Corona lone newcomer in travel squad
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, May 25, 2012
[USA MEN] U.S. national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann named the final 23-man travel roster for the upcoming five matches
that include three friendlies and two 2014 World Cup qualifying games. The four players he won't take to Jacksonville for Saturday's game against Scotland on May 26 at 8 p.m. at EverBank Field (8 p.m.
ET, NBC Sports Network, Galavision) are Alfredo Morales, Juan Agudelo, Graham
Zusi and Danny Williams. The lone uncapped player in the squad is Joe Corona, who previously played for both the
USA and Mexico under-23 programs.
Fourteen players have previous experience in World Cup qualifying. Eighteen are based at foreign clubs -- four in Germany and Mexico, three in England,
two in Denmark and Scotland and one in Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal -- and five play in MLS.
"We have said from the beginning that these games are all about results, and we have
chosen the 23 players who are in the best form right now and ready to get the job done," said Klinsmann. "These guys have put in a tremendous amount of hard work in the last 10 days, and they are
hungry to get started with the matches. We want to thank the players who have gone back to their clubs for all of their effort here. They are knocking on the door and will be ready to go if
needed."
U.S. Travel Roster:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick
Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Steve Cherundolo
(Hannover 96), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Oguchi Onyewu (Sporting Lisbon), Michael Parkhurst (Nordsjaelland)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt
Lake), Michael Bradley (Chievo Verona), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Jose Torres (Pachuca)
FORWARDS (6): Jozy Altidore (AZ), Terrence Boyd (Borussia Dortmund), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Herculez Gomez (Santos), Chris Wondolowski
(San Jose Earthquakes)
Paul, slight error in the first paragraph. You've listed Juan Agudelo twice. Thanks for your continued good work with SA.
Hopefully Kyle Beckerman sees only the 'pine' in this 5 game stretch. Excited to see Fabian Johnson, JoCo, and Paco Torres in the midfield. Also we'll hear a lot about how this is the first time Dempsey and Donovan have played together since Klinsmann took over. Actually more interested to see if Herculez can continue his Mexican league form (he looked great in the games I saw him play in the Concacaf Champs League).
We look a bit thin in defenders. Carlos, Gooch, Goodson, and Parkhurst are central defenders (and Cameron too?). That leaves only Steve C and Castillo to play R and L naturally. Anyone else will be out of position. Perhaps Fabian Johnson can play LB too.
What happened to Danny Williams? I've not been that impressed with him, frankly, but I thought he'd be of more use than Beckerman since he can play across the midfield and right back too.
I think that Danny Williams is injured, so there would be no point to having him on the roster.
Thanks, Zack, I wasn't aware of the injury....