Klinsmann Names 23 Player Roster for historic Copa America Centenario – U.S. Soccer (press release) (registration) (blog)
CHICAGO (May 21, 2016) – U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has named the 23-player roster that will compete in the historic 2016 Copa America Centenario.
The roster includes 15 players from the 2014 FIFA World Cup squad, and a total of 18 who have already appeared in Qualifying for Russia 2018. Veterans like team captain Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey marshal the group boasting loads of experience. With an average of 37 caps, there are five players with 50 or more and an equal number with five or less. Meantime, John Brooks, Bobby Wood and DeAndre Yedlin lead a youth contingent that includes five players who are 23-years-old or younger.
“This roster really was put together based on what we saw over the last year, and it’s one that makes us the strongest team possible to compete in Copa America and to hopefully surprise a lot of people,” said Klinsmann. “We feel that these 23 going into the very special Copa America, they really deserved to be there,” said Klinsmann. “Obviously when you get down and you decide on the final 23-man roster, there are very close, tight decisions to make. The moment when you decide, it’s about definitely who you feel the strongest about.”
The MNT opens the tournament facing fourth-ranked Colombia on June 3 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Four days later, the U.S. Takes on regional rival Costa Rica in Chicago at Soldier Field. The team completes Group A play against Paraguay on June 11 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. All of the USA matches will be broadcast live on FS1, UniMas and UDN.
The U.S. will play three warm-up games heading into the Copa America Centenario, beginning with its first meeting against Puerto Rico on May 22 in Bayamon (12 p.m. ET; FS1, UniMas, UDN). Following the trip to Puerto Rico, the USA will face Ecuador on May 25 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas (7 p.m. CT; ESPN2, UniMas, UDN) [TICKETS] and Bolivia on May 28 at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas (7 p.m. CT; FS1 and Univision networks) [TICKETS].
U.S. Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3): 1-Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), 12-Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids), 22-Ethan Horvath (Molde IK)
DEFENDERS (8): 5-Matt Besler (Sporting KC), 3-Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), 6-John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), 20-Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), 21-Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), 23-Fabian Johnson (Borussia Moenchengladbach), 14-Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana), 2-DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham Hotspur)
MIDFIELDERS/FORWARDS (12): 15-Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), 11-Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), 4-Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), 8-Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), 13-Jermaine Jones (Colorado Rapids), 16-Perry Kitchen (Heart of Midlothian), 10-Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), 17-Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund), 18-Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), 7-Bobby Wood (Hamburg SV), 20-Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy), 19-Graham Zusi (Sporting KC)
U.S. ROSTER NOTES:
- Clint Dempsey is the leading cap-winner on the roster with 122 appearances. His 49 career goals are good for second on the USA’s all-time scoring list.
- Bobby Wood finished the 2. Bundesliga season with 17 league goals for Union Berlin, setting a single-season record for a U.S. international in Germany. His performance led to a May 15 transfer to Hamburg SV in the German Bundesliga.
- Brad Guzan boasts a 10-4-4 record in official competition for the United States, which includes matches in World Cup Qualifying, the FIFA Confederations Cup, the Gold Cup and Copa America.
- Fabian Johnson completed the Bundesliga campaign with Borussia Monchengladbach with six goals, including two in the Champions League. ‘Gladbach finished the season in fourth place and earned a spot in Champions League qualifying for next year.
- Weston, Fla., native Alejandro Bedoya finished the second half of the Ligue 1 season with four goals and two assists for Nantes.
- Geoff Cameron completed the year with 30 appearances for Stoke City, helping the club finish in the top half of the Premier League.
- DeAndre Yedlin capped off a successful loan spell at Sunderland by helping the Black Cats retain their place in the Premier League. Having spent 237 days in the relegation zone, the team secured another year in the top flight on the second-to-last matchday of the season.
- After extending his contract with Hertha Berlin, John Brooks dealt with nagging injuries at the end of the campaign. The capital club finished in seventh place, meaning the road to the Europa League will begin with qualifying in late July.
- Tim Howard joins the squad after having played his final match as a member of Everton. Having ended his 10-year career at the club, he will join the Colorado Rapids following the Copa America Centenario.
- Kyle Beckerman has played in six competitions for the senior team. He and Guzan are the only two players on the roster to have participated in a previous Copa America, having played in the 2007 edition.
- Jermaine Jones is back in the U.S. fold after a fine run of form with his new club. Since joining the Rapids, he has tallied three goals in six games.
- Chris Wondolowski sits in fourth place on the MLS scoring charts this season, his seven goals are just one behind the league leaders.
- Gyasi Zardes recorded a team-high 19 appearances in 2015.
- Christian Pulisic is the youngest player in the squad at 17 years old. He made his senior team debut in the 4-0 win against Guatemala in World Cup Qualifying in March. After breaking into Dortmund’s first team in January, he scored against Hamburg in April, becoming the fourth youngest player to score a Bundesliga goal. He also made three appearances in Dortmund’s run to the Europa League quarterfinals.
- Timmy Chandler returns to the fold for the first time since the 2015 Gold Cup. Having played seven of the last nine games for Eintracht Frankfurt, he will join the group May 24 in Dallas following the second leg of the relegation playoff on May 23 against Nurnberg.
- Steve Birnbaum has earned three of his four career caps this year. His first career goal proved to be the game-winner in the 3-2 victory against Iceland, then he earned his first World Cup Qualifying start against Guatemala in Columbus.
- Perry Kitchen made the most of his winter move to Heart of Midlothian in the Scottish Premier League, appearing in all 10 of the club’s league matches following his arrival in March.
- Ethan Horvath makes his debut in a senior National Team squad. The 20-year-old has played at every level for the United States beginning at the U-14 level. Playing for Molde in Norway after honing his skills at U.S. Soccer Development Academy club Real Colorado, he backstopped Molde FK in their first-place finish in Group A of the Europa League ahead of legendary clubs Ajax and Celtic and on to the knockout phase.
- Sporting KC and Colorado Rapids each send two players to the squad, both World Cup veteran duos in Matt Besler and Graham Zusi, and Howard and Jones.
- The United States has played four games in 2016, and five of the six USA scorers are on the roster.
- Five players from the state of California are on the roster: Steve Birnbaum, Michael Orozco, Wondolowski, Wood and Zardes.
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