Klinsmann Names 25 For Jamaica Qualifiers

CHICAGO (Sept. 2, 2012) – U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has called 25 players into training camp to prepare for the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Jamaica. The U.S. first faces the Reggae Boyz on Sept. 7 in Kingston. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT, and the match will be broadcast live on beIN SPORT.

Four days later, the U.S. will welcome the Caribbean nation to Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. As part of the continuing effort to connect with the fans, the U.S. Men’s National Team will host a public training session on Sunday, Sept. 9 at 10:30 a.m. at Columbus Crew Stadium. Admission and parking for the event are free. The match on Tuesday will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2, ESPN3 and the Univision family. Fans can follow the match live on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and via Twitter @ussoccer.

“Obviously these are two huge games for us with six points on the line,” said Klinsmann. “We are in a good position at the moment in our group, but we are going into the games against Jamaica with the mindset that we want to win both.
“We feel very confident in the group that we have coming in. We are developing a lot of good chemistry and experience in the team, and now our goal is to become more and more consistent. We are ready to put in a lot of hard work this week and will be prepared on Friday to get a result.”

Clint Dempsey, who missed the win over Mexico in Mexico City, is back on the roster after reaching a transfer settlement with Tottenham in the EPL. Landon Donovan, still nursing a hamstring injury from the game with Mexico, is not on the roster.

The U.S. leads Group A in the Semifinal Round of CONCACAF Qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup with four points after two matches, holding the lead on Jamaica based on a superior goal differential. The U.S. is seeking to win a World Cup Qualifier in Jamaica for the first time, having collected draws in their previous four attempts. With Guatemala and Antigua & Barbuda also facing back-to-back matches, amassing points in these two games is critical.

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION

GOALKEEPERS (4) : Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (9) : Carlos Bocanegra (Racing Santander), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Maurice Edu (Stoke City), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Michael Orozco Fiscal (San Luis), Michael Parkhurst (Nordsjaelland), Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City)
MIDFIELDERS (8) : Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Joshua Gatt (Molde), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Jose Torres (Pachuca), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (4 ): Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Clint Dempsey (Tottenham Hotspur), Herculez Gomez (Santos)

ADDITIONAL ROSTER NOTES

• Eighteen players on the roster were part of the group that earned four points from the first two World Cup Qualifiers this past June, including all three goalscorers: Carlos Bocanegra, Clint Dempsey (2) and Herculez Gomez.

• A total of 20 players ply their trade abroad; the Premier League in England contributes five to the camp.

• Leagues from nine different countries are represented.

• Bocanegra is one of four players who have changed squads since the USA’s last match, a 1-0 win against Mexico in Mexico City : Bocanegra (Racing Santander), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Dempsey (Tottenham Hotspur) and Maurice Edu (Stoke City).

• The U.S. captain is also the only member of the squad who played in the USA’s last visit to Kingston, a 1-1 draw in qualifying on Aug. 18, 2004 . Bocanegra, Cherundolo and Howard started in the USA’s 2-1 win on Feb. 12, 2003 in Jamaica , with Bocanegra recording a goal and an assist.

• Michael Orozco Fiscal, who tallied the game-winner at Estadio Azteca, joins the group for the second time in 2012.

• The teams last met in the quarterfinal of the 2011 Gold Cup, a 2-0 win for the United States. Jermaine Jones scored the game-winner, his first goal for the United States. The U.S. lineup: Howard; Cherundolo, Goodson, Bocanegra (capt.), Lichaj; Bradley, Jones (Edu, 75); Bedoya (Donovan, 66), Kljestan,Dempsey; Altidore (Agudelo, 12).

• Jones leads all U.S. players in games played (8) and minutes (697) in 2012.

• Hannover captain Steve Cherundolo is taking part in his fourth qualifying cycle; Bocanegra, Dempsey and Tim Howard are their third.

• Two other U.S. players are wearing the captain’s armband for their clubs: Kyle Beckerman and Clarence Goodson.

• Howard sits in second place all-time for victories among U.S. goalkeepers (32), and third in shutouts (28). He has eight clean sheets in 18 World Cup qualifying appearances.

• Brad Guzan brings an additional three shutouts in five matches played.

• The U.S. strikeforce has started out sizzling in their club campaigns. Jozy Altidore has four goals in four league matches. Terrence Boyd has deposited six in all competitions – including two in today’s 3-0 win for Rapid Vienna – and Gomez has a deuce.

• Dempsey now has seven career goals in World Cup qualifying, good for fifth all-time on the U.S. list. Altidore is tied for sixth place with six goals.

• Sporting Kansas City midfielder Graham Zusi is tied for second place in assists (12) in MLS this season.

• Joshua Gatt is making his debut on a roster for the senior National Team. He was part of the U.S. U-23 MNT in the previous cycle.

• Chicago Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson joins the camp through the trip to Jamaica, and will then return to Chicago while Nick Rimando meets the group in Columbus for the Sept. 11 match at Crew Stadium.

• The U.S. has amassed a 6-1-2 record in 2012, collecting five shutouts. The MNT has posted two unprecedented results this year, winning against Italy for the first time (1-0 on Feb. 29 in Genoa) and beating rivals Mexico on their home soil (1-0 on Aug. 15 in Mexico City).