USMNT: Jurgen Klinsmann Names 28 Man Roster For January Camp
Well America, Christmas is over. Hanukah is over. Kwanzaa is over. New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day have come and gone. The decorations are down, and we are settling in for the two most depressing months of the year. Luckily, yours truly has come up with a way to evade cabin fever: Whenever you’re feeling depressed by the seasons, pay attention sports instead. It works like a charm. And more luckily for us, Jurgen Klinsmann has given American soccer fans something to pay attention to just days after the Christmas Season has ended: The January Camp.
Yes, it’s time to replace all your woes and Holiday withdrawals with endless speculation over who was picked for the USMNT camp and why, as well as who was snubbed and who’s going to have a breakout month.
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January Camp is a great opportunity for MLS standouts to elbow their way into the national team picture, and the camps always become that much more intriguing when they take place the same year as a big summer tournament (World Cup 2014, Gold Cup 2015, Copa America 2016, etc.) In fact, several current USMNT mainstays found their way into the picture during this time, and you could certainly argue that several booked their ticket to Brazil 2014 during last year’s edition. Don’t believe me?
Chris Wondolowski scored 2 goals in the USMNT’s victory over South Korea at the culmination of last year’s camp. His two goals were vital to his inclusion in the 23 man roster, especially considering MLS talents like Mike Magee and Eddie Johnson were nipping at his heels and getting dangerously close to usurping him on the roster.
Jul 1, 2014; Salvador, Bahia, BRAZIL; United States defender DeAndre Yedlin (2) and Belgium midfielder Eden Hazard (10) go for a ball during the first half of their round of sixteen match in the 2014 World Cup at Arena Fonte Nova. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Newly signed Tottenham Hotspur youngster DeAndre Yedlin got his first ever senior team cap at the finale of the January camp last year, also vs. South Korea. His impressive showing in the second half as well as a solid 2014 MLS campaign got him on the World Cup roster as well as garnering him interest from European superpowers such as AS Roma, Liverpool, and his ultimate destination: Tottenham.
Nick Rimando solidified his spot as the #3 during this game, even at an age where most coaches would’ve taken the younger Sean Johnson or Bill Hamid. He shut out South Korea, and continued his undefeated streak while between the posts for the USMNT. He went to Brazil and now has a fighting chance to take over the #1 in Tim Howard‘s absence although it’s most likely going to be Brad Guzan.
See, kids? The January camp is important and should make you very, very, excited. This year the camp ends with friendlies vs. Chile in Rancagua, Chile and Panama in Carson, California. Players, who do well, easily increase their chance of making the Gold Cup roster tenfold, as shown above. It’s also never too late to start thinking about the Olympics, so keep that in mind. (12 players on this roster are of Olympic age; don’t think for a second that that’s a coincidence).
Well, I think it’s time to stop teasing and actually meet the 28 man roster:
GOALKEEPERS (4): Alex Bono (unattached), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Jon Kempin (Sporting Kansas City), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (8): Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), Christian Dean (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution), Perry Kitchen (D.C. United), Shane O’Neill (Colorado Rapids), Oscar Sorto (LA Galaxy)
MIDFIELDERS (10): Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Mix Diskerud (out of contract), Dennis Flores (Club Leon), Luis Gil (Real Salt Lake), Miguel Ibarra (Minnesota United FC), Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution), Marc Pelosi (Liverpool), Dillon Serna (Colorado Rapids), Brek Shea (Orlando City SC), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC)
FORWARDS (6): Tesho Akindele (FC Dallas), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Julio Morales (Tepic), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Bobby Wood (1860 Munich), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
Articles about who to look out for and who got snubbed are bound to come soon, so stay tuned to PlayingFor90.com for continuous coverage on the USMNT’s January Camp!