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Matt Hedges added to USMNT January roster

MattHedgesFCDallas1-VancouverWhitecaps2014 (USATodaySports)

Photo by Jerome Miron/USA Today Sports

By DAN KARELL

One of the surprise omissions from the U.S. Men’s National Team’s January training camp roster will be joining the team, after all.

USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann made a late addition on Thursday, calling in FC Dallas captain Matt Hedges to his first ever national team camp. Hedges is expected to report on Thursday.

The 24-year-old center back is coming off a strong season for an FC Dallas team that advanced to the Western Conference semifinals, starting in 35 games and scoring three goals and adding an assist. It was widely expected that he would be named to the USMNT roster for its annual January camp but was left off when the rosters were announced last Friday.

It’s unknown yet whether Hedges is replacing anyone or is just an addition to take the squad’s total number of players to 29. The USMNT is set to take on Chile on Jan. 28 and Panama on Feb. 8 at the StubHub Center in their next two friendly matches.

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What do you think of this news? Glad to see Hedges called into the USMNT?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. We know that he is well rested already. Even though I’m joking I really do hope Jozy will join up with the rest of the boys.

    Reply
    • Even if Boca was the leak why would that stop him from coaching for the USMNT?

      JK didn’t seem to have any problem with the article. In fact he probably used it as a rallying point going into the Denver snow game. When it comes to promoting your team there is no such thing as bad publicity.

      Even Herc Gomez found the article to be good for keeping the USMNT in the spotlight.

      I always thought that whoever was the leak was paid by JK to do so.

      Reply
      • sean’s point is that people were thinking boca doesn’t like klinsmann; whether klinsmann liked the article is irrelevant–unless, of course, you go with the “Juergen Klinsmann, Media Mastermind” theory.

        in any case, i still agree with your first line. why would boca turn down such a great opportunity? i’m sure it wouldn’t be the first time he’s worked for someone he didn’t like.

      • Nate Dollars,

        Why would Boca not like JK?

        JK gave Los a chance when others might not have. When JK took over he made a point of stating that he hoped Boca and Dolo could stick around and lead the team to Brazil

        He then kept Los with the team even after it became likely that Captain America probably wasn’t going to make it. Boca’s career with the USMNT ended largely because the disaster with Rangers meant Boca could not get consistent playing time anywhere and eventually his fitness took a big hit. And at his age, that probably meant he wasn’t going to get it back anytime soon enough.

        Boca’s termination might have been handled better but I’ve seen worse and, as they say, there is no nice way to fire someone.

        Los is a big boy probably more mature than most SBI posters, and if JK is offering him this opportunity and he wants it, why not?

    • He has some sort of performance/soccer academy thing going. Maybe it’s an audition. I thought Boca was the focus of the concerns but not necessarily the source. I tended to assume it was someone else because the reason to mouth off to the press was concerns about JK going forward which CB was not part of anymore.

      Landon is a rare duck that actually mouthed off. Most of the formers tend to go quietly. We didn’t know why Harkes was left off. We didn’t know why Friedel disappeared. We haven’t thrown parades or given testimonials, until……..

      Reply
  2. 30 minutes here or there wont define his USMNT career… hopefully he gets call back often and given entire games to show what he can do.

    Reply
    • I beg to differ if you can’t stand out in a January camp and games I think you’re uphill for the more serious callups. People seem to wonder why certain marginal players don’t come back after January……why don’t they call in x who has 1 cap from a January camp? Well, they tied Canada C 0-0 and he made no impression.

      Reply
  3. Yeah, this guy is a hard worker. Smart defender. Which I think is the best quality a defender can have. He feels the game.

    Reply
    • Yup, but I think he has played as well as one can hope to play in the MLS. Limited the sounders to a set piece goal over 180 minutes.

      Either he can or cant step up. It will be good to see.

      Reply

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