Jurgen Klinsmann named the 22-player roster for the U.S. Men's National Team for Wednesday's friendy against Mexico, and there are several new faces in the mix.
Newly-crowned U.S. Open Cup champions Graham Zusi and Matt Besler were among the players chosen to take on Mexico at Estadio Azteca on Wednesday in a rare friendly in Mexico between the two rivals. Besler is a newcomer to the national team set-up, as is fellow call-ups Steven Beitashour.
Here is the full roster:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Tim Howard (Everton), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (6): Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steven Beithasour (San Jose Earthquakes), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Michael Orozco Fiscal (San Luis), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim)
MIDFIELDERS (9): DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Jose Torres (Pachuca), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (4): Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Herculez Gomez (Santos), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Alan Gordon (San Jose Earthquakes)
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Here are some quick thoughts on the roster:
As you can see, Klinsmann has left several veterans out for this trip. Players like Clint Dempsey, Carlos Bocanegra, Michael Bradley and Steve Cherundolo have been left out. It is clear Klinsmann wants to give some young players some playing time, or at the very least the experience of being with the team in a hostlie environment like Azteca. It is still a bit surprising to see Klinsmann go with a younger squad than expected.
Tim Chandler is NOT on the squad. There were rumblings out of Germany in the summer that Chandler would be part of this group. Now it's safe to say that if he isn't called up by Klinsmann for September's qualifiers against Jamaica then it may be time to close the door on the German-born defender.
Brek Shea is back. Apparently his recent club team issues didn't dissuade Juergen Klinsmann from calling him back into the mix. Shea has looked good since returning from being benched by FC Dallas Schellas Hyndman.
DaMarcus Beasley is also back. He's earned a look after playing so well for Puebla in the Mexican League. He's someone who won't be fazed by the atmosphere at Azteca, which is why it wouldn't be a shock of he started on Wednesday night.
Besler and Beitashour are the new faces as Klinsmann looks for some new defensive blood. Both have had outstanding MLS seasons and could help in the long-term at centerback and right back. Besler is also a young left-footed centerback, something there aren't many of in the pool.
The two players who didn't get calls that are probably surprising to some are Chris Pontius and Eddie Johnson. Johnson shouldn't be a big surprise because right now there are several other forward options. Pontius seemed like a better bet because of his versatility and ability to fit in well into Klinsmann's 4-3-3 system.
Here's a quick look at what the USA starting lineup could be on Wednesday night:
Howard; Beitashour, Cameron, Orozco Fiscal, F. Johnson; Beasley, Jones, Torres; Gomez, Boyd, Donovan
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The USA takes on Mexico in the first meeting between the teams since a 1-1 draw in a friendly in Philadelphia in Klinsmann's U.S. national team coaching debut in August of 2011.
What do you think of the squad? Who are you happy to see make the team? Who are you disappointed not to see on the roster?
Share your thoughts below.
Wtf are you talking about? that friendly in Feb.? it was in Dallas.
I heard Alan Gordon is joining as well.
However speed is a must, for CB, yes positioning is also very important, however so is speed. Certain great CB can get away with not having it, that is why they are the greats. They understand positioning better at the CB spot.
———Boyd-gomez-donovan———
———–Jones-edu-johnson————
Castillo-cameron-Orozco-Beitashour
——————–Howard——————
Not betting on a win, but it should be interesting to see how it works.
But wait.. Stoke bought him so he must be godly. I should ignore what he actually DOES on the field and accept his greatness a la Ream last year.
No thanks
Ill believe Cameron and Ream are VERY GOOD CB’s
when I SEE it
Yes Cameron showed us how VERY GOOD he was at centerback all this season (barf) OH and don’t forget about the outstanding (read: MEH to UGH) performances he put in during his last call ups. Stop lying
Besler has been playing well however but I doubt any of his teammates are gonna help him look good next week.
#inpendingpitchdisaster
Do you know who Usain Bolt is? It turns out he is trying to get a tryout with Man U. Do you suppose they will sign him? Because he certainly has more speed than anyone.
Bornstein is probably as fast if not faster than anyone in the USMNT pool; same with Findley and EJ. But if JK called up any of those three SBI would explode with pain and grief and anguish such as you have never seen.
There is lot more to playing this game than speed.
Club before country is how it goes. Because it is the club that pays your bills, puts food on your table and clothes your children.
Tom,
If you could read you would have read that my comments were directed towards biff.
Matt is good…id say better than Cameron if we judge him on PERFORMANCE. Unfortunately we dont do that in America otherwise George John would have been selected today (as well as frequently over the last two years) but anyway Besler is most certainly the strongest CB selected for THIS game by coach…I hope he does well with this opportunity.
Gio isn’t playing. He was injured in the Olympics, and in any case wasn’t in the list:
1. Alfredo Talavera. Toluca
2. Guillermo Ochoa. Ajaccio
3. Francisco Javier Rodríguez. Stuttgart
4. Héctor Moreno. RCD Espanyol de Barcelona
5. Severo Meza. Monterrey
6. Hugo Ayala. Tigres
7. Jorge Torres Nilo.Tigres
8. Enrique Pérez. Morelia
9. Jesús Zavala. Monterrey
10. Manuel Viniegra. Tigres
11. Edgar Gerardo Lugo. Santos
12. Adrián Aldrete. América
13. Pablo Barrera. Cruz Azul
14. Elías Hernández. Tigres
15. Andrés Guardado. Valencia C.F.
16. Ángel Reyna. Monterrey
17. Aldo de Nigris. Monterrey
18. Javier Hernández. Manchester United
From http://www.centraldeportiva.com/tri/detalle/Listo+el+Tri+contra+EU-54285
First, Pontius is in excellent form. That by itself shouldn’t be cause for a call up.
Second, Pontius has shown well at forward AND outside midfield. In fact, he’s a very good fit in a 4-3-3 role (either as an outside forward who drifts back or an outside mid who runs hard in both directions).
Quite simply, you have to figure that he took Shea over Pontius. And given the season (on and off the field that Shea has had) that’s hard to figure.
Holden, Davies, and Gooch. 3 nats haunted by tragic injuries.
I still trust Klinsman. I admit I do not know the MLS players. But what I do know is the U.S. team lacks three things: 1) speed and youth in the central defense; (2) a solid offensive center-mid who can distribute; and 3) better forwards. Hopefully Stu Holden is on the mend [which goes to number 2]. Dempsey, Altidore, Boyd and Gomez are showing some promise [which goes to number 3]. It seems like Klinsman is making moves at address issue No. 1. Seems logical to me, but Mexico in Mexico is tough . . .
Mike! hogatroe! Have you seen the attacking talent USA has in camp? VERY good,some of our best are there. 2-2 tie.
The U-23’s beat Mexico 2-0 IN MEXICO we are not unable to beat them. We also tied them last year with a B/C squad.
I fourth. They will be mi=uch better than Bradley’s team was.
NOBODY SAID THOSE 3 WOULD PLAY! But Beckerman is a really good holding midfielder
He will play Cameron and Besler. Both are VERY GOOD centerbacks. Castillo? Orozco? No wonder you don’t coach the USMNT… Don’t worry about Mexico scoring once or twice, our midfield and attackers will score. Kilnsmann has a lot of attacking talent in the camp.
Who said he would play? He likely won’t start. Geez people, worry about the starters not the reserves. Shea is not starting so he is irrelevant
whatever. klinsmann is right to show confidence in shea at this moment
pontius and zusi might be redundant
They are mids. He is a forward. And Beasley has been in great form in a better league than the MLS
don’t like that boyd is there.
Gomez Wondo
Donovan
Shea
Torres Williams
Johnson Cameron Fiscal Beithasour
What?
They took the wrong “hoop”
This is game grades from last night courtesy of 3rddegree.net
Shea: 6/10 – Another small step to getting back into form. Still a ways away from being that game changing player everyone claims him to be
John: 9/10 – What a night. It would be a massive haul if Dallas could re-sign him. I know, dreaming. John’s passing, specifically those longer attacking passes into the middle third, are the stuff Dallas really needs.
BS… BS!!!!!!!!!! The U.S., will have a great chance if they are healthy come qualifying.
Another USA roster, another WEAK central defense.
George John please
we saw them play with Bornstein as the left back once Dolo went down, and he was attacked by player after player and shredded, picked on like a bully picks on a victim. That same team with Fabian Johnson at left back instead sounds pretty good to me. Not saying that should be the team today, but responding to your remark “Did we not see what our A-Team can do….”
you know all of that already…are you sure?
Bradley did not squander anything…are you saying he should have brought the Confed Cup team to the Gold Cup??? Actually I was mildly surprised that Gold Cup team made it to the final considering ALL of the top tier guys were used elsewhere and not there. That Gold Cup didn’t even mean qualifying for the next Confed Cup
I get what you’re saying about the psycho battle and what may lie ahead regarding this game Wednesday, but disagree with blaming Bradley how you do and that game. I blame Bradley being hired for a second cycle because Gulati and Klinnsman played chicken with the National Team; he should never have been rehired, many said it at the time, and those who did were proven correct
Boca is 33 years old, he would be 35 years old by the time of the world cup. Mexico have guys with speed, and speed is not Boca’s strength. Matt Besler has speed and plays the way Jurgen wan’ts his CB’s to play, good CB passers. Also since you know the players you should also know the qualities of Steven Beithasour, right? If you do, you would know about his crosses and speed.
So who are the starting CB’s? Based on history, I say Cameron & Fiscal. Would like to see Cameron & Besler. Left and right footed, ball control CB’s. Either way, the midfield needs to supply pressure. Letting the Mexican team run at the D is never a recipe for success.
Honduras beat Spain and almost beat BraZil, if not for the ref. The main players, play in MLS, got better in MLS. So if they are not mediocre, why would these MLS players be mediocre? Steven Beithasour is a very good RB and we should be lucky he is american. Matt Bealer is a up and coming CB, with speed and can play the ball out the back, something Boca and Gooch lack.
Bob Bradley never brings in any new guys… Fire Bradley
Who are these new guys klinsmann brought in… Fire klinsmann
Remember those few times mix, Freddy and Benny played some pretty balls? Why aren’t those guys here?
do we even know if gio will play? he got hurt with the olympic team didn’t he?
Sorry buddy/friend/guy, Beithasour, Zusi, and Besler aren’t mediocre–they are MLS stars, and easily in the conversation for USMNT.
Someone is good at internets comments but bad at watching actual games.
No because he can’t handle speed anymore, and he NOW PLAYS 3rd tier soccer. Matt Besler, has speed to keep up with players, plus younger. Right know, he is better, Boca has gotten old and slow, father time is catching up.
It’s true. At SKC, Besler is perhaps the best finesse CB in MLS.
ahh is this friendly being playd again? Craptacular timing.
I know the players plenty, and I know that this roster, with unproven MLS’ers is not a team to bring into Azteca and give the U.S. ANY chance of coming away with a victory. And regarding Boca – he has an excellent chance of making the World Cup roster, if not starting, and his time on 3rd division team is most likely temporary.
Sean Johnson?
I have Mexico winning 4-1. The defense is just not strong, and even if Mexico do not field their best XI, they’ll still be a forced to reckon with.
Below is an article I wrote today about why Mexico will destroy the US, and also win the World Cup.
http://thetightangle.blogspot.com/2012/08/why-mexico-will-destroy-us-on-wednesday.html
it was the olympics. and thats honduras. they are mediocre players. good in the mls. mediocre on an international scale. do i hope they prove me wrong? of course i do. but whether you like to admit it or not they’re mediocre. and theyre only place fillers for better players that werent able to make it
Did we not see what our A-team can do against Mexico in the Gold Cup final last year? Why bother bringing that group back in? I’m excited to see some new faces, even if that means our defense is inexperienced. I also agree with the comment on Shea, yes he hasn’t played great, but he is an attacking option in the midfield. That seems worth a shot after we’ve deployed 2 sometimes 3 DM’s in other matches.
yes. this^
They are not mediocre players. How did Honduras do in the Olympics? Their key players are MLS players. Learn something, stop being stupid.
In English!
yeah i know all that. but USA wasn’t much better than Mexico during the Arena years and yet we dominated them because we had the psychological advantage. we had their number. then Bradley squandered that advantage when he played a lineup that no prayer of winning in ’09. and by ’11 Mexico had the advantage and made our A-team look terrible. they made Tim Howard cry. and if Klinsmann plays this lineup in Azteca and we lose 5-0 again USA will fall farther behind in the psychological battle. unless he wants Mexico to become overconfident? idk…
Its called building a depth pool.. I for one am glad to see new faces and not the same old roster every game we play (friendly or not) like all the other US coaches have done. We have a WC qualifier in 2 weeks, thats is when you will see your safe and comfy roster, why fly the same guys back and forth? Games like this are meant to see what kind of depth we got, so many of you are scared too take a chance. Plus all you that beat the MLS is a good league drum should be happy guys are getting a look and playing tougher competition
I don’t speakaze deutch.