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Jurgen Klinsmann has called up a lot of familiar faces and one of the newest members of the United States player pool in for a friendly against Mexico on April 2 in Pheonix, AZ.
Youngster Julian Green will likely make his first appearance with the USMNT since FIFA approved his one time switch to represent the US earlier this week. The full detailed roster for the US can be found here:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (8): DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Michael Orozco (Puebla), Michael Parkhurst (Columbus Crew), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Maurice Edu (Philadelphia Union), Luis Gil (Real Salt Lake), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (4): Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Eddie Johnson (D.C. United), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
Green is the only European player included in the squad, although Liga MX and squad regulars Orozco and Beasley are included in the MLS heavy squad. Notable omissions from the squad include former Revolution and current SKC midfielder Benny Feilhaber and Mike Magee of the Chicago Fire. Also not included are a trio of Tijuana players, Herculez Gomez, Joe Corona and Edgar Castillo as their Liga MX club prepares for their upcoming CONCACAF Champion's League fixture.
Most of the lineup is rather straight forward, it's likely Klinsmann will deploy a backline of Beasley, Gonzalez, Besler and Evans in front of usual third choice keeper Nick Rimando. Former Rev defender Michael Parkhurst should also feature off the bench at some point due to his versatility. Michael Bradley will certainly be in the midfield along with Beckerman, but he could possibly be paired with the Union's Maurice Edu, who hasn't featured for the US since last year's 0-0 draw in a World Cup qualifier at Estadio Azteca according to ESPN's Paul Carr.
The midfield will always be in a state of flux, with too many players like Donovan, Dempsey and Zusi and veterans like Brad Davis and Eddie Johnson able to feature on the wings. Wondolowski along with Johnson appear to be the two possibilities to man the lone striker atop Klinsmann's preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.
It's a very strong squad that the US will bring to Arizona to face Mexico and there's still good players in MLS and Liga MX not called up for this game. While I think that Green is going to be a player for the future, I'm glad to see him get not only time in camp but also the possibility of game time with the USMNT. He has the talent to help the US now but whether he can get up to speed with the tactics ahead of the World Cup, on a team full of players who have been in and out of camp for the better part of two years.
The United States vs. Mexico game can be seen next Wednesday, April 2nd on ESPN at 11PM EST.
