The United States Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann named his 24 player roster for Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier versus Honduras.
Less than a week after a dismal performance against Canada, Klinsmann will bring in the calvary for the first match of the hexagonal qualification round. His squad includes English Premier League standouts Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard, and Geoff Cameron along with other European players such as: Michael Bradley, Timmy Chandler, Jermaine Jones, and Maurice Edu.
“We want to have a sense of urgency right from the start of the Final Round,” Klinsmann said in a report to mlssoccer.com. “We have a lot of respect for Honduras, but our message to the team is that we are going there to get three points. One thing we learned from the Semifinal Round is that you have to bring the right mentality to play in the tough games on the road, and I’m confident we are ready to do that.”
Landon Donovan will be left out of the Honduras game as he continues to deliberate his future for the L.A. Galaxy and the U.S. National Team.
Of the 24 players, Timmy Chandler will be the most intriguing player to watch during Wednesday’s clash in Honduras. Chandler has been wavering in his loyalties since his bright debut performance against Argentina in 2011. The defender has continued to struggle to decide whether to play for Germany or the U.S. and hasn’t suited up for the Yanks since the fall. But his recent decision to play for the U.S. in World Cup qualifying finally closed the frustrating tango between the two nations both mentally and lawfully.
With Fabian Johnson and Steve Cherundolo (who was left off the roster) struggling with injuries, Chandler will most likely earn a starting position on Wednesday. Will he continue his already impressive resume on the national team? Playing alongside Geoff Cameron and possibly Omar Gonzalez could develop into a consistent defense that Klinsmann has needed.
Jozy Altidore also returned to the squad and will most likely start thanks to his impressive season in the Netherlands with AZ Alkmaar.
This roster finally seems to be shaping into a World Cup Cup ready squad, but the names on paper will not guarantee quality play transferred on field. The absence of Landon Donovan will be missed, especially during a difficult road match like Honduras. The talent is present, but leadership will be the main concern as the USMNT’s hostile journey to the 2014 World Cup begins this Wednesday.
The Squad
Goalkeepers: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, Sean Johnson
Defenders: Matt Besler, Carlos Bocanegra, Geoff Cameron, Edgar Castillo, Timmy Chandler, Brad Evans, Omar Gonzalez, Fabian Johnson, Michael Parkhurst
Midfielders: Michael Bradley, Brad Davis, Maurice Edu, Jermaine Jones, Sacha Kljestan, Jose Torres, Danny Williams, Graham Zusi
Forwards: Jozy Altidore, CLint Dempsey, Herculez Gomez, Eddie Johnson
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