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Dave Sarachan names 24-player roster for upcoming USMNT friendlies

USMNT

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY (Sept. 3, 2018) — Dave Sarachan is keeping it youthful with the USMNT.

The interim head coach — who has filled the position since October 2017 — has named his 24-player squad for friendlies against Brazil and Mexico. Both teams competed in the FIFA World Cup this past summer.

Dave Sarachan names 24-player roster for upcoming USMNT friendlies

Sarachan has called players to the USMNT from both MLS, and overseas. The mix gives the squad with an average age of 24. Former players from the United States run in the 2014 FIFA World Cup were named to the squad, including John Brooks and Julian Green.

However, fresh faces that made debuts in 2018 remain on the roster, including Tim Parker, Shaq Moore and Antonee Robinson.

Only one player on the roster is uncapped. Aaron Long has received his first U.S. Men’s National Team call up. A defender for the New York Red Bulls, Long has appeared in all 28 league matches this season. Long is a centerback, as is Parker. The two have featured all season together for New York.

Sarachan called Long a “great story.”

“At 25, he’s an example that there is no exact time to when you find your form,” Sarachan said. “He’s in the kind of form where I feel he has the chance to move to the next level. This period of time is a great opportunity for me and my staff to really get to know him by having him in with us.”

Sarachan, who is looking to keep the head coaching job among rumors chirping at other notable names garnering interviews, said that playing against “high-powered opponents” is continuing on building “the foundation that we’ve laid.”

“We felt it was right to continue allowing this group to get valuable experience for the big picture that includes competitive matches in the future with the Gold Cup, Olympic Qualifying and World Cup Qualifying,” Sarachan said.

Gyasi Zardes, John Brooks return

After lengthy spells away from the national team, John Brooks and Gyasi Zardes are back in the fold.

After leaving the LA Galaxy this past off-season, Zardes has revitalized his career with Columbus. In 27 matches, Zardes has found the back of the net 15 times. He is close to breaking his own personal record for most goals in a season. Back in 2014, he scored 16 times for the LA Galaxy.

Zardes’ last camp with the USMNT was back in January 2018.

John Brooks also switched teams, but last off-season. After an injury-plagued first season with VFL Wolfsburg in the German Bundesliga, Brooks opened up the 2018-19 season with a goal against Schalke.

Sarachan said that Brooks has put in a “lot of work” during the off-season.

“Given all that, I’m pleased that he’s able to be back with the group,” Sarachan said. “Centerback is an important position and he’s proven that he’s very capable at this level.”

Injury keeps Pulisic out of the group

Christian Pulisic was in Sarachan’s September plans.

However, according to the interim head coach, Pulisic has suffered an undisclosed injury with Borussia Dortmund. Sarachan said that you can “never predict timing” with injuries.

“It’s disappointing that we won’t have Christian involved,” Sarachan said. “I know that he wanted to be a part of things and we certainly wanted him here, but unfortunately he won’t be available. That said, we haven’t had Christian in with the group aside from one game in the past six friendlies, so I feel confident that this group will continue to build on what we have started.”

The Full Roster

Below is the full roster for the United States’ upcoming friendlies.

Goalkeepers: Alex Bono, Ethan Horvath, Zack Steffen

Defenders: John Brooks, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Eric Lichaj, Aaron Long, Matt Miazga, Shaq Moore, Tim Parker, Antonee Robinson, DeAndre Yedlin

Midfielders: Kellyn Acosta, Tyler Adams, Paul Arriola, Julian Green, Sebastian Lletget, Weston McKennie, Cristian Roldan, Wil Trapp, Tim Weah

Forwards: Andrija Novakovich, Bobby Wood, Gyasi Zardes

The Matches

The first of two friendlies for the USMNT will be against Brazil.

On Sept. 7, the two sides will meet at MetLife Stadium — home of the New York Giants and New York Jets of the NFL — at 7:30 p.m. ET. The match will air on Fox Sports 1.

On Sept. 11, the United States will face Mexico at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. The match is slated to begin at 8:30 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN.

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