United States Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann named 12 MLS players to his 23-man squad for Sunday’s CONCACAF Cup showdown versus Mexico (9 p.m. ET, FS1, Univision, UDN). The winner of the match punches a ticket to the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia, making it the USMNT’s biggest game since its 2014 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 loss to Belgium. The team will lean on a nucleus of battle-tested MLS veterans to guide it past a Mexican National Team in front of 90,000 fans at the Rose Bowl.
With so much at stake, Klinsmann was keen on building an experienced 23-man squad and didn’t need to look far beyond MLS to do so. DaMarcus Beasley, Michael Bradley, and Clint Dempsey join Tim Howard as the only active U.S. internationals with more than 100 caps. Jozy Altidore, Matt Besler, Graham Zusi, Kyle Beckerman, Jermaine Jones, and Chris Wondolowski were onboard for last summer’s World Cup. Even Gyasi Zardes—who earned his first international cap in January—has played in all but one of the USMNT’s 15 matches in 2015.
With so much at stake, Klinsmann was keen on building an experienced 23-man squad and didn’t need to look far beyond MLS to do so. DaMarcus Beasley, Michael Bradley, and Clint Dempsey join Tim Howard as the only active U.S. internationals with more than 100 caps. Jozy Altidore, Matt Besler, Graham Zusi, Kyle Beckerman, Jermaine Jones, and Chris Wondolowski were onboard for last summer’s World Cup. Even Gyasi Zardes—who earned his first international cap in January—has played in all but one of the USMNT’s 15 matches in 2015.
While some of Major League Soccer’s young stars such as LA Galaxy’s Sebastian Lletget and Columbus Crew SC’s Ethan Finlay are beckoning for call-ups, their turn will have to wait. If all goes well for the USMNT on Sunday, those budding players might get their chance on a global stage at the Confederations Cup in 2017: “This is about having a group of players who understand exactly now what this is all about,” Klinsmann said. “This is about momentum. This is about high energy. This is about representing my country. This is about belief and a high-level of aggressiveness in a one-off game to beat Mexico and to get to the Confederations Cup. It’s a unique opportunity, and you have to embrace it and give everything you have.”
MLS players named to the 23-man roster: Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City) Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy).
MLS players named to the 23-man roster: Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City) Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy).
By: Editor
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