Galaxy's Zardes, Sorto Called Up By Klinsmann For National Team Roster
CHICAGO (AP) — Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones were among seven World Cup veterans picked Friday for a U.S. training camp before exhibitions against Chile and Panama.
American coach Jurgen Klinsmann selected 14 players who could make their national team debuts, including Dallas forward Tesho Akindele, last season's Major League Soccer Rookie of the Year; Columbus midfielder Wil Trapp; Tepic forward Julio Morales; and Los Angeles Galaxy forward Gyasi Zardes. Morales is eligible to play for the U.S. and Mexico.
Liverpool midfielder Marc Pelosi and 1860 Munich forward Bobby Wood are the only Europe-based players headed to the training camp, which opens Monday in Carson. Twelve of the 28 players are eligible for the under-23 team that will attempt to qualify for the 2016 Olympics.
Other members of the World Cup roster picked were goalkeeper Nick Rimando, defender Matt Besler, midfielder Mix Diskerud and forward Chris Wondolowski. Diskerud's contract with Norway's Rosenborg has expired and he is likely to sign with MLS's expansion New York City FC.
"Because we want to build now the Olympic team cycle, we've brought in a lot of younger guys purposefully," Klinsmann said. "But these younger players, they still need the leadership of the experienced ones."
Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez, Sporting Kansas City midfielder Graham Zusi and D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid were left off as they recover from injuries, and Real Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman wanted to focus on getting ready for his team's preseason training camp. Houston midfielder Brad Davis was omitted.
Goalkeeper Alex Bono will be at camp after deciding to leave Syracuse this week and sign with MLS. Pelosi, the U.S. captain at the 2011 Under-17 World Cup, returned to Liverpool's under-21 team last spring after being sidelined for 14 months with a broken leg.
Bono and Pelosi could make their national team debuts, as could Kansas City goalkeeper Jon Kempin; D.C. United defenders Steve Birnbaum and Perry Kitchen; Vancouver defender Christian Dean; Colorado defender Shane O'Neill; Galaxy defender Oscar Sorto; Leon midfielder Dennis Flores and Colorado midfielder Dillon Seria.
The Americans will train in Santiago, Chile, from Jan. 25-29 around an exhibition against La Roja on Jan. 28 at Rancagau, then return home to play Panama at Carson on Feb. 8. The defending champion U.S. is preparing for its July 7 opener at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean.
The roster:
Goalkeepers: Alex Bono (no club), Sean Johnson (Chicago), Jon Kempin (Kansas City), Nick Rimando (Salt Lake)
Defenders: Matt Besler (Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C.), Christian Dean (Vancouver), Brad Evans (Seattle), Jermaine Jones (New England), Perry Kitchen (D.C.), Shane O'Neill (Colorado), Oscar Sorto (Los Angeles)
Midfielders: Michael Bradley (Toronto), Mix Diskerud (no club), Dennis Flores (Leon, Mexico), Luis Gil (Salt Lake), Miguel Ibarra (Minnesota United), Lee Nguyen (New England), Marc Pelosi (Liverpool, England), Dillon Serna (Colorado), Brek Shea (Orlando), Wil Trapp (Columbus)
Forwards: Tesho Akindele (Dallas), Clint Dempsey (Seattle), Julio Morales (Tepic, Mexico), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose), Bobby Wood (1860 Munich, Germany), Gyasi Zardes (Los Angeles).
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