With the 2014 World Cup approaching, U.S. national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann named a preliminary 30-man roster, which included Sounders forward Clint Dempsey and defenders Brad Evans and DeAndre Yedlin.
This does not necessarily mean all three are going to Brazil to represent the U.S. in the World Cup—Klinsmann has to trim the roster down to 23 players by June 2—but it’s still noteworthy that the Sounders have more players on this preliminary roster than any other MSL squad.
Dempsey, the U.S. national team captain who has appeared in 103 games for his country, was a lock to be a part of this group, and Evans was largely expected to after making a name for himself during World Cup qualifying last year, but the 20-year-old Yedlin was very much on the bubble to be included, having only made his senior national team debut in January.
Major League Soccer does take a short break during the World Cup, but Seattle will still play games short-handed because of these call-ups—the Sounders play four more games before the league takes two weekends off in June.
Dempsey said on a conference call Monday that he’ll be paying attention to how his club team does from afar, but feels like the Sounders will be able to succeed minus some of their top players.
“There’s a lot of depth with the Sounders. I’m sure that they will be able to do fine if us three are absent.”
One of the more notable omissions from the 30-man roster is former Sounders forward Eddie Johnson.
The players will begin reporting to Palo Alto Wednesday for the start of training camp, and the U.S. opens World Cup play on June 16.
Here’s the full list of 30 players:
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3):Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (11): DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Michael Parkhurst (Columbus Crew), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)
MIDFIELDERS (10): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Maurice Edu (Philadelphia Union), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (6): Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
