Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By TATE STEINLAGE
In total Jurgen Klinsmann fashion, the U.S. Men’s National Team head coach surprised all with his roster release on Thursday evening, as well as selecting three promising youngsters with a total of six caps between them: defenders DeAndre Yedlin and John Brooks, and midfielder Julian Green.
So how could Klinsmann exclude players like Landon Donovan, who actually has an appearance for Bayern Munich’s first team, for a player that’s played just north of 30 minutes for his national team and only mere seconds for his club’s first team?
The answer could be a number of things: confidence, fitness, or heart. Perhaps it’s more tactical. Green and Yedlin are speedsters with the ability to run beside the world’s best — something the USMNT will need when they face one of the world’s best in Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo. Then you have Brooks, who is a towering 6-foot-four-inch defender that can provide depth at one of the team’s most questionable positions.
Considering Klinsmann’s selections, youth will have to play a big role in Brazil for the USMNT.
Six players on the 23-man World Cup roster are younger than 25, including forward Jozy Altidore, who many expect will start for the squad throughout the tournament. Altidore will be joined by 23-year-old forward Aron Johannsson, who has just seven caps to his name. Midfielder Mix Diskerud is another player who could play a role during the USA’s time in Brazil.
Whatever his reasons may be, Klinsmann’s inclusion of some of the country’s brightest prospects sends a resounding message. The USMNT is no longer looking at the achievements of the past, but at the contributions that could be made to the team in both the present and future.
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