With a 6 game series and its' kickoff all but upon us, we now have the roster for the USMNT as camp opens today. This, what is being considered to be a new phase of the journey begins today. Many have had concerns as to the youth of the players, those who did not achive the most recent FIFA World Cup most certainly will not be brought back, so these games put the feet to the fire of the younger ones who will not be so young in just under 4 years at the next tourney.
USA v Brazil is the first game of this series at MetLife Sept. 7, coverage is provided by FS1, UniMas, & UDN starting 7:30 pm local time. Next up is Mexico, a heated rivalry on Sept. 11 in Nashville starting at 7:30 see the coverages from ESPN, UniMas & UDN. Social media outlets are U.S. Soccer's official Facebook page, Twitter, @ussoccer_MNT & Instagramm @ussoccer_MNT.
Coach Sarachan had this to say, " For these matches against Brazil & Mexico the theme remains the same in that we are using the opportunity against these high-powered opponents to continue building on the foundation that we've laid. We felt it was right to continue allowing this group to get valuable experience for the big pictue that includes competitive matches in the future with the Gold Ciup, Olympic Qualifying and World Cup qualiyfing.
4 of the top 20 teams in the FIFA rankings will be played in this series, #3 Brazil, #6 England, #14 Colombia & #16 Mexico.The last of these games is due to be set this coming week and all should help the US hopefuls in facing top-level opponents as they move towards 2022.
A new team is being formed with 18 players earning caps since Nov., 17 being less than 24 years of age and 10 of those remaining age eligible for the U-23 team for the Concacaf Olympic Qualifiers & the Tokyo Olympics of 2020. Many were profiled in U.S. Soccer's video series we brought to you on our Facebook, Soccer Long Island Magazine, "RISING: Emerging Faces of the U.S. Men's National Team". 14 of those called in are 23 and under, 13 play in Europe while the others are in MLS, the bringing back of the players to MLS prior to the most recent FIFA World Cup is I feel the #1 reason for are not qualifying. Players acitve in 9 nations are present from MLS, the Crew & Red Bulls lead the league with 3 players each. a pair from NYRB come up from their academy system. The fitness levels of the playres will vary greatly as MLS is in full swing as Europe is just underway.
As for the opposition, Brazil will feature Neymar, Coutinho, Firmino, Casermiro, Willian, Thiago Silva, Filipe Luis and Allison, all some of the 11 players who won 21 trophies in Europe and club competitions this past season. Mexico has 7 of their World Cup players from this summer, Ochoa, Salcedo, Jonathan dos Santos, Lozano & Jimenez with an average age of 24 years 204 days. They also have an interm coach as does the US with Ricardo Ferretti.
What is seen as proof positive by the USSF is the fact that many on the roster are getting their chance with the USMNT as they rise to senior teams after passing through the USSF developmental pathway. Fully 11 were on rosters for Youth World Cups, and more than half, 25 are from the USSDA.
THE ROSTER:
Gk's: Alex Bono, Ethan Horvath, Zack Steffen
Def: John Brooks, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Eric Lichaj, Aaron Long, Matt Miazga, Shaq Moore, Tim Parker, Antonee Robinson, DeAndre Yedlin
MId: Kellyn Acosta, Tyler Adams, Paul Arriola, Julian Green, Sebastian Lletget, Weston Mckennie, Cristian Roldan, Will Trapp, Tim Weah
Fwd:Andrija Novakovich, Bobby Wood, Gyasi Zardes
By the Numbers:
-23 years, 241 days average age of players as of Sept 2, 2018, why they did not do the math to bring it current I have no idea?
-14 players aged 23 and under.
-16 players with 7 or fewer MNT appearances
-9 of the mentioned nations they play in: USA 10, Germany 4, England 3, France 2, Belgium, Canada, Holland, Spain & Wales, 1 each
-12 played in the 1-1 tie with FIFA World Cup winners France
- 16 months out for Lletget due to a lisfrac injury
-1 player Aaron Long of NYRB getting his first call up, a great summer as he was selected fo the MLS All-Star game as well this year
-2 Long Islander and NYRB player TIm Parker getting his 2nd cap with games facing Ireland & England
-15 goals for Zardes in MLS thus far tops amongst all US eligible players in the league
-1 Yedlin is in camp after getting his first English Premier League goal yesterday for Newcastle United
-2 goals for the Dutch based Novakovich for Eredivisie, last Saturday v Utrecht
-2 wins for Brooks with Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga as he had a goal Aug. 25
-2 goals this season for Weah @ PSG
-3 players are still here from the last meet in 2015 with Brazil, Wood, Yedlin & Zardes
-2 goals in 3 games with Mexico for Wood
-3 players with goals for the USMNT in 2018, Wood, Green & Weah, we spoke with Tim after that game
-4 games, tops on team for 2018 for Adams & Trapp
- The final score, the only # that will really matter following each game.