense, midfield and forward. Wondo? Seriously? The incompetence continues. Chandler, Orozco, Zusi, Beckerman and Zardes should not be in this squad. There are players in the MLS performing at a higher standard than these players. Didn’t JK learn from the Gold Cup?

    Reply

  17. Regarding D Williams, didn’t Reading ask JK last year not to call him for the gold cup so he could rest. Could be the same thing and maybe kitchen has just really impressed this past week

    Reply

    • Have you seen Finlay play this season? He has been dreadful, poor first touch and inability to finish easy goals. He’s been a combo of Zardes and Wondo’s worsts. And I a Crew and Finaly fan.

      Reply

      • Yes, at least according to whoscored’s player ratings, Zusi is 7.02 and Finlay is a 6.4. Plus Finlay isn’t even starting for the Crew, Cedric has started the last two weeks with Finlay coming off the bench for around 30 minutes. Zusi is also more a midfielder, where Finlay really is a wide forward, who isn’t as good defensively as Zusi who isn’t great either.

  19. I understand wanting to have experienced guys play in this tournament but vets don’t necessarily equate to success. Why bring a guy like Beckerman who won’t be part of the 2018 picture. I would’ve much rather seen a guy like Danny Williams get a chance. Sure Klinsman is giving Kitchen a shot but I don’t even think he should’ve necessarily gotten one over say Lee Nguyen. I’m not completely satisfied with the roster but I’m ok with it. We’ll see what happens.

    Reply

  21. A little surprised by no Morris, but Wondo has a proven track record scoring goals year in and year out in MLS. I don’t mind seeing him as the veteteran backup to Dempsey, when there is no Jozy. Morris still needs to show consistency and establish himself in MLS. He isn’t exactly the young prospect anymore. He had his chances early on and it’s better to give Pulisic a chance on this stage. Miazga has hardly played. My one concern is a lack of true midfield wing players. FJ is good, but after that we are left with Zardes who has no touch and an aging Zusi who’s serviceable at best. Nagbe is not a winger, nor is Bedoya. But I guess the NATs don’t have much in their pool to play with at the wing.

    Reply

    • I know Finlay has had slow start but he was best 11 last year at the wing, and really his start isn’t so much worse then Zusi’s anyway.

      Reply

      • Completely different players, I’m a big Finlay fan, he should not be on the roster, he is really off right now.

    • Wondo scores against junk competition. Or unless he’s 2 feet from goal in a major tournament. We will need Morris’ ability to stretch the D and run the channels. We will need Finlays speed on the wings. We need Ream to man a conservative, defensive LB so FJ can play in the midfield. Ridiculous roster once again.

      Reply

      • 2 feet from goal in a major tourney…..hmm World Cup 14 count? I guess that was more like 6 feet.

      • Bizzy- so we’re supposed to agree with you after that video? lol

        So if I post a video of jozy scoring against Chelsea, arsenal and stoke would that mean anything at all to you? lol

        Selective reasoning.

        Player A scored against a team from this certain league means he’s the best

        Player B scores against equal or better team in comparable league but somehow THAT means he’s terrible… Lol

        Not arguing the contextual point just saying showing one goal doesn’t prove much.

        With that said, I’m totally fine with wondo over Morris for the record. (Since jozy is injured…)

      • DLOA,
        you (or anyone else) don’t have to agree with me, I’m just saying replacing a player that hasn’t scored a single goal this season, who missed a penalty and hurt himself in the process, with a player who has score 7 goals already in MLS, Who score a brace against a visiting La Liga team is a blessing….simple

      • Oh and DLOA, all these goals I’m talking about happened this season and his brace happened in may. When was the last time Altidore scored a brace again? Oh wait a minute, I’m sorry he did score a brace, during the blowout against the painters, construction workers and USL players of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Nov 13, 2015). When was the last time Altidore scored in a league game? Oct 25, 2015….

      • You can’t be serious bragging about Wondo’s goals in a friendly. Against a la Liga side that just finished its season and traveled 6000 miles. As I said in an earlier post RBNY II beat Chelsea last year – should we get those guys in the national team too?

      • Oh yes….good to know that now there is a possibility that we’ll score in this tournament…

      • Bizzy, if Wondo scores I will post an animated gif of me eating dogshit (assuming SBI lets me and doesn’t block it)

      • Turkmenbashy,
        You better have that animated gif of you eating dog shit handy and ready to go 😉

      • Let’s set the parameters, if he scores in either of the pre-Copa friendlies does that count? Bizzy has been adamant that international friendlies should not count.

      • No, he has to score from the run of play, or free kicks (but not PKs i.e. if he scores b/c folks feel bad and let him take a PK… no dice) against Columbia, Costa Rica or Paraguay, or in the quarters, semis, etc. not Ecuador Bolivia.

  24. I personally wouldn’t bring Wondo, but I can live with it. Morris hasn’t looked good all year (even with his recent goal scoring). The one name I think is inexcusable is Orozco. He hasn’t been playing for his club, he’s never looked particularly good for the US, and he’s simply an unexciting player. He’s just kind of average athletically and in terms of skill. Basically, he’s already peaked imo. And if klinsmann wanted a versatile, veteran defender I would have rather seen Ream or even Evans.

    Reply

  25. Wondo and Orozco shouldn’t play… would rather have brought someone with more potential to be around in Russia.

    Reply

  27. No Miazga or Morris so we can include Orozco and Wondo? We aren’t going to win this tournament wouldn’t we want to bring tow of our promisingnyoung players along for the experience at least?

    Reply

    • Seems like Klinsmann is weighing far to much beating a poor Guatemala side at home, Zusi and Besler haven’t been great this year, Beckerman is 34. Chandler, Orozco? How do you even play yourself off the team?

      Reply

    • Did we really expect less from JK? I just don’t get it. So many players with promising talent and instead goes with veterans (of the team, not necessarily veterans with fantastic national team track records). Leave Beckerman, Wondo, Orozco, and Zusi at home. Bring Lichaj, Williams/Nguyen, Morris/Finlay, and Acosta/Miazga.

      Our shape and lineups will be super boring and mainly older players. Nothing new or interesting to see. No experimentation, style, or anything the fan base has been clamoring to see for quite some time. I figure 3 CDM’s (Bradley, Jones, and Beckerman) all starting. Wondo won’t start, but he will definitely be subbed in. While I hope we win every game, I don’t expect to with the likely formations/starters we are going to use. Set pieces maybe. That’s about it. Our back line and goalkeeping will need to be perfect to move on during this tournament.

      Reply

      • Agree on just about everything, this would have been a great chance to start building towards Russia, still feels like were still stuck between gears.

      • I find it comically ironic when a coach gets flak for both experimenting too much by calling in youth players AND for ‘keeping with the old’ when that’s what all coaches do. Big tourneys you bring experience and depth smaller tourneys you have a balanced mix. WCQ you use slightly more vets with some youngsters to gain familiarity. And friendliest are largely used to experiment with lineups against an opponent that resembles another future opponent in a tourney or WCQ.

        Pretty simple lol.

        To add, your starting striker gets injured? Do you bring in your solid but not amazing vet striker as a sub or the rookie striker with potential? As you refer to the above you’d know since it’s a bigger tourney you bring the vet as a backup.

      • *Sorry for the long post in advance

        We are going to disagree DLOA. Nothing against you or your thoughts on the matter (you may very well be correct). I understand where you are coming from, it just isn’t my perspective. I loved when JK was signed. Thought things were pretty solid for a while. Then, slowly but surely, I couldn’t understand the things he was doing. What got me furious was the LD situation (whatever you or others think, it was my indication of poor decision making). Now, even if we let that go, the players we were bringing in, the players we were leaving out, the starting lineups, and the positioning/formations were looking more and more odd, to the point I just couldn’t get it. Plus, our results weren’t getting better. Sure, we won some friendlies against very good teams, regardless of if it meant something or the players they were using or whatever. But, that was it. Some nice friendly wins (note the amount of goals we gave up though). Then a disastrous Gold Cup and losing to Mexico when it did matter.

        Morris being left off for club, maybe. But, if you are consistently playing with Dempsey and a known prospect of the USMNT, could that not be a useful inclusion? The Miazga situation is a little bit more understandable, but continuing to practice after the completion of your season and getting better now could be useful to a team that is trying to get him on loan (assuming Chelsea do not plan on playing him at all), in addition to getting to work with the vets that will likely be with us for a while (Cameron, Yedlin, Brooks, etc.) and are still of value to us now. Granted, I think Lichaj (I am a biased Lichaj fan) is the bigger issue since we don’t exactly have a ton of full-backs/wing-backs, and I would rather see FJ played as a winger/forward.

        We can’t keep a 40 man roster. I get that. But, there are always 3-4 players on every final roster that are hard to understand barring injury, clubs not letting players go, or other limiting factors. We can all argue on one player here or there, but when there are 4 or whatever, it becomes concerning. Considering the idea of “they won’t be playing anyways”, then why are they there? Might as well bring in some new players or prospects that can develop and potentially have an impact either now or in the near future while building some form of familiarity.

        The problem is lack of consistency. Both in terms of players called in and results. I haven’t seen much in the way of progression in terms of possession, skill, speed, or what have you. Not to mention, we have been losing to teams we should beat. The constant usage of players that most (not all) feel are not up to speed at this level or are just getting too old. We are picking on Wondo a lot, but it isn’t just his inclusion. Why Beckerman? Why Orozco? We might as well start getting Bornstein in too. There are players on this and past rosters that have either consistently not played well for the USMNT or have one foot out the door. Instead, use those spots for prospects or players that have played with us and have a lot of upside. Being younger or older, newbie or veteran, is irrelevant. Combining both current ability as well as future ability, I think there are players who deserve a shot more than some of the names I mentioned. Who knows? Honestly, I have no idea how much it would change the starting lineup or the subs used, but I would rather have players on the cusp of right now/future starters being included (or at least players that we can use as coverage in positions where we lack depth – i.e. full-backs/wing-backs).

        I’m not a coach and I don’t see them practice day in and day out, but I just feel we frequently misuse our roster, which leads to poor formations/lineups/play. Again, I hope I am wrong and Wondo wins the tournament golden boot or whatever, but I think we have slightly better options for a few players.

        I think we see something like this (but probably with FJ at LB), although I would prefer to keep Beckerman out and use Pulisic, Bedoya, Nagbe, or Zardes in a more forward role:

        ———————Wood———————-
        ——–Dempsey————FabJo———–
        ———————-Bradley——————-
        ———–Beckerman——-Jones———–
        Chandler—-Brooks—Camerion—-Yedlin
        ———————-Guzan———————

      • Zardes, kitchen, pulisic, yedlin, Brooks, are all youth. That’s one striker, outside mid, inside mid and two defenders…..

        So somehow were not using a blend of vets and youth? Lol 4 out of those 5 will play and 3 could easily start.

        Also, I really enjoy your comments. Very logical even if we disagree here and there.

        A couple more things, if out of 23 people were really only upset about 4 then how upset should we really be? 19/23 on a pop quiz at school? I’m totally cool with that……

        Miazga is not quite inform. Also it can be undervalued how important a full off season with a team can be.

      • dloa,

        just piping up to say that zardes and kitchen are already 24; the absolute highest parameter for “youth” is considered 23, and that’s pushing it.

      • For those who wonder why Wondo is included. It is really pretty simple, no other US player has been able to score as often of as consistently over the last 6 years or even the last season and a bit than Wondo. Wood and Pulisic do not play in MLS so their scoring records are not so directly comparable and there might be other non-MLS players who are better, but none of the young guys playing in MLS so many go on about cannot come close to matching Wondo this season, or evenfor significant parts of last season. Blind hope is all those who think Zardes would do better (I will goive you that he is faster, but he cannot match Wondo in finding chances and finishing. All the other options at forward for MLS have been tried week in and out in the same league as Wondo and come up short by comparison,

        Wondo is probably not a great international level forward, but he is the best the US has currently playing in MLS.

        I do think Miazga should be on the squad. He is one of the guys who will be a US CB in coming years and getting him in to play with Yedlin, Brooks, and Cameron who will be around for a while would be a smart move.

      • Nate d. Sure. But I kinda meant relative youth. Kitchen relative to jones and beckerman. And zardes relative to Clint or even a wide attacker like bedoya. Not saying they should start over those players just that when looking for a balance of vets and youth I’d say the roster has a decent balance. 🙂

    • Didn’t JK mention a about a month or 2 ago that letting Morris settle in as a pro in his first year might be the best thing for him and with miazga it might be better for him to focus on Cheslea or where he is going to get loaned out to. He prolly wasn’t going to play anyway.

      Reply

      • I found it comically ironic LOL. You’re so much better than everyone DLOA. Only you are allowed to have opinions….

      • Dan, relax my friend. You’re reading way to much into my comment. Just because something is obvious to me doesn’t mean I’m saying that anyone it is not obvious to is of inferior intelligence. There’s a difference between unintelligent and not being well informed.

        And when exactly did I say people couldn’t have their own opinion? Please cite references. I enjoy other perspectives. It’s the best way to grow. I’ve even expressed this to other commenters on this very thread…. Now that’s irony ….. Guffaw

      • I don’t disagree that perhaps giving Miazga and Morris time to just be professionals and figure it out is cool, I wanted very much to be excited by his selections, and instead I am not. Obviously some winning will turn that around, but I’m just not excited and Morris and Miazga would have given me more excitement. So not picking a fight because JK knows more than me, but I am definitely not as excited as I could be.

    • Klinsmann being Klinsmann. Man he is the worst. I have said all along that Klinsmann values this tournament more than many of you here and is feeling the pressure but he even surprised me. Too much of a veteran roster. Besides Pulisic which we all knew would be there, he leaves Morris and Miazga at home for Orozco and Wondo. He lists F Johnson as a defender and calls in 8 defenders!! I thought he’d bring in one of D Williams or A Morales but he leaves both at home for P Kitchen? Really? Beckerman still there, I guess it’s not time for the youth yet in Klinsmann’s eyes. No Lee Nguyen means we will probably see Bradley as the #10 again instead of playing in his preferred position. Oh well we should be used to this by now

      Reply

      • Why? Because I’m not stubborn and wouldn’t keep doing the same thing and picking the same players hoping for a different result? I guess you are right.

        With this roster Klinsmann’s lineup is super obvious:

        ————Dempsey——-Wood———–
        ————————Bradley——————
        Jones/Pulisic—————–Bedoya/Zusi
        —————-Beckerman/Jones————
        Johnson—Brooks—Cameron–Yedlin
        ———————–Guzan———————-

        Book it. Let’s see if it gets us out the group at least.

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