SoccerBlogs

By IVES GALARCEP

Jurgen Klinsmann wasn't ducking questions when grilled about his U.S. Men's National Team roster decisions on Friday. He laid down his decision-making process for everything from Stuart Holden's inclusion to the absence of former U.S. captain Carlos Bocanegra.

by IVES GALARCEP

There weren't many surprises in 26-player roster chosen by Jurgen Klinsmann for the upcoming U.S. Men's National Team training camp starting in Cleveland on March 26th.

The camp, which will prepare the team for a busy stretch of matches from late May to mid-June, features Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard and Michael Bradley, as well as March qualifying standouts such as DaMarcus Beasley and Matt Besler.

"Big game tonight" doesn't begin to approach the magnitude. If the United States Men's National Team fails to net a result in this evening's World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica, we'd be heading into Tuesday's even bigger and tougher match in Mexico City with no wins, no draws and no points through two games in the 10-game final round of CONCACAF qualifying for Brazil 2014.

By IVES GALARCEP

Clint Dempsey has been carrying the scoring load on the U.S. Men's National Team for as long as anyone can remember, and now he will also be carrying the burden of leadership as the team's newest captain.

U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has appointed the Tottenham star as the new U.

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

By IVES GALARCEP

The Sporting News story making big waves surrounding the U.S. Men's National Team and Jurgen Klinsmann's job as head coach has raised plenty of questions. Which players spoke out questioning Klinsmann's job? Will the report of issues within the team drive the team apart before the crucial upcoming qualifiers, or bring the team closer together?

By IVES GALARCEP

With Carlos Bocanegra out of the picture for now, and Oguchi Onyewu still in "Can't Get Minutes for His Club Team" asylum, the centerback pool for the U.S. Men's National Team has an inexperience feel to it heading into the March World Cup qualifiers.

Geoff Cameron and Omar Gonzalez started in the team's last qualifier, but with the fullback position down to the bare bones, there is a very good chance Cameron will spend these next qualifiers as a fullback, which isn't a stretch considering that's where he plays for Stoke City.

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

By IVES GALARCEP

Michael Bradley, Brad Guzan and Clint Dempsey headlined the 23-player USMNT roster announced for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers vs. Costa Rica and Mexico.

Several familiar faces were left oft the roster, including long-time captain Carlos Bocanegra as well as German-Americans Fabian Johnson, Danny Williams and Timmy Chandler.

Deuce wasn't enough. (photo: guardian.co.uk)

With a week gone by, contributing writer Scott Rutkowski recaps and reflects on the U.S. Men's National Team 2-1 World Cup qualifier loss in Honduras. Are the Yanks "hexed?"

Just like the city of San Pedro Sula, the coaching by Jurgen Klinsmann, the game itself, and the outcome are not as horrific as what most people think.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

MIAMI It was not always easy for the U.S. Men's National Team to crack open defenses and find the back of the net during the last round of World Cup qualifying, but to many fans and pundits the side's weakness does not lie up front.

It's make it or break it time for the US Men's National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann as he gets ready to take part in the first Hexagonal World Cup Qualifier of the year. Wednesday's result, while it certainly doesn't seal the fate of the USMNT in the 2016 World Cup, could very well set the tone of what we can expect from team this year.

The match will air at 3 PM CST on Wednesday and it will be televised on beIn Sport (channel 620 for those of you with DirecTV). Here's the full roster for you USMNT fans out there:

GOALKEEPERS (3) : Brad Guzan (Aston Villa - 5/3 SO), Tim Howard (Everton - 22/9 SO), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire - 0/0)

DEFENDERS (9) : Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City - 0/0), Carlos Bocanegra (Racing Santander - 31/5), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City - 5/0), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana - 0/0), Timmy Chandler (Nuremberg - 0/0), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders - 0/0), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy - 0/0), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim - 3/0), Michael Parkhurst (Augsburg - 3/0)

MIDFIELDERS (8) : Michael Bradley (Roma - 19/5), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo - 0/0), Maurice Edu (Bursaspor - 9/0), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04 - 5/0), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht - 12/0), Jose Torres (Tigres - 9/0), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim - 4/0), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City - 3/0)

FORWARDS (4 ): Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar - 17/6), Clint Dempsey (Tottenham Hotspur - 26/10), Herculez Gomez (Santos - 6/2), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders - 11/10)

The numbers are world cup qualifying gaps and goals, respectively.

By IVES GALARCEP

Veterans Tim Howard, Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley headline the U.S. Men's National Team roster chosen to travel to San Pedro Sula ahead of Wednesday's vital World Cup qualifying clash against Honduras, a roster heavy on European-based players.

Graham Zusi, Eddie Johnson and Matt Besler headline a contingent of seven MLS-based players.

Holden ... no more looking at the past!

And there it is. Jurgen Klinsmann going wide and expansive with his camp roster next week. The roster dominated by the return of golden boy Stu Holden and no place for Steve Cherundolo (or Carlos Bocanegra).

GOALKEEPERS (6) : Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tally Hall (Houston Dynamo), Bill Hamid (D.

Jurgen Klinsmann will debut the US squad for two vital qualifiers tomorrow morning.

Here's a look at who might be on that list Monday. We did not confine the list to a set number so expect less names tomorrow.

Again, as always, this who Klinsmann might pick not who TSG would.

My time!

Welcome back, SK.

No real surprises in this one here and only a few minor takeaways.

First, the roster:

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION (World Cup qualifying Caps/Goals) – Detailed Roster

GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa 5/3 SO), Tim Howard (Everton – 22/9 SO), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire – 0/0)

DEFENDERS (9): Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City – 0/0), Carlos Bocanegra (Racing Santander – 31/5), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City – 5/0), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana – 0/0), Timmy Chandler (Nuremberg – 0/0), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders – 0/0), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy – 0/0), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim – 3/0), Michael Parkhurst (Augsburg – 3/0)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Michael Bradley (Roma – 19/5), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo 0/0), Maurice Edu (Bursaspor – 9/0), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04 – 5/0), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht – 12/0), Jose Torres (Tigres – 9/0), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim – 4/0), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City – 3/0)

FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar – 17/6), Clint Dempsey (Tottenham Hotspur – 26/10), Herculez Gomez (Santos – 6/2), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders – 11/10)

Although many see the MLS draft particularly as a very hit or miss affair, the Fire have always done a great job of drafting players that end up being major contributors to the team. The list is really a who's who of Fire teams, both past and present. Carlos Bocanegra (2000), Damani Ralph (2003), Logan Pause (2003), Chris Rolfe (2005), Sega (2005), Bakary Soumare (2007), Patrick Nyarko (2008), Sean Johnson (2010), Jalil Anibaba (2011), and Austin Berry (2012) is a pretty star studded lineup to have as a draft history.

More defensive worries for U.S.A. fans heading into the World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica and Mexico as Jurgen Klinsmann has dropped U.S. captain Carlos Bocanegra from the squad, while Timmy Chandler, Fabian Johnson and Danny Williams will miss the matches because of injuries and illness.

Besides Bocanegra there are eight players not in the squad that you would expect to see: Edgar Castillo (facial fractures), Chandler (hamstring), Steve Cherundolo (knee surgery), Tim Howard (broken bones in back), Johnson (hip), Jonathan Spector (ankle), Jose Torres (hamstring) and Williams (stomach virus).