Clint Dempsey, Jermaine Jones, Michael Bradley, and Matt Besler are among the seven World Cup veterans chosen for the US Training Camp leading up to the Gold Cup. But it’s not the vets who have the soccer world buzzing with questions and predictions; it’s the 14 newcomers added by Jurgen Klinsmann last Friday.
Gold Cup Roster Breakdown
With veteran goalkeeper Tim Howard on-leave with the US team this summer, not returning until September 2015. Following Howard’s announcement of leave in late August following the US’s exit from the World Cup, Jurgen Klinsmann was reported stating that the now 35-year-old would need to “prove he deserves to be back.” There’s no doubt that Howard will return to the US squad as long as he remains healthy. But with Howard gone, Klinsmann will rely on veteran Nick Rimando to step up as a tentative starter.
Behind Rimando are three possible back-ups; Syracuse University’s Alex Bono, Chicago Fire’s Sean Johnson, and Sporting KC’s Jon Kempin. A commonality between the three, as is with many of these newcomers: youth.
This is a great decision by Klinsmann for many reasons. Regardless of Howard’s return to US Soccer next fall, when he’ll be 36 years old, the next time he would compete in a World Cup, he will be 39 years old. Despite his great shape, health, and unyielding talent, time is of the essence for Howard. Now is the best time to bring in young talent between the posts and give these players a chance to perform with and against world-class talent.
On to the defense, we see two returning veterans Matt Besler and Jermaine Jones. With Jones’ transfer to New England in late August, he’s become a key player in MLS and also in Jurgen Klinsmann’s eyes. Jurgen Klinsmann has a track record of experimenting with players in new/unfamiliar positions; one of the most unusual has been Jones at center back. The 6’0’’ German-born midfielder is a deadly tackler and has good distribution from the middle third of the field. It will be interesting to see Jones, a player known for getting forward and attacking, to be somewhat held at a possible center back position.
The newcomers on defense are entirely MLS bred. From D.C. United, we have both Steve Birnbaum (23) and Perry Kitchen (22). Very similar to DeAndre Yedlin in 2014, Klinsmann has added two homegrown young guns to the US defense; 21-year-old Shane O’Neil from the Colorado Rapids and 20 year-old Oscar Sorto from the LA Galaxy. Again, we see that Klinsmann has selected a younger pool to choose his back line from. With the leadership from Besler and Jones, I expect these top-ranking college players to find their role in the US’ defense.
At the center of the US will be a new and interesting midfield. Led by Michael Bradley, expect to see a lot of switching around similar to what we saw in Brazil this past summer. Returning to another US roster is Norwegian-American Mix Diskerud who was selected this past summer to the World Cup team but did not appear in any games for the US.
After playing in multiple friendlies per Klinsmann’s request, the New England Revolution’s Lee Nguyen has been added to the training camp roster. Both Jermaine Jones and Nguyen led New England’s scoring this past season, helping them finish second in the Eastern Conference. Newcomer Dennis Flores from Leon will look to impress coaches this training camp and make his first national team appearance. One name catching the eyes of many Americans is Liverpool’s Marc Pelosi who will also look to make his first appearance with the senior team. Pelosi is a very versatile, left-footed central midfielder also able on the left wing and left back.
The United States’ offense is one of great promise, starting at the top with captain Clint Dempsey. One promising addition to the US offense is FC Dallas forward Tesho Akindele who was named MLS Rookie of the Year last season. Klinsmann also named 1860 Munich’s Bobby Wood to the 26-man roster along with homegrown Gyasi Zardes of the LA Galaxy. Marc Pelosi and Bobby Wood are the only Europe-based players headed to the US training camp
This year’s Gold Cup pool is similar to what we would expect from Jurgen Klinsmann following last year’s World Cup finish and his past decisions: young. 12 of the 28 players are eligible for the United States’ U-23 squad that will attempt to qualify for the Olympics in in 2016.
Klinsmann has selected this young group of players for many reasons, some we may not be aware of. One reason, he needs young players that can keep up with talented and athletic midfields of top teams. Another reason, we know Klinsmann is extremely concerned with fitness, stamina, and strength of his players. His hope is that a young roster will allow the US to gain an edge athletically against opponents.
This Gold Cup we will get a preview at the new generation that will be leading in near future and 2022. It will be a coming-out for players like Kitchen, Zardes, and O’Neil. American fans should be excited to see young, new talent appearing for the United States.
“Because we want to build now the Olympic team cycle, we’ve brought in a lot of younger guys purposefully,” Klinsmann said. “But these younger players, they still need the leadership of the experienced ones.”
The Gold Cup is this group’s first test; making it to the final should be the expectation.
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Main Photo by Stuart Franklin – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
