US Soccer and head coach Bob Bradley has announced the 20-man list that will comprise the game-day roster for their FIFA World Cup qualifier against Mexico next Wednesday in Mexico City.
A total of 17 players from the FIFA Confederations Cup roster that finished second, following a 3-2 defeat to Brazil, two months ago.
Everton's Tim Howard will undoubtedly get the start for the Red, White and Blue following his performance that saw him receive the tournament's best goalkeeper "Golden Glove" award in South Africa. He's joined on the roster by Brad Guzan, who plays a similar backup role for Aston Villa in the English Premier League.
Regular defenders including captain Carlos Bocanegra and AC Milan's Oguchi Onyewu have once again been named to the roster. They'll be joined by midfielder, and previous Mexico-killer, Michael Bradley, who scored both goals in the US's 2-0 victory earlier this year in Columbus.
The 17 players will be joined by only three that are making an appearance following US Soccer's runner-up appearance in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Columbus Crew defender Chad Marshall and midfielder Stuart Holden from the Houston Dynamo will make their first qualifying roster appearance, while Holden's club teammate Brian Ching is also on the roster.
Marshall, Holden and Ching will be joined by fellow MLS striker Conor Casey from the Colorado Rapids and defender Jonathan Bornstein. The speedy defender not only appeared in the Confederations Cup under Bradley, but was also coached at the club level when Bradley was the man on the bench for Chivas USA.
The United States will be looking for their first win in Mexico next Wednesday, the closest they've come previously was a scoreless draw in World Cup qualifying in 1997. This time the rivalry will kickoff at 4:00pm EST from Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Roster for United States vs. Mexico
Goalkeepers
Guzan, Brad Aston Villa (England)
Howard, Tim Everton (England)
Defenders
Bocanegra, Carlos Rennes (France)
Bornstein, Jonathan CD Chivas (MLS)
Cherundolo, Steve Hannover 96 (Germany)
DeMerit, Jay Watford (England)
Marshall, Chad Columbus Crew (MLS)
Onyewu, Oguchi AC Milan (Italy)
Spector, Jonathan West Ham United (England)
Midfielders
Bradley, Michael Borussia Mönchengladbach (Germany)
Clark, Ricardo Houston Dynamo (MLS)
Dempsey, Clint Fulham (England)
Feilhaber, Benny AGF Aarhus (Denmark)
Holden, Stuart Houston Dynamo (MLS)
Torres, Jose Francisco Pachuca (Mexico)
Forwards
Altidore, Jozy Hull City FC (England)
Casey, Conor Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Ching, Brian Houston Dynamo (MLS)
Davies, Charlie FC Sochaux (France)
Donovan, Landon LA Galaxy (MLS) |
Monday August 10, 2009
9:13 pm |
Scott, i'm very curious as to how you think your "wish lineup" would actually work. You have Feilhaber and Bradley playing on the wings? Feilhaber is terrible on the wing and i dont think that Bradly has ever played on the wing (maybe when he was like 11). Also Donovan is much more effective coming in from the wing and actually helps on defense.
— Nick
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Monday August 10, 2009
9:47 am |
I don't really mind the roster. My only worry is the lack of a camp coming into this game. I know a long camp can be somewhat overrated. I remember the last time the US played in Azteca, Arena took them to Colorado for over a week to train at altitude. And they still lost 2-1. So a long camp, in of itself, does not accomplish anything. However, I still like them to have more than two days, with many of our European-based players coming off of weekend games.
— Felix
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Monday August 10, 2009
8:35 am |
Well Bornstein isn't going to see the field, so at least for now that's not really a problem, however I'm afraid that Bradley indeed might play Conor Casey. My fear is that Coach Bradley will repeat his pattern of being adverse to using his bench quickly enough to stem the tide when inevitably his players start to tire. Remember the Mexicans have chosen to play this match in the middle of the afternoon in the heat and pollution of Mexico city in August... the starting eleven WILL GET TIRED, it's just a matter of just who shows the most severe signs and when.
As far as Casey's playing goes, the reasoning might go something like this... he plays his games at high altitude in Denver and he just scored a bunch of goals the other day so he's on form. Personally I've found his work rate far from overwhelming and I'm not sure that he is our best option up front.
After seeing that PK called in the Gold Cup final, the matter of just who has been given the job of calling this match also will come into play. If we get a Referee who sees people taking a dive and starts giving out cards and free kicks anything might happen... this match is a MUST WIN for the Mexicans and make no mistake it won't be fun for anybody.
I think we can get a tie... at least I hope we can.
— Robert Kiernan
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Monday August 10, 2009
8:04 am |
True soccerboy! Cooper should be there. Mind you, he may be better off with Munich now to settle in with the team. Casey is absolute crap.
I think its time for a little sweet revenge though - Mexico beat us in our backyard, so now time to re-pay the favor, although they won't play their 2nd/3rd string team, like we did for them.
— Ed C.
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Monday August 10, 2009
6:39 am |
SOCCERBOY 1, spot on, gt comments casey and bornstien, just not good enough at all, i think we will win or draw in mexico,with the same confeds cup team against spain/brazil.....come on yanks !!!!!!!!
— LEE SHELLEY UK
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Sunday August 9, 2009
11:34 pm |
Again, Bradley why can't you see Cooper's value and why are you in love with Conor Casey and Jonathan Bornstein . You are very biased toward your old players. Mark my words..You will be proven wrong on this one!
— Soccerboy1
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Sunday August 9, 2009
2:52 pm |
Scott,
Hejduk played LD in the World Champ 2002, and did it much better than anyone (including Boca) after that.
Also, Spector could play there.
— Ilya
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Sunday August 9, 2009
1:11 pm |
yes but it isnt pay per view , its just a normal premium channel . Like i said dish network , comcast , and direct tv are going to unblock the channel for the 12th so for that day only you will get the channel
— lawless
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Sunday August 9, 2009
12:51 pm |
duriseti,
Pearce makes me very nervous out there. His weaknesses were exposed tremendously in the Gold Cup Final where Mexico was just shredding us down their right side.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying JB is all that, he's just better than our other weak choices at left back.
Why the heck can we cultivate so many good right backs but struggle with left backs? I'm going to force my kid to start playing on the left side, perhaps he'll get some caps someday.....
— Scott
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Sunday August 9, 2009
5:22 am |
lawless,
Are you saying that if you have DirecTV, you can watch the game on the pay per view channel without paying for it?
— duriseti
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