Bruce Arena names 24-man USMNT roster ahead of World Cup qualifiers
USMNT head coach Bruce Arena has called in 24 players ahead of the huge World Cup qualifiers against Honduras and Panama.
U.S. Soccer has announced the 24-man roster called in by Bruce Arena that will be available for selection in the two vital World Cup qualifiers coming up next week. The USMNT will face Honduras on March 24 (FS1, 10:30 p.m. ET) in San Jose, CA and Panama on March 28 (beIN Sports, 10 p.m. ET) in Panama City, Panama.
The first name that jumps off the list is Clint Dempsey. It had been reported Deuce would be left off the roster for these two matches as he continues to get back to full speed after returning from an irregular heartbeat. It appears Arena and his staff have deemed him fit enough to at least be in the squad. He joins Jozy Altidore, Jordan Morris and Bobby Wood as the forwards called in.
Many USMNT fans will be happy to see Fabian Johnson listed as a midfielder, where he’s been effective for his club team, Borussia Monchengladbach. Arena, during an interview on FS1, confirmed that wide midfield was Johnson’s best spot and that he intends to use him there. Other notables in the U.S. midfield include teenage phenom Christian Pulisic and LA Galaxy winger Sebastian Lletget, who impressed during the January camp and friendlies.
In defense, long-time veteran, and member for four World Cup squads, DaMarcus Beasley, has been brought in to assist with the pesky left-back position. Other options at outside back include Jorge Villafana and Michael Orozco. Both play their club soccer in Liga MX in Mexico.
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Here’s the full USMNT roster, via the official US Soccer website:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Middlesbrough), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (8): DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana), Tim Ream (Fulham), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna), Walker Zimmerman (FC Dallas)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Jermaine Jones (LA Galaxy), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund)
FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC), Bobby Wood (Hamburg)
It will be interesting to see what formation Arena utilizes with a full-strength squad to choose from. One thing is for certain: there is no room for error in these two qualifiers. Having lost their first two hexagonal matches, the Americans cannot afford to drop points. Arena’s selections and formation choices will be under a microscope.