U.S. Men's National Team
March Roster Prediction: 23 Names for Two Friendlies
Jurgen Klinsmann and staff have some difficult decisions to make ahead of two March friendlies in Europe. Here, ASN's Brian Sciaretta handicaps the roster options and makes his predictions for the matches.
THE U.S. MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM'S two March friendlies—against Denmark and Switzerland—are just a few weeks away and will be the first two games played on FIFA dates in more than four months. Following the disastrous 4-1 loss to Ireland that closed out 2014, it is fair to expect some changes as the team prepares for the 2015 Gold Cup and beyond.
January camp proved to be a useful evaluation tool for Jurgen Klinsmann, with Gyasi Zardes and Steve Birnbaum emerging as the clear-cut winners. Among potential newcomers, Club America's Ventura Alvarado is pushing hard for a potential debut call-up.
It is worth noting that it will not just be the full U.S. national team playing games abroad. The U.S. U-20s—and reportedly the U-23s—will also have camps in Europe. So a lot of players will be needed to fill the rosters and some decisions will have to be made about players who qualify for more than one squad.
A few assumptions ahead of my roster prediction:
These games will come too soon for Jermaine Jones, who is still recovering from hernia surgery.
I think a few age-eligible U.S. national team players—like Julian Green and DeAndre Yedlin—will shift focus to the U-23s, as will January camp players Wil Trapp, Luis Gil, and Shane O’Neill. The only age-eligible player for the U-23 team who I think will be playing for the full U.S. team will be John Brooks. Olympic qualifying is fast approaching and that team needs time to prepare.
I think Rubio Rubin and Emerson Hyndman will be used at the U-20 camp in London despite both having been capped in 2014. Both players are more likely to play at the U-20 World Cup than the Gold Cup so U-20 head coach Tab Ramos might as well spend time working with them.
A few players could float between the three different teams in Europe during the break but this assumes that the players will stay with one team throughout the March FIFA break.
2. Bill Hamid
3. Nick Rimando
In the mix: Sean Johnson The lowdown: This seems to be rather straightforward as Guzan is the first-choice keeper and Rimando is the backup. There could be a question if Sean Johnson goes instead of Bill Hamid but that is a minor issue at the moment.
5. Geoff Cameron
6. Matt Besler
7. Ventura Alvarado
8. Steve Birnbaum
9. Timmy Chandler
10. Fabian Johnson
11. Gregory Garza
In the mix: Omar Gonzalez, Tim Ream, Eric Lichaj, Matt Hedges, DeAndre Yedlin, Shane O’Neill The lowdown: Birnbaum impressed during the January camp window and earned praise for his performance against Chile. Alvarado has burst onto the scene at Club America and has been scouted by Klinsmann’s staff. The Phoenix native has given every reason to be included for a look. In the Bundesliga, John Brooks and Timothy Chandler are regular starters and Brooks is the only player eligible for a youth team that Klinsmann cannot afford to send to the U-23s at the moment. Most significantly, Fabian Johnson is back to playing very well for Borussia Monchengladbach, one of the top teams in the Bundesliga. It would not be surprising to see him play both as a midfielder and as a defender.
13. Alejandro Bedoya
14. Mix Diskerud
15. Brek Shea
16. Miguel Ibarra
17. Graham Zusi
18. Danny Williams
19. Alfredo Morales
In the mix: Joe Corona, Julian Green, Lee Nguyen, Kyle Beckerman, Maurice Edu, Perry Kitchen The lowdown: With Jones likely out because of hernia surgery, the door is open for Danny Williams to make a return to the U.S. national team. Alfredo Morales continues to have a strong season with 2.Bundesliga leaders Ingolstadt. Geoff Cameron remains a possibility but he is still most likely to be used as a defender. Kyle Beckerman is a known quantity but the fact he missed the January camp might hurt his chances. Lee Nguyen is someone who should make this roster if healthy but his recovery from a groin injury seems to be going slower than expected. In that regard, Zusi can take his place—although if Nguyen returns this weekend and plays well, he is not out of the equation.
On the wings, Brek Shea seems to have returned to Klinsmann’s good graces in January camp and the fact he is actually playing in competitive games will only help him get another shot. Miguel Ibarra has been a Klinsmann favorite since his surprising call-up in October. Julian Green is a favorite but there is no denying the dreadful season he has had (which has only deteriorated in recent weeks). Perhaps a U-23 callup would be better for Green since he remains eligible for the 2016 Olympics.
21. Jozy Altidore
22. Aron Johannsson
23. Gyasi Zardes
In the mix: Chris Wondolowski, Rubio Rubin, Jordan Morris, Andrew Wooten The lowdown: The forward position is still very much open right now but Aron Johannsson's return to the field with AZ Alkmaar helps bring some World Cup experience to the squad. In addition, Zardes likely surpassed Bobby Wood in the pecking order thanks to his performances in January. Rubio Rubin is probably a U-20 option as the World Cup is approaching but it is not out of the question that he splits time between the U.S. senior side and the U-20 team. What do you think of Brian's predictions? Did he leave out somebody you'd like to see against Denmark or Switzerland? Tell us in the Comments section below. Brian Sciaretta is an American Soccer Now columnist and an ASN 100 panelist. Follow him on Twitter.
It is worth noting that it will not just be the full U.S. national team playing games abroad. The U.S. U-20s—and reportedly the U-23s—will also have camps in Europe. So a lot of players will be needed to fill the rosters and some decisions will have to be made about players who qualify for more than one squad.
A few assumptions ahead of my roster prediction:
Goalkeepers
1. Brad Guzan2. Bill Hamid
3. Nick Rimando
In the mix: Sean Johnson The lowdown: This seems to be rather straightforward as Guzan is the first-choice keeper and Rimando is the backup. There could be a question if Sean Johnson goes instead of Bill Hamid but that is a minor issue at the moment.
Defenders
4. John Brooks5. Geoff Cameron
6. Matt Besler
7. Ventura Alvarado
8. Steve Birnbaum
9. Timmy Chandler
10. Fabian Johnson
11. Gregory Garza
In the mix: Omar Gonzalez, Tim Ream, Eric Lichaj, Matt Hedges, DeAndre Yedlin, Shane O’Neill The lowdown: Birnbaum impressed during the January camp window and earned praise for his performance against Chile. Alvarado has burst onto the scene at Club America and has been scouted by Klinsmann’s staff. The Phoenix native has given every reason to be included for a look. In the Bundesliga, John Brooks and Timothy Chandler are regular starters and Brooks is the only player eligible for a youth team that Klinsmann cannot afford to send to the U-23s at the moment. Most significantly, Fabian Johnson is back to playing very well for Borussia Monchengladbach, one of the top teams in the Bundesliga. It would not be surprising to see him play both as a midfielder and as a defender.
Midfielders
12. Michael Bradley13. Alejandro Bedoya
14. Mix Diskerud
15. Brek Shea
16. Miguel Ibarra
17. Graham Zusi
18. Danny Williams
19. Alfredo Morales
In the mix: Joe Corona, Julian Green, Lee Nguyen, Kyle Beckerman, Maurice Edu, Perry Kitchen The lowdown: With Jones likely out because of hernia surgery, the door is open for Danny Williams to make a return to the U.S. national team. Alfredo Morales continues to have a strong season with 2.Bundesliga leaders Ingolstadt. Geoff Cameron remains a possibility but he is still most likely to be used as a defender. Kyle Beckerman is a known quantity but the fact he missed the January camp might hurt his chances. Lee Nguyen is someone who should make this roster if healthy but his recovery from a groin injury seems to be going slower than expected. In that regard, Zusi can take his place—although if Nguyen returns this weekend and plays well, he is not out of the equation.
On the wings, Brek Shea seems to have returned to Klinsmann’s good graces in January camp and the fact he is actually playing in competitive games will only help him get another shot. Miguel Ibarra has been a Klinsmann favorite since his surprising call-up in October. Julian Green is a favorite but there is no denying the dreadful season he has had (which has only deteriorated in recent weeks). Perhaps a U-23 callup would be better for Green since he remains eligible for the 2016 Olympics.
Forwards
20. Clint Dempsey21. Jozy Altidore
22. Aron Johannsson
23. Gyasi Zardes
In the mix: Chris Wondolowski, Rubio Rubin, Jordan Morris, Andrew Wooten The lowdown: The forward position is still very much open right now but Aron Johannsson's return to the field with AZ Alkmaar helps bring some World Cup experience to the squad. In addition, Zardes likely surpassed Bobby Wood in the pecking order thanks to his performances in January. Rubio Rubin is probably a U-20 option as the World Cup is approaching but it is not out of the question that he splits time between the U.S. senior side and the U-20 team. What do you think of Brian's predictions? Did he leave out somebody you'd like to see against Denmark or Switzerland? Tell us in the Comments section below. Brian Sciaretta is an American Soccer Now columnist and an ASN 100 panelist. Follow him on Twitter.
