USMNT roster for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers: 5 key takeaways

Bruce Arena unveiled his 27-man roster ahead of the Hex matchups versus Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago. Here are five main takeaways.

The USMNT have two crucial World Cup qualifiers coming up next week, against Trinidad and Tobago and Mexico, for which Bruce Arena announced his 27-man squad over the weekend. Here’s the full roster:

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Atlanta United), Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas), Tim Ream (Fulham), Jorge Villafana (Santos Laguna), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

Midfielders: Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund)

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders), Bobby Wood (Hamburger SV)

And here are the five main takeaways:

1. Experience above experimentation

After getting the team back on track in March, Arena went with a roster chockfull of tried and true veterans. The squad has a very similar look to the one that brought the U.S. team back on track in March, when they gained four points against Honduras and Panama. Out goes Jermaine Jones with an injury, in comes Deandre Yedlin, back from missing time with an injury. DaMarcus Beasley could make his 125th appearance for the USMNT, a remarkable feat of longevity for a guy who was charging towards Oliver Kahn’s goal at the 2002 World Cup as a winger. Matt Hedges might be the only name that stands out as experimental; the FC Dallas center-back is getting only his third call-up to the national team.

2. Jorge Villafana is the left-back of the future

After decades of intrigue and controversy surrounding the left-back position, it appears the 27-year-old Santos Laguna player is in pole position to keep hold of the starting left-back spot. Having played well in his first two games, Villafana has earned his call-up and most likely another starting spot. Without any real threat for the left-back spot from other players, Villafana looks to solidify his hold on the position. This only makes it more difficult to understand how a player in his prime, starting in a position of need for the USMNT in the Mexican first division was overlooked for so long by Jurgen Klinsmann.

3. Christian Pulisic pulling the strings in midfield

After a stellar season at Borussia Dortmund, Pulisic looks set to become the midfield maestro for the national team. He has shown remarkable poise and maturity for a player still in his teenage years. In his latest appearances for the national team, Pulisic looked to have developed great chemistry with the front line veterans Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore. It remains to be seen how much creative freedom Pulisic will be allowed, and to what extent he will be drifting inside to play as a true “number 10” behind the forwards. It will also be interesting to see how the young talisman reacts to the pressure-cooker atmosphere of the Azteca, but it’s all part of a maturity and development process all USMNT fans are eager to follow.

4. The Chris Wondoloski era appears to be over

Time to shed a tear for the San Jose Earthquakes forward who looked to have a lock on a national team roster spot regardless of his or anyone else’s performances. With Dempsey back in good form, Bobby Wood fit and Jordan Morris continuing to improve and show tremendous potential, the days of Wondo appear to be over.

5. Dax McCarty, a welcome addition to the midfield depth chart

For years, McCarty has been carving up opposing defenses in MLS, and providing defensive balance in midfield. McCarty is of the rare and valuable breed of defensive midfielder who is technically gifted, tactically smart, able to cover a lot of ground and close the channels against the opposition. He has benefitted from playing alongside legendary World Cup champion Bastian Schweinsteiger at the Fire this season and is fully deserving of a spot on the roster. If, and to what extent, Arena uses him remains to be seen. One thing is certain: McCarty possess a much-coveted skill set that should prove very useful to the USMNT.

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