Jurgen Klinsmann has called in 23 players ahead of two USMNT friendlies taking place over the next week. Here are five players to keep an eye on.
The U.S. Men’s National Team have a pair of friendlies coming up that will serve as tune ups before their first Hexagonal round match of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying on November 11 versus Mexico.
The first of the two friendlies will be a historic trip to Cuba on Friday — it’s the first time the USMNT has traveled to Cuba for a friendly since 1947. The match will be broadcast on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. ET. Four days later the Yanks will host New Zealand at RFK Stadium in Washington DC. Game time is set for 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
USA manager Jurgen Klinsmann has selected 23 players for the two games. Alejandro Bedoya had to withdraw due to a rib muscle strain while John Brooks will only be available against Cuba before returning to Germany.
With the formalities out of the way, here are 5 USMNT players to watch against Cuba and New Zealand.
Jordan Morris
The Seattle Sounders forward has become a mainstay with the national team, and for good reason. Morris leads the Sounders with 12 goals this season, and will now be the main attacking option with Clint Dempsey out for the rest of the MLS season due to an irregular heartbeat. The 21-year-old scored his first USMNT goal in April, 2015 against Mexico. Also, he can do things like this:
https://twitter.com/JetSettersFlyIn/status/780200325475033088
Morris will battle Bobby Wood for the second forward spot alongside Jozy Altidore in a two-forward formation. However, if Klinsmann elects to go with a lone striker up top, it will be difficult for Morris to unseat Altidore, who has been in great form recently. Either way, expect him to get a lot of minutes in these two matches; it’s a good bet he’ll find the back of the net as well.