By IVES GALARCEP
Jurgen Klinsmann has had to deal with lingering concerns about whether the USA-Ukraine friendly would actually be played given the political drama playing out in Ukraine, but now Klinsmann is dealing with worrying about just who he will have available to play in the match if it actually winds up being played.
Michael Bradley and Tim Ream have withdrawn the U.S. Men’s National Team squad, U.S. Soccer announced on Saturday. The pair join Mix Diskerud, who had revealed earlier on Saturday that he would also miss the match. U.S. Soccer confirmed Diskerud’s withdrawal as well.
Bradley and Diskerud are missing the match due to minor injuries which allowed their club teams to request that they be allowed to stay home rather than taking part in the friendly. Ream has pulled out for personal reasons, which sources tell SBI was due to the recent birth of his first child.
The losses of Bradley, Diskerud and Ream bring the number of players taking part in the upcoming USMNT camp to 21, with Julian Green taking part despite the fact he will not play in the friendly due to being ineligible.
The absences will leave Klinsmann somewhat thin in central midfield, with Sacha Kljestan a good bet to be partnered with Danny Williams or Jermaine Jones, assuming Klinsmann doesn’t start all three together.
What do you think of this development? What lineup would you like to see take the field against Ukraine now?
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