Rosters for the Copa America Centenario have been released and, not surprisingly, numerous players from the Seattle Sounders will be on display in this summer’s tournament.
Five Seattle Sounders Players Included on Copa America Rosters
For the US Men’s National Team, Brad Evans, Jordan Morris, and Clint Dempsey were all included on the preliminary roster by head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. Roman Torres was included for Panama and Nelson Valdez was included for Paraguay.
With the offense struggling thus far this season, it is worrying to see the three most capable offensive forces possibly missing three games in the coming months while participating in training camp and friendlies preceding the actual start of the tournament. Morris, particularly, is in fine form with three goals in the last three games. This will mean that younger players, such as Aaron Kovar and Oalex Anderson will need to start producing and other veteran players (Andreas Ivanschitz and Erik Friberg) spending more time up front compared to their usual midfield positions.
Also worrying to Sounders’ fans will be the loss of Brad Evans, the team captain and the main partner of Chad Marshall in central defense. This will mean that Zach Scott will play a major role, an idea that may seem less scary after he played this past weekend and helped the Sounders back line keep a clean sheet against eastern conference foes Columbus Crew SC.
The one positive note to take from these releases is the inclusion of Torres on the Panama roster. Torres hasn’t played for the Sounders since injuring his knee back in September 2015. His inclusion suggests that he could find his way into game day rosters for the Sounders after the conclusion of the tournament (early summer). His addition could bolster the back line of the Sounders who currently are tied for the second worst goal differential (-2) in the Western Conference.
The three games that will be missed by the players will be a home game with the Colorado Rapids and away games to the New England Revolution and DC United. The Rapids are currently sitting atop the Western Conference while the Revolution and United are sitting in seventh and fifth in the east, respectively.
While it will be nice to see numerous players representing the Sounders in one of the biggest tournaments to be seen in the US for a long time, the slow start to the season leaves the team in no position to slip up while they are away. For now, the question will remain, who is ready to step up?
