In constructing his U.S. national team roster for the approaching World Cup qualifiers, Jurgen Klinsmann retained most of the group that propelled the squad to the Copa America Centenario semifinals this summer.
He also had to make adjustments because of injuries to two regulars – Clint Dempsey and Gyasi Zardes – and invited three young players to gain training camp experience.
Colorado Rapids midfielder Jermaine Jones received a spot despite being sidelined since July 4 with a knee injury. Klinsmann wants to evaluate him first-hand. “We will take it one day at a time with him,” Klinsmann said.
Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard and 21-year-old goalkeeper Ethan Horvath of Highlands Ranch were also selected.
The Americans will close the CONCACAF semifinal round at St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Friday and against Trinidad and Tobago on Sept. 6 in Jacksonville, Fla.
“We definitely think the group that got fourth in the Copa America deserves a certain priority going on to the next World Cup qualifiers,” Klinsmann said, “because they did tremendously well.”
With a 2-1-1 record in the qualifiers, the Americans are three points behind T&T (3-0-1) and one ahead of Guatemala (2-2-0). St. Vincent (0-4-0) has been eliminated from contention. Two teams will advance to the six-nation final round this fall.
The only scenario for the Americans to secure passage Friday is if both they and Trinidad win. T&T will host Guatemala. Otherwise, the Sept. 6 games will decide the group order and seeds for final-round scheduling purposes.
Dempsey, who is five goals behind Landon Donovan for the U.S. career record, is sidelined indefinitely with an irregular heartbeat.
Zardes is scheduled to undergo an MRI exam after suffering an undisclosed injury in the Los Angeles Galaxy’s 0-0 draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday.
The other Copa omissions were midfielder Perry Kitchen and injured defender Edgar Castillo. In all, Klinsmann selected 26 players. Midfielder Michael Bradley and defender Michael Orozco are ineligible for Friday’s match because of a yellow card and red card suspension, respectively.
Midfielders Paul Arriola (Tijuana) and Caleb Stanko (Swiss club Vaduz on loan from Freiburg) and forward Rubio Rubin (Utrecht) were named to the squad for long-term integration purposes and are unlikely to play. Their average age is 22.
“They are players that are knocking at the door and are doing well in their club environment,” Klinsmann said.
FC Dallas’s Kellyn Acosta, 21, also was chosen, but because he plays a position without a lot of depth (left back), he might see time.
World Cup center back Omar Gonzalez returns after being left off the Copa roster.
Bayern Munich attacker Julian Green, who enjoyed a preseason resurgence with the Bundesliga champions, was left out.
The corps of forwards includes Jozy Altidore, who missed Copa America with a hamstring injury but has scored five goals in his past seven Toronto FC appearances; Bobby Wood, who scored in his Bundesliga debut for Hamburg on Saturday; and Jordan Morris, 21, Dempsey’s Seattle Sounders teammate with eight goals in his MLS rookie campaign.
Training camp will begin Monday morning in Jacksonville. The delegation will travel to St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Wednesday, but the trip is complicated.
Typically, the Americans charter to the site of World Cup qualifiers. But because the runway in Kingstown cannot accommodate its large jet, the team will fly a charter to Barbados and then board several 19-passenger planes. One is needed exclusively for team gear, though much of the belongings and equipment will remain behind in Jacksonville awaiting the team’s return for the second match.
The Denver Post contributed to this report.
Full U.S. roster
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Middlesbrough), Ethan Horvath (Molde, Norway), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids).
Defenders: Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca), Fabian Johnson (Moenchengladbach), Michael Orozco (Tijuana), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle).
Midfielders: Paul Arriola (Tijuana), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Jermaine Jones (Colorado Rapids), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund), Caleb Stanko (Vaduz, Switzerland), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City).
Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders), Rubio Rubin (Utrecht), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Bobby Wood (Hamburg).
