Klinsmann names provisional roster for Mexico and Ellis announces “Victory Tour” roster as Haiti replaces Australia.
USMNT
The USMNT have remained optimistic since Brazil came into Foxborough and dismantled them like they were a youth team that was decimated by three red cards in the third minute. With the all-important match with Mexico less than a month away, Jurgen Klinsmann named his provisional roster as per CONCACAF, which must then be trimmed down to 23 from the original 35 that were submitted. Here’s a breakdown:
GK: Brad Guzan, Bill Hamid, Tim Howard, Nick Rimando
DEF: Ventura Alvarado, DaMarcus Beasley, Matt Besler, John Brooks, Geoff Cameron, Brad Evans, Greg Garza, Omar Gonzalez, Fabian Johnson, Michael Orozco, Tim Ream, Jonathan Spector
MID: Kyle Beckerman, Alejandro Bedoya, Michael Bradley, Joe Corona, Mix Diskerud, Jermaine Jones, Alfredo Morales, Lee Nguyen, Danny Williams, DeAndre Yedlin, Gyasi Zardes, Graham Zusi
FOR: Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey, Alan Gordon, Aron Johansson, Jordan Morris, Chris Wondolowski, Bobby Wood
This list is interesting on several levels. First, it includes some of the big names from the World Cup that have been left off recent matches, such as Graham Zusi and Kyle Beckerman. More shockingly, it does not include Benny Feilhaber, who is easily making his case for a call to rejoin the USMNT’s camp. Feilhaber has been consistent and a catalyst for Sporting Kansas City this season. He currently leads all MLS players in assists, and is a proven commodity for any team. His exclusion from the USMNT, however, shows just how biased Klinsmann is to MLS players and their success within the domestic league. I fully anticipate Feilhaber to get a call into the January camp, but for someone who is in the type of form he is, that is almost a slap in the face.
The final roster is going to be the best of the best that the USMNT has to offer at this point as this is the biggest match they will play since the World Cup loss to Belgium. Expect the big names such as Guzan, Howard, Dempsey, Altidore and Bradley to be there barring injury. The young up and comers such as Brooks, Johnson, Williams and Yedlin will also be present if they can avoid the injury bug. With the embarrassing finish at the Gold Cup, and the blowout loss to Brazil, Klinsmann needs this match to go his way. Given what’s on the line, he will select and prepare like it is the last match he will be coaching for the USMNT, though we all know that is not even a remote possibility
The USMNT also received the finalized semifinal round of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying dates and locations…ok, well only one location; but we have the dates, let’s just focus on that!
Nov. 13 – St. Vincent & The Grenadines – Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Mo. (H)
Nov. 17 – Trinidad & Tobago (A)
Mar. 25 – Guatemala (A)
Mar. 29 – Guatemala (H)
Sep. 2 – St. Vincent & The Grenadines (A)
Sep. 6 – Trinidad & Tobago (H)
The USMNT start off, with what should be an easy win, against St. Vincent & The Grenadines at what will be a very loud and proud Busch Stadium. The rest of the schedule should be relatively easy, with the exception of the Guatemala matches. The first of those two games will be away, and will pose a very real possibility of the USMNT losing in hostile territory. It is also very possible Guatemala could steal the following match on US soil if the USMNT gets complacent. All in all, this is a very favorable schedule for Jurgen’s men to take another step closer to qualifying for Russia. Like all World Cup qualifying matches, the key is to win at home and draw on the road. Do that and you can book a plane ticket to Russia in 2018, which Klinsmann desperately needs.
USWNT
What an interesting week for the USWNT! Oddly enough, it really did not have much to do with the USWNT team at all, more about their upcoming “Victory Tour” matches against Australia. The ladies that gave the USWNT a scare in the World Cup were slated to play in Detroit and Birmingham, however a dispute with their federation has scratched that plan. No need to worry, Haiti has stepped in and replaced Australia so the games will go on! Below is the roster for the match on Thursday, Sept. 17 in Detroit, and the Sunday, Sept. 20 match in Birmingham. It should be noted, that the ladies of the USWNT have publically supported their Australian counterparts in their battle. The sorority that is the women’s game is very strong, and many of players consider each other friends.
GK: Ashlyn Harris, Alyssa Naeher, Hope Solo
DEF: Lori Chalupny, Crystal Dunn, Whitney Engen, Julie Johnston, Meghan Klingenberg, Ali Krieger, Kelley O’Hara, Christie Rampone, Becky Sauerbrunn
MID: Shannon Boxx, Morgan Brian, Tobin Heath, Lauren Holiday, Carli Lloyd, Heather O’Reilly, Megan Rapinoe
FOR: Sydney Leroux, Alex Morgan, Christen Press, Amy Rodriguez, Abby Wambach
*Christen Press is only on roster for Detroit match
The World Cup trophy will be on display and you can expect to see all of your favorite players putting on a show. Just for the record, the last time the USWNT met Haiti, the final score was 6-0 in favor of the Americans. Expect lots of goals in both games.
