USMNT analysis
Nine European-based players added to USMNT roster; Steffen out injured
The USMNT roster for November begins to take shape with the addition of nine European-based players. ASN's Brian Sciaretta looks at the additions.
US SOCCER today announced that nine European-based players would be joining the U.S. national team for the November window. This list will join a number of the domestically-based players currently assembled in a precamp.
That does not, however, make up the final roster. There will also be additions of players who are currently preparing for MLS Cup (potentials include Michael Bradley, Jordan Morris, Cristian Roldan, and Jozy Altidore – depending on health). Some players will also be cut, as well. Some might join the U.S. U-23 team for a tournament in Spain, others might not make any roster. U.S Soccer also confirmed that defender Mark McKenzie, midfielders Brenden Aaronson and Djordje Mihailovic, and forwards Jeremy Ebobisse and Jonathan Lewis will depart the group later this week to join the U-23 team.
The final U.S. national team roster for the November games will be announced on Monday.
The nine European-based players who joined the U.S. team are
DEFENDERS (4): John Brooks (Wolfsburg/GER; 37/3), Sergiño Dest (Ajax/NED; 2/0), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 38/1), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United/ENG; 60/0),
MIDFIELDERS (2): Weston McKennie (Schalke/GER; 17/6), Alfredo Morales (Fortuna Düsseldorf/GER; 14/0)
FORWARDS (3): Tyler Boyd (Besiktas/TUR; 8/2), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea/ENG; 34/14), Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen/GER; 11/3)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC; 62/0), Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 8/0), Matt Turner (New England Revolution; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (10): John Brooks (Wolfsburg/GER; 37/3), Reggie Cannon (FC Dallas; 9/0), Sergiño Dest (Ajax/NED; 2/0), Chase Gasper (Minnesota United FC; 0/0), Nick Lima (San Jose Earthquakes; 9/0), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; 14/2), Daniel Lovitz (Montreal Impact/CAN; 12/0), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 38/1), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United/ENG; 60/0), Walker Zimmerman (LAFC; 11/2)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 12/2), Weston McKennie (Schalke/GER; 17/6), Alfredo Morales (Fortuna Düsseldorf/GER; 14/0), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC; 20/0), Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; 4/0)
FORWARDS (6): Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 30/5), Corey Baird (Real Salt Lake; 4/0), Tyler Boyd (Besiktas/TUR; 8/2), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea/ENG; 34/14), Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen/GER; 11/3), Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew SC; 54/10)
Some thoughts
Berhalter will have to play these upcoming games with the team’s backup goalkeeper due to a late injury picked up by Zack Steffen. That will likely fall either on Brad Guzan, Sean Johnson, Matt Turner.
But regardless, Steffen has shown to be a player who can make an enormous saves and now there will a lot of pressure on not just the backup goalkeepers, but among the defenders as well, to fill the void.
There are certainly a lot of notable omissions. Many promising young players like Antonee Robinson, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Emmanuel Sabbi, and Richard Ledezma will be with the U-23 team for the upcoming camp in Spain – ASN has learned.
But the omission of Matt Miazga, who has started important games under Berhalter such as the Gold Cup final, is glaring. The New Jersey native is a lock starter for Reading FC and has generally performed well for his club.
The omission of Duane Holmes is also surprising given the team’s struggle to score goals in recent months. He is back to starting for Derby County after injuries and illnesses have hampered him this season but the fact he initially made the Gold Cup team suggested he was once far more highly regarded than this omission indicates.
Three players are on this list who were not part of the ugly loss to Canada last month. John Brooks and Alfredo Morales are now healthy after missing the last camp with injuries. As everyone knows, Sergino Dest is now committed to the program after deciding to play for the United States.
All three should be welcome additions. Brooks is playing well for Wolfsburg’s backline and Alfredo Morales will bring some much-needed bite defensively. Dest is still a work in progress defensively but can get forward as well as any American fullback in recent memory.
That does not, however, make up the final roster. There will also be additions of players who are currently preparing for MLS Cup (potentials include Michael Bradley, Jordan Morris, Cristian Roldan, and Jozy Altidore – depending on health). Some players will also be cut, as well. Some might join the U.S. U-23 team for a tournament in Spain, others might not make any roster. U.S Soccer also confirmed that defender Mark McKenzie, midfielders Brenden Aaronson and Djordje Mihailovic, and forwards Jeremy Ebobisse and Jonathan Lewis will depart the group later this week to join the U-23 team.
The final U.S. national team roster for the November games will be announced on Monday.
The nine European-based players who joined the U.S. team are
Roster additions
DEFENDERS (4): John Brooks (Wolfsburg/GER; 37/3), Sergiño Dest (Ajax/NED; 2/0), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 38/1), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United/ENG; 60/0),
MIDFIELDERS (2): Weston McKennie (Schalke/GER; 17/6), Alfredo Morales (Fortuna Düsseldorf/GER; 14/0)
FORWARDS (3): Tyler Boyd (Besiktas/TUR; 8/2), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea/ENG; 34/14), Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen/GER; 11/3)
Current roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC; 62/0), Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 8/0), Matt Turner (New England Revolution; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (10): John Brooks (Wolfsburg/GER; 37/3), Reggie Cannon (FC Dallas; 9/0), Sergiño Dest (Ajax/NED; 2/0), Chase Gasper (Minnesota United FC; 0/0), Nick Lima (San Jose Earthquakes; 9/0), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; 14/2), Daniel Lovitz (Montreal Impact/CAN; 12/0), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 38/1), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United/ENG; 60/0), Walker Zimmerman (LAFC; 11/2)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 12/2), Weston McKennie (Schalke/GER; 17/6), Alfredo Morales (Fortuna Düsseldorf/GER; 14/0), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC; 20/0), Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; 4/0)
FORWARDS (6): Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 30/5), Corey Baird (Real Salt Lake; 4/0), Tyler Boyd (Besiktas/TUR; 8/2), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea/ENG; 34/14), Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen/GER; 11/3), Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew SC; 54/10)
Some thoughts
Steffen’s late injury
Berhalter will have to play these upcoming games with the team’s backup goalkeeper due to a late injury picked up by Zack Steffen. That will likely fall either on Brad Guzan, Sean Johnson, Matt Turner.
But regardless, Steffen has shown to be a player who can make an enormous saves and now there will a lot of pressure on not just the backup goalkeepers, but among the defenders as well, to fill the void.
Miazga and Holmes at the biggest absences
There are certainly a lot of notable omissions. Many promising young players like Antonee Robinson, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Emmanuel Sabbi, and Richard Ledezma will be with the U-23 team for the upcoming camp in Spain – ASN has learned.
But the omission of Matt Miazga, who has started important games under Berhalter such as the Gold Cup final, is glaring. The New Jersey native is a lock starter for Reading FC and has generally performed well for his club.
The omission of Duane Holmes is also surprising given the team’s struggle to score goals in recent months. He is back to starting for Derby County after injuries and illnesses have hampered him this season but the fact he initially made the Gold Cup team suggested he was once far more highly regarded than this omission indicates.
Brooks, Dest, Morales return
Three players are on this list who were not part of the ugly loss to Canada last month. John Brooks and Alfredo Morales are now healthy after missing the last camp with injuries. As everyone knows, Sergino Dest is now committed to the program after deciding to play for the United States.
All three should be welcome additions. Brooks is playing well for Wolfsburg’s backline and Alfredo Morales will bring some much-needed bite defensively. Dest is still a work in progress defensively but can get forward as well as any American fullback in recent memory.
