On Sunday afternoon, the US Soccer Federation announced the 40-man preliminary roster for the upcoming Copa America. The group will meet within the next two weeks, with a finalized roster due on May 20 before the tournament kicks off on June 3. Here’s a look at the initial pool of talent, along with any guys who should’ve gotten a look.
Goalkeepers
Following the wedding tradition of “Something old, something new…”, Jurgen Klinsmann has called in Premier League veterans Tim Howard and Brad Guzan once again. Both have been in poor form by their standards this season.Howard lost his starting spot to Joel Robles after the halfway point and Guzan’s Aston Villa were relegated amid a historically bad season for the club. With Howard set to join Colorado Rapids in July, this is his final USMNT call-up as an Everton man.
The battle for the third spot on the roster could say a lot about who’s seen as the future at the position. San Jose’s David Bingham kept a clean sheet in his senior team debut against Canada this past winter but saw little pressure. 20-year-old Ethan Horvath of Norway’s Molde FK started the recent U-23 matches against Colombia and has seen plenty of action for club and country. The ever-reliable Nick Rimando also gets the call as insurance.
Who makes the 23: Guzan, Horvath, Howard
Who could’ve made this list: William Yarborough (Leon, MEX); Bill Hamid (injury – DC United)
Centerbacks
Predicting the position of players in Klinsmann’s tenure has been a fool’s pursuit. Judging by club form, the best pairing in the center could be Stoke City’s Geoff Cameron and Hertha BSC’s John Brooks. Both have been regular starters for their side and become anchors for the clubs. The next tier of hopefuls includes Sporting KC’s Matt Besler (who has regained his footing after missing calls for most of 2015), Pachuca’s Omar Gonzalez, and Fulham’s Tim Ream. Each is an experienced international player who can provide solid coverage.
The rest of the call-ups seem like fringe candidates. Chelsea’s Matt Miazga hasn’t seen the field very much since his winter transfer from New York Red Bulls, and has yet to get a start with the full national side, but is one of the brightest prospects in the US Men’s pool. Club America’s Ventura Alvarado has seen his stock fall dramatically over the last twelve months, falling out of favor for both club and country. DC United’s Steve Birnbaum was one of the brightest points of the January camp this year and has been in decent form in MLS so far.
Who makes the 23: Besler, Brooks, Cameron, Miazga
Who could’ve made this list: Andrew Farrell (New England Revolution); Matt Hedges (FC Dallas); Michael Parkhurst (Columbus Crew)
Fullbacks
More than any other area of the field, the fullback spots have been a revolving door since Klinsmann took over the program in 2011. Players listed above such as Cameron and Ream have been used at either fullback slot regularly, and other players called up (most notably winger Fabian Johnson) could also see time. Club Tijuana’s Michael Orozco profiles best in the center, but is used at both outside spots in international play. Meanwhile, FC Dallas prospect Kellyn Acosta is a defensive midfielder through-and-through, yet sees time at LB in his call-ups.
It isn’t all chaos outside, though. On the right side, Tottenham player and Sunderland loanee DeAndre Yedlin has started the past ten games for his temporary club, showing a lot of improvement in defense to supplement his calling card on the right wing. Enigma Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt) has returned from injury in time to get this preliminary call but is a rare player who looks very good for his club and completely out of his depth for country. Seattle Sounders veteran Brad Evans provides a solid defense-first mentality with accurate passing to boot.
On the left side, America may finally have a regular starter in Monterrey’s Edgar Castillo, who looked very capable in the most recent World Cup Qualifier against Guatemala. This list sees the triumphant recall of Nottingham Forest’s Eric Lichaj, who can feature at either side of the backline.
Who makes the 23: Castillo, Chandler, Yedlin
Who could’ve made this list: DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo); Desevio Payne (FC Groningen, NED); (Brek Shea (Orlando City SC); Jorge Villafana (Santos Laguna, MEX)
Central Midfield
As we move into the attack, players tend to fall into one of three categories: central midfield, wingers, or forwards. Klinsmann toyed with a 4-4-2 diamond at the World Cup before Jozy Altidore’s injury, and it made a return after constant formation turnover in the qualifiers. The back of the diamond has been anchored by Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake) for much of the Klinsmann Era, but finding a replacement for the 34 year old should be a top priority. Acosta could see time there in the camp, but Reading’s Danny Williams seems to be the heir apparent for the spot. Perry Kitchen of Scottish side Hearts is also in contention.
Moving forward on the pitch, captain Michael Bradley has yet to find a consistent position with the current gaffer. Bradley is often thrown as a playmaking 10, while he’s looked most comfortable dropped back as a 6 or an 8 with plenty of moving pieces in front of him. Regular call-ups Jermaine Jones (Colorado Rapids) and Alejandro Bedoya (FC Nantes, FRA) are back, as well as playmakers Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution) and Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers). Alfredo Morales (FC Inglostadt, GER) and Mix Diskerud also are in contention.
Who makes the 23: Beckerman, Bedoya, Bradley, Jones, Nagbe, Williams
Who could’ve made this list: Benny Feilhaber (Sporting KC); Emerson Hyndman (Fulham, ENG); Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls); Dax McCarty (New York Red Bulls); Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew); Gedion Zelalem (Rangers, SCO – on loan from Arsenal, ENG)
Wingers
America has a truly capable left-winger in Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach, GER), and he’s finally seeing regular time at the spot after filling the LB position for much of the previous cycle. Players like Bedoya, Nagbe, and Nguyen could factor into the wing positions as well. Set-piece specialist Graham Zusi (Sporting KC) has seen a return to form after looking sluggish in 2015. Columbus Crew’s Ethan Finlay had a great assist in the Canada friendly and has looked solid as ever for club.
The wing position also finds both 2015 and 2016’s Hot New Callup. Gyasi Zardes was brought in as often as any player in their first international year, and while he best profiles as a striker long-term, he’s been deployed on the wing with regularity in international play. However, it’s impossible to ignore the call-up of 17 year-old wünderkind Christian Pulisic (pronounced puh-LISS-ick). Having seen starting time with German powerhouse Borussia Dortmund, Pulisic netted two goals for the senior side in April, becoming the youngest non-German scorer in Bundesliga history.
Who makes the 23: Johnson, Pulisic, Zardes
Who could’ve made this list: Julian Green (Bayern Munich, GER); Miguel Ibarra (Club Leon, MEX)
Forwards
The usual suspects were called in once again, with Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders) and Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC) being mortal locks for the final roster. Bobby Wood (Union Berlin, GER) has led his league in scoring this year and looks poised for a move to a bigger club this summer. While he’ll always be associated for his miss in the 2014 World Cup Round of 16, Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes) has been on fire for the start of MLS’ season. Seattle Sounders’ Jordan Morris has scored in three straight, could play at the wing, and has a chance to solidify himself up front for a decade.
Who makes the 23: Altidore, Dempsey, Morris, Wood
Who could’ve made the list: Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution); Charlie Davies (New England Revolution); Fafa Picault (FC St. Pauli, GER); Christian Ramirez (Minnesota United FC)
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