Photo by John Todd/ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
Jurgen Klinsmann was not lying when he said he would bring in the best players available to the U.S. Men’s National Team’s final round of World Cup qualifying.
Landon Donovan, Tim Howard and Jozy Altidore headline a strong 20-man U.S. roster that Klinsmann unveiled on Sunday afternoon ahead of qualifiers against Jamaica and Panama. The U.S. head coach also called in veterans Jermaine Jones and DaMarcus Beasley and brought back players like Sacha Kljestan and Terrence Boyd, who were not in camp in September when the Americans qualified for the 2014 World Cup.
Three regulars that are not on the squad are Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley and Fabian Johnson. The trio were not selected because of injury. Young centerback John Brooks also missed out because of a knock.
The U.S. will host Jamaica in its final home match of 2013 on Oct. 11 before heading off to Panama to face Los Canaleros on Oct. 15.
Here is the full U.S. roster:
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City) Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy)
Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Jermaine Jones (Schalke), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders FC)
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What do you think of this roster? Any omissions/inclusions that you’re surprised by? Do you see this group of Americans winning their final two World Cup qualifiers?
Share your thoughts below.