January 6, U.S. Men's National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann selected a 25-player roster for Camp Cupcake running from Jan. 7 through Jan. 27, at the National Training Center in Carson, Calif.
The USMNT then depart for Houston for the first match of 2013 against Canada on Jan. 29 at BBVA Compass Stadium. The USA begin their Final Round of qualifying for 2014 FIFA World Cup on Feb. 6 against Honduras in San Pedro Sula.
Of the 25 players called into camp, 21 play in Major League Soccer representing 12 teams and three play professionally overseas.
Notables:
San Jose Earthquakes striker Chris Wondolowski tied Roy Lassiter's MLS single-season goals record in 2012 with 27 total. Wondolowski won both the MLS Golden Boot and MVP award and was named MLS Player of the Month four times.
Sporting KC's Graham Zusi attended January camp last year and rocketed into a regular role with the Men's National Team, scoring the game-winner in the 1-0 win on Jan. 25, 2012, in Panama. He went on to appear in six games, including three in World Cup qualifying.
Mix Diskerud is back on the roster and looks like a piece that fits well. In his most recent appearance with the Men's National Team, Mix Diskerud notched his first career international goal in second-half stoppage time to help the U.S to a 2-2 draw against ninth-ranked Russia on Nov. 14, 2012.
Midfielder Benny Feilhaber, recently traded to Sporting KC from New England Revolution, got his first call-up after considerable absence.
A total of eight players are looking to get their first cap with the senior team: Steven Beitashour, Tony Beltran, Matt Besler, Will Bruin, Tally Hall, Connor Lade, Alfredo Morales and Justin Morrow.
"There is a tremendous amount of talent in the player pool," said Klinsmann. "We follow these players very carefully, and the group coming in is the next line to challenge the players ahead of them in the National Team."
USA ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS (3): Tally Hall (Houston Dynamo), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire)
DEFENDERS (9): Steven Beitashour (San Jose Earthquakes), Tony Beltran (Real Salt Lake), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), A.J. DeLaGarza (LA Galaxy), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Connor Lade (New York Red Bulls), Alfredo Morales (Hertha Berlin), Justin Morrow (San Jose Earthquakes), Jeff Parke (Philadelphia Union)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (out of contract), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City), Joshua Gatt (Molde), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (5): Juan Agudelo (Chivas USA), Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo), Edson Buddle (Colorado Rapids), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
FOLLOW LE EISENMENGER ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK.
Comments