Surprise! Evans, Not Dempsey, On Yanks’ Roster

Klinsmann calls up Johnson, seven other MLS stars for final Hex games

By Michael Ligot

Many expected a couple of Seattle Sounders to appear on the U.S. national team’s roster for the last two matches of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. Eddie Johnson and Clint Dempsey, specifically.

Instead, Head Coach Jürgen Klinsmann omitted the latter and selected Brad Evans.

The pair of Sounders join six other MLS players for the Americans’ Friday home game against Jamaica in Kansas City and Tuesday, October 15, in Panama.

Those MLS players include Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando and midfielder Kyle Beckerman, Sporting Kansas City defender Matt Besler and midfielder Graham Zusi, and Los Angeles Galaxy defender Omar González and forward Landon Donovan.

Klinsmann likely left Dempsey off due to a hamstring injury that’s kept him out of the Sounders’ last few games. However, the selection of high-octane forwards Donovan, Johnson and Sunderland’s Jozy Altidore shows he’s not letting up on his continental rivals. That trio alone has combined for 96 international goals in 272 games.

The MLS octet’s selection certainly will be a contentious subject for fans and the clubs, never mind the coaches. The Americans are already qualified for Brazil 2014, leading the Hexagonal with 16 points, an unassailable eight over fourth-place Mexico and Panama, and these two games come during late-season crunch time. RSL, Seattle and LA are in a dogfight for the Western Conference crown, KC is within a game of New York for the Eastern lead, and all but Salt Lake have league action during this international window.

The likely rationale for the usual MLS suspects in the lineup? Klinsmann employs a no-job-is-ever-safe approach to national team spots, as Donovan learned after his sabbatical, and perhaps also wants to establish consistency and chemistry on the team with eight months until Brazil. Also, Panama will need the U.S. game badly to make at least the playoff doubleheader with New Zealand, and Klinsmann fielding a strong team is a sign of respect for the situation. Playing a “B” lineup could be seen as an insult to Panama, and to Mexico, Panama’s rival for that fourth spot.

As for the MLS selectees? Rimando is the league’s most acrobatic goalkeeper and one of its best shot-stoppers. Beckerman provides good cover as a holding midfielder, particularly if Jermaine Jones (Schalke) gets into card trouble. Evans can play in both the center and back of the pitch, and is automatic from the penalty spot. Zusi has come into his own as a playmaking midfielder. González has certainly earned his Designated Player status, and Besler has come out of nowhere to add much-needed depth to a shaky American back line. As for Johnson and Donovan, their stats speak for themselves.

Here are Klinsmann’s 20 initial selections for the U.S. team; expect up to three others to join as the week progresses. Camp starts today in Kansas City, with an open practice at Sporting Park on Wednesday, October 5, at 5:30 p.m. Central time.

GOALKEEPERS (3): Tim Howard (Everton, England), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa, England), Rimando.
DEFENDERS (6): DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla, Mexico), Besler, Geoff Cameron (Stoke City, England), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana, Mexico), Evans, González.
MIDFIELDERS (6): Beckerman, Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes, France), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg, Norway), Jones, Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht, Belgium), Zusi.
FORWARDS (5): Altidore, Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna, Austria), Donovan, Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar, Netherlands), Johnson.