Photo by Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports
By DAN KARELL
U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann will have most of his top players available to him for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, but there were still a few surprises included in the team’s 35-man preliminary squad.
Many regulars who started at last year’s World Cup return to the fold, with the inclusions of Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Alejandro Bedoya, Graham Zusi, Fabian Johnson, Omar Gonzalez, and Matt Besler among others. Some of the newer players to be integrated into the USMNT recently made the preliminary roster too, including Ventura Alvarado, William Yarbrough, Gyasi Zardes, and Juan Agudelo.
But perhaps most surprising are a trio of inclusions, left back DaMarcus Beasley, forward Alan Gordon, and Stanford forward Jordan Morris. Beasley had retired from international play last December and Gordon hadn’t received a call-up since the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Morris, meanwhile, is still earning call-ups to the USMNT despite still being technically an amateur player under NCAA rules.
Notably absent from the squad is Jermaine Jones, Geoff Cameron, Danny Williams, Miguel Ibarra, and Gedion Zelalem, who is currently playing for the U.S. Under-20s at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand. Klinsmann had already confirmed to reporters in Germany on Tuesday that Julian Green would not be a part of the Gold Cup squad.
Klinsmann and his staff must select a final 32-man squad and a 23-man squad for the group stages by June 23 at the latest. Klinsmann can make up to six changes to the roster after the group stage is complete.
Here’s a look at the USMNT 35-man preliminary roster for the Gold Cup:
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), William Yarbrough (Club León)
Defenders: Ventura Alvarado (Club América), DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Greg Garza (Club Tijuana), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Michael Orozco (Pubela), Tim Ream (Bolton Wanderers), Brek Shea (Orlando City), DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham Hotspur)
Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Perry Kitchen (D.C. United), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt), Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
Forwards: Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution), Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), Alan Gordon (LA Galaxy), Aron Jóhannsson (AZ), Jordan Morris (Stanford University), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
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What do you think of this squad? Which players are you surprised were included? Who were you surprised to see miss out?
Share your thoughts below.
The days when the US would simply chose the best 10 field players and try to arrange as well as possible are gone. Now the term “best” is becoming largely meaningless unless one qualifies it with best at what. Sure there are still some who are enough better than others that the coach must find a way to use them productively.
For the US now and for most players/positions, the selections come down to the style the coach wants tempered by the opponents style/quality. Against a team likely to dominate possession, some speed is needed to make quick transitions dangerous; against a team that likes to use high crosses to score, big defenders who will win head balls are needed, as are outside backs who will not often give away unmolested crosses; against a bunker and counter team, a clever player s in the box are needed and a some backs who will not get caught too far forward and who have enough speed to stay with fast attackers.
Many of the positions on the US squad have players vying for that spot who have different strengths and weaknesses; as the last couple games showed the “best” players missing is not an issue since others with a different set of strengths and weaknesses may do very well.
Freddy Adu snubbed again?! What’s wrong with this world…
Isn’t he with the U-23s?
More seriously, that will the epic 30 for 30 movie when it comes out.
Gordon is there simply to score goals from crosses into crowded box (against the typical smaller CONCACAF sides that can be deadly) and Wondo is there to knock-in garbage goals in a crowded box.
Both of them have shown the courage to score when being man-handled by opponents. Those talents will be useful against the teams who pack the box and simply defend.
I don’t think it is hyperbole to say that Jordan Morris is making both of those guys obsolete for the National Team. If you had Morris, Gordon, and Wondo sitting on the bench and needed one to cause havoc and maybe grab a goal in the last 20 minutes (which would be their role in this tourney), I would choose Morris at this point.
I think it matters what defense the team is facing.
Against a team willing to push out and be engaged in the attack, Morris’ speed is invaluable. Against a team with 9 or 10 players inside the penalty area, no attacker will out run them to the space, since there is none.
If the team is able to attack and serve crosses into a crowded box, or on set pieces, Gordon is a proven goal-scorer and I would go with him.
If the team had lots of possession on/near the 18, but could not find a way to get a shot on goal, I would go with Wondo.
I think it all depends on the situation.
This is who we are up against:
“Mexico will be bringing their big guns to the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Highlighting the roster are Real Madrid striker Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez and Real Sociedad man Carlos Vela, the latter of whom will be appearing in his first Gold Cup since 2009.
Also on the list are the sibling duo of Jonathan and Giovani dos Santos, both midfielders who also ply their trade in Spain, with Villarreal. Defender Hector Moreno (Espanyol) and goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa (Malaga) round out the Spain-based part of the group, while defender Diego Reyes and midfielder Hector Herrera will make the trip from just over the border in Portugal, where both represent FC Porto.
Left winger Andres Guardado, who was recently named the best player for the 2014-15 Dutch Eredivisie season, is also on the list. The other players named so far are FC Twente winger Jesus Manuel Corona and Watford FC wingback Miguel Layun, who recently helped his team secure promotion to the English Premier League.”
What say you?
hahahahahaha
bradley wondow and co will respond on the field
I say Mexico looks strong right now.
Whether or not Mexico is overly interested and actually plays up to their paper talent is an open question, but if they show up motivated they could be a handful.
Chicharito’s back at United, isn’t he? That kid needs to find a club if LVG doesn’t have any plans for him. Other than him, they seem alright.
2-0!!!
What say me? I say #dosacero
I don’t agree with some of these players called in but I agree with some of these players called in.
Drop the hilarious mascot monikers from your MLS teams and ditch the stupid playoff system in place. God you American soccer fans are a joke.
You so called hooligans are terrible as well.
I’m with you on everything you posted except for the awkward insult at American fans (as if they are the ones in control of the system or names).
I think you’d find a majority of American fans agree with the sentiments, too. Including relegation. This was highlighted last time Ives had a poll and overwhelming people voted in favor of relegation.
Don’t get me wrong, some fans are still stuck in the same caveman mentality some absentee ownership’s are within by trying to “Americanize” the sport via countdown clocks and shootouts. However, the majority of American fans are more sophisticated than given credit and are dying for MLS to evolve at a quicker rate.
Well… Mr/s. RyAn…
The part about American soccer fans are a joke was a bit lowbrow. Apparently you are several pints into your usual multi liter night. Have a lovely evening, please.
As for the call ups, I’d love to see Bobby Wood in the roster – he reminds me of Ching… for more reasons than one.
Cya
Some American soccer fans are a joke, like slowleftarm, and some are not, like old school. Also, absolutely would love to return to the glory days of dribbling shootouts in MLS.
Thank you Lord RyAn,
We’ll get some one on this right away.
– American Soccer
Dude, why are you even on an American Soccer site? Screw it, SBI thanks you for the clicks.
Not going to appease you by agreeing with anything you said like some of these other people. Great generalization though.
Funny how other countries copy our ‘mascot monikers’ in all the sports we invented, and it’s seen as normal. Then when we run our soccer league in a similar fashion, it’s a total joke because we aren’t following tradition. At what point does tradition just become a bunch of bureaucratic bulls**t? Kind of like the way every other country tolerated FIFA for decades.
Would you prefer our hooligans be more violent? That would follow a ridiculous tradition as well I suppose. A**hole.
Zalelem is capped tied once his one time switch was approved and played in the youth game. Plus the threesome in the u20 world cup, no reason to burn them out at this point. Let them get some rest and get ready for their clubs. Rubin, Hyndman, and Zalelem could all be sold or loaned and they need to be ready for that. I doubt it hurt him but it did not he Shea when he missed preseason to play in the 2013 gold cup instead of being in the Stoke camp.
From Grant Wahl, “The earliest Zelalem could be cap-tied to the U.S. is at this summer’s Gold Cup.”
Finally Klinsmann made me smile; NO Ibarra!
Wondolowski???? Gordon??? Davis??? Wow. Get zusi out of there too
I understand the Cameron, Williams, Green and Wood situations. However, replace those 4 with Zelalem (cap tie him!), Feilhaber and then any of Rubin, Gil, Hyndman.
Too late to add Bobby Wood???????????????
Glad Wood is left out to get his club figured and will have the opportunity to get a nice full offseason with his new team
what do I have to do to get out of the doghouse guys?
I don’t think JK has ever let you on the property, much less put you in the dog house.
If two injuries occur during the training camp, bring in Bobby Wood and Daniel Williams. Find a way to get rid of Chris Wondo-less
Wood is being held out so he can get his club team status figured out.
Wood and Williams are not on the 35.
They cannot be called in no matter what.
I imagine he’s saying if they get injured before the tourney starts. I think they can make replacements before the 23 are announced no?
If memory serves me right, if a player from the final 23 list gets injured 24 hours before the first game, the coach can pick a replacement player even outside from the original 35 player list.
Most disappointing thing to me are:
1. No Edgar Castillo. Unless he is injured, how can you call up both Brad Evans and Brad Davis over Castillo?
2. Corona and Nguyen over Feilhaber. Safe to say now that Klinsmann regards Feilhaber the same way he did Landon Donovan.
1. Ricardo Clark
2. Robbie Findley
Glad to the see the Ibarra experiment is on hold for now.
why? you’d hate to have a classic rags to riches story?
Whats the big deal?
Its going to be a usa vs Mexico final 🙂
Unless usa breaks down and Costa rica surprises like the world cup and qualifiers.
On the other hand, Mexico is loaded and ready to shut down any team.
Imagine chicharito, vela ,gio and guardado going crazy on opponents.
Mexicos biggest weakness is their goalkeeper spot but not really.
After the WC, how would Costa Rica making the finals surprise anyone?
Was this post written in 2013? Dos Santos hasn’t shown much recently even when healthy. Meanwhile, Ochoa might be backup for Malaga but he had a good world cup, so keeper is more of a question mark than a liability.
You are making a grave mistake by underestimating this Mexico team. I know Klinsmann is not.
You are making a grave mistake by having reading comprehension issues. I said one guy was seriously overrated, one underrated. To be candid, Mexico is a very good team, but not one of stars. Mexico has nobody of Dempsey’s or Bradley’s caliber in midfield, yet they have a consistency and depth that the US lack, at least when not playing the US itself. #dosacero.
The Us Opponents with the exception of Mexico, maybe CostaRica or Honduras will not play soccer, they will defend, defend, defend and counter. It usually does not work, but once in a while it does and either Mexico, or the US or both could get unlucky.
It is essential that JK selects players capable of breaking down packed defenses and that the players manage to do it. As dangerous as speed is in an open game where both sides are trying to get forward, it has less use when the defense is already in front of you in numbers in tight space.
Even Barca loses some games against opponents who defend, counter and refuse to play (Barca just not lose very many).
How is El Tri handling the Gold Cup vs. Copa America? 2 different rosters? (And yes, I could google this, but my conference call is ending now)
Mexico is sending a B team to Copa America. Like Bradley did when the US was faced with the same dilemma. I imagine the Mexican coach will take as much heat for that as Bradley did.
Bu,t really, it is the only sensible choice.
Why not cap tie Gideon? Makes no sense to me, especially if we can change him out after he’s officially ours.
I thought since he filed his switch the U20 WC cap tied him?
Nope. He isn’t cap tied at the moment.
I’m pretty sure you can’t file your “one time switch”, play in a FIFA world tournament, and not be cap tied.
He never filed the one time switch b/c he never played an official match for Germany
he’s cap tied. a simple google search will answer this question
From Grant Wahl, “The earliest Zelalem could be cap-tied to the U.S. is at this summer’s Gold Cup.” I believe him over Wikipedia, or whatever other source you’re using.
If he’s good enough he’ll eventually get his cap. I don’t the the US should use valuable roster spots just to cap tie guys.
He is already cap tied and given his play against physical sides in the U-20 games, he need to get a bit bigger/harder before he will be playing with the men. (either Arsenal’s or the USMNT’s)
Alan Gordan? Where the heck did that come from?
It came from Gordon scoring four goals for the Galaxy in extra time and off the bench in the past month, all with his head. In a concacaf tournament, where the average height of most of your opponents is going to be about 5’6″, that’s worth something.
Bjeorg jennsen-Maars scored 4 goals in the last 2 games of this season and didn’t get any love. I guess being 6’5 forward is not enough for JK
For those who aren’t watching and commenting before fact finding, JK called DMB to ask if he would be available, DMB said absolutely…
Stop freaking out
Sorry i cant help it.
Us soccer fan
Well played sir.
Bac, I nominate you as a reader/moderator for the SBI comment section. When I read your first comment, I thought maybe you got lost on the Internet and stumbled into the wrong comment section thinking it was a haven of common sense, logic and decorum. Now, I understand that you’re just trying to fight the good fight against ignorance and overreaction. Keep it up. We lurkers appreciate your non-hot takes.
How long before Brad Davis is completely out of the USMNT picture?? Does anyone believe that he is (or was for that matter) a player that can make a difference for us at the International level? I just don’t see what he brings to the table that other, better players don’t.
Davis can make a difference. Just not in a good way.
Shouldve tried out Bjorn Maars Johnsen instead.
Williams asked to be left off to give his knee a full off season to heal up, reported by Brad Friedel at the beginning of the broadcast.
Stop freaking out.
Freaking out is a major past time here. As usual, there is a good reason for the omissions, but the default position for many people here is that JK just doesn’t know what he is doing and his player selections are crazy.
Garry Page: You talked so good. Why don’t you be the USMNT manager!
Missed that, thanks!
10 of these players will be pared before the official roster, but we may see them back after the group stage when roster changes are allowed. That said; No Williams?, No Cameron?. I think Cody Cropper deserves a look see over Bill Hamid. Love the fact that Alan Gordon was named, but with all the injuries the Galaxy have had, much less the matches with Club America and Barcelona, Arena must be, by now, a little apoplectic.
Cropper is currently unattached, and it’s probably in his best interest to get his club situation sorted out. That said, I don’t understand replacing Hamid for Cropper under any circumstances.
Hamid, in my opinion, is the future starter for us. I think he’s already better than Rimando, and I’m a bit disappointed he hasn’t seen more minutes with the national team.
+1
No Benny Feilhaber. SKC fans scratch their heads and shrug. “At least we get to keep our best player for the duration of the Gold Cup.”
Cameron is supposedly sitting out to recover from niggling injuries
Cameron’s ommision has to do with Stoke. Not JK.
Grant Wahl reported it and said Stu Holden would be giving more details upcoming…
Stop freaking out
I wish he’da called up Wondowlowski instead of Wondolowski!
I wish he hadn’t called up either of them.
Its Perry Kitchens time. As good as Beckerman has been the last four years, Perry will be there for the next ten.
and this is how that transition starts. If Kitchen has any sense at all he will soak up everything he can from the Dredmop during this opportunity.
Klinsmann’s call-ups always make me smile. Mostly, in a good way!
Pleasant Surprises: Nguyen, Kitchen, Ream, Gordon is there for sole purpose of areal dominance against midget teams.
MIDGETS!
Dude, you can’t say that. It’s not kosher calling ’em midgets.
They’re fucking leprechauns.
Seriously, what is going on with Cameron? Is he in Klinsmann’s permanent dog-house for something I don’t remember? You can debate whether he should start or even make the final roster, but not putting him in the 35-man preliminary roster based on merit alone would be a joke.
Remember the portugal game?
He played him a week later against Belgium. Why is MB still playing then?
He did, but in a different position.
It is probably due to something that Klinsmann knows that we don’t know about. This is the way it usually is. Are there any Morris doubters left? Sometimes JK knows what he is doing.
Miguel Ibarra doubts weather or not JK knows what he’s doing.
Leaving Jones out I can kind of understand due to the injuries he’s had this year. Leaving Williams and Cameron off though I don’t get at all. Cameron is the guy who should be the starting right back and Williams is just as good if not better than all the other defensive midfielders that were brought in. I’d argue that he should be Jones successor going into the next cycle. More inane roster decisions.
Are you trying to figure Klinsmann out? Good luck.
Cameron is apparently injured a Stoke didn’t want them participating. Williams I don’t get. I guess he is a bit redundant behind Bradley, Beckerman, etc but I thought he won a spot esp over the likes of Morales, Nguyen, Zusi, Davis or Corona in the past two games.
A lot of role players and training camp/locker room guys in the group — im okay with that
Other than that nothing too crazy. I thought we would see a few younger guys like Rubin, GZ or Cropper but they have had a busy summer already.
Why is Cameron omitted? It’s a pretty bizarre exclusion for a coach who drones on about playing in Europe since Geoff is probably playing at a higher level, as a starter for a mid-table EPL side, than pretty much any field player in the pool, with the exception of Fabian Johnson.
The name is escaping me at the moment but one of ESPN’s soccer writers tweeted that Stock City had asked US Soccer for Cameron to be omitted to recover from several nagging injuries he sustained last season.
Cameron is an interesting study. I think he’s one of the growing number of players that seems to have the ability to be on the team, but doesn’t quite fit anywhere on the roster. I’d add Sascha, Benny Feilhaber, and Lee Nguyen to that list. I’d also say that Aron Johanson is quickly heading that way as well.
Another average player; Klinsmann has plenty of those in this camp.
Cameron has 99 caps in 3 years for an EPL team that has finished 13th, 9th and 9th in the last 3 years… that’s average to you?
Re. Geoff Cameron, Just b/c someone plays in the EPL doesn’t mean that they are they absolute best player at a particular position and just b/c someone plays in MLS doesn’t mean they aren’t.
For example, I would argue that Michael Bradley is one of, if not THE best midfielder in the world right now.
“I would argue that Michael Bradley is one of, if not THE best midfielder in the world right now.”
He’s a favorite of mine, too, but that’s absurd.
Didn’t Beasley retire from international play?
my guess is he will be one of the cuts but will be in camp to start and be the “veteran presence”
I can’t remember where I heard this since I have been watching so many pre and post game soccer shows, but the word is that JK called DMB and said we need you and so DMB said that if they need him he will be there.
Wow, Beasley and Davis?
If you look at the U.S. roster, it’s pretty deep with two glaring exceptions… left mid and left back. That Beasley and Davis were included just shows how big the deficit of talent is at those two positions.
The roster has Fabian listed in the midfield
One player is not depth!
DMB and Davis are on the 35 not the 23.
They may never get called up onto the 23.
The Gold Cup is right around the corner and I see those two as insurance given that as many as 6 players can be changed out after the first round.
He did retire but JK asked him to come. If he was asked, how can JK cut him?
Also, plenty of padding for the cuts. One keeper, Wondo, Davis, Gordon, Corona, Beasley, Orozco,
Then it becomes less clear. There are still too many defenders and mids. If it were me, I’d cut Jozy and Dempsey. We have just played two games without them and have done better and scored more goals I know that won’t happen though
RUN DMB!
Bizarre (Williams and Cameron, specifically; Jones to a lesser degree).
Jones must be due to Injury. Agreed on Williams and Cameron being bizarre but I’ve learned to wait a few days before being surprised by exclusions. There is always the possibility of things like minor chronic injuries needing surgery, rest etc. that can keep people out. These will normally come out in a few days if they exist after people have called for the coach’s head. Or it could just be Klinsmann choices which even his fans find bizarre some times.
I think Cameron is injured as well. I was surprised he wasn’t called in for the European friendlies. If it’s not an injury, it would be pretty strange though.
perhaaaaaaaaps JK hopes to brings on williams and cameron after the group stage for evans and (??)… idk
A player can only be brought in after the group stage if he was on the 35.
touché
“Jordan Morris (Stanford University)”
LOL
why is that funny?
also, i don’t like dempsey. there, it’s out there.
I agree. I think Dempsey’s tenaciousness, attitude, and ability to make plays happen out of nothing have served us well in the past, it’s time to move on from him. LD was expendable for the last WC, and I believed his skillset to be much more compatible to the team’s needs two years ago than Dempsey’s today. CD holds up play much too much and in reality is counter what Klinnsman is looking to play and we have played this week. Crazy thought, but letting CD go will quiet those (like me) who have castigated JK for what he did in 2014. Shoot, maybe Jozy Altidore is expendable as well after today
Anyone is expendable when it comes to the National team. Whoever is in the best form should start.
If that means that Jordan Morris and Aron Jo start up top then fine.
“Latinos in college”
LOL
Bigotry is never the answer.
Crickets