New U.S. men’s national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann has called up 22 players — two more than expected — for next Wednesday’s friendly against Mexico in Philadelphia.
The roster first (straight from the U.S. Soccer release), then thoughts.
GOALKEEPERS (2): Bill Hamid (D.C.United), Tim Howard (Everton)
DEFENDERS (8): Carlos Bocanegra (Saint-Etienne), Edgar Castillo (Club America), Timmy Chandler (FC Nürnberg), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Michael Orozco Fiscal (San Luis), Heath Pearce (Chivas USA), Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Jose Torres (Pachuca)
FORWARDS (5): Freddy Adu (Benfica), Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Edson Buddle (FC Ingolstadt), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)
THOUGHTS: There’s no Clint Dempsey, but that’s no big surprise, given where his Premier League team is on the calendar. … Even without Dempsey, there’s tons of creativity on the offensive end. Expect a more forward-focused game than Bob Bradley‘s teams offered. … Yes, Michael Bradley made the squad. Klinsmann has two kids: Presumably he’ll pick at least one of them in coming years. … Only seven MLS reps on the squad; that says good things about the league (in that it sends its stars on to bigger and better things) and the USMNT (in that it has those bigger and better things to pick from) … If Freddy Adu is ever going to live up to his USMNT potential, it will be with a coach like Klinsmann.
