CARSON, Calif. (Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015) – LA Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez and forward Gyasi Zardes have been named by U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann to a 23-player roster for friendlies against Peru and Brazil in the final preparation games before the decisive Oct. 10 playoff against Mexico at the Rose Bowl for a spot in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.
The U.S. faces Peru, which finished third in Copa America this summer, on Sept. 4 at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C. (4 p.m. PT; FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports Go, UniMas, Univision Deportes Network) before meeting five-time World Cup champion Brazil at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. on Sept. 8 (5 p.m. PT; ESPN Networks, UniMas, Univision Deportes Network).
After earning his first call up to the USMNT in January this year, Zardes, 23, has made 10 starts in 13 appearances in international play while tallying two goals and three assists, tied for the second most assists on the U.S. this season. Zardes most recently represented the U.S. during the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. This season in MLS play, the LA Galaxy Homegrown Player has made 23 appearances for a Galaxy squad that has scored an MLS-best 49 goals, scoring six times and adding three assists during regular season play.
Gonzalez, 26, has become a staple of the USMNT backline after earning his first cap Aug. 10, 2010 match against Brazil at New Meadowlands Stadium. He has made 29 appearances overall for the U.S., most recently when he was named to the U.S. roster for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. This season for the Galaxy in MLS, Gonzalez has made 24 appearances with 23 starts in the regular season to help lead the Galaxy to first place in Western Conference and Supporters’ Shield standings.
“The bigger picture is to get some answers for how we put things together for Mexico game a month from now,” said U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. “Obviously we want to continue to have a good flow of guys from the Gold Cup, but also to bring back guys who are in position to compete for a spot on the roster for Oct. 10. Our message to these guys is simple: prove a point that you want to be at the Rose Bowl.”
Gonzalez and Zardes are two of twelve players from the group that were a part of the team that represented the United States this summer at the CONCACAF Gold Cup. An equal number join from the 2014 FIFA World Cup squad.
While the MNT works from the east coast, LA Galaxy defender Oscar Sorto joins the U-23 Men’s National Team that will hold a camp of its own in England, where it will play both England and Qatar in its final preparation before it competes for a spot in the 2015 Olympic Games in Rio at the 2015 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship, which runs from Oct. 1-13 in the United States.
U.S. Roster by Position
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), William Yarbrough (Club Leon)
DEFENDERS (8): Ventura Alvarado (Club America), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Greg Garza (Atlas), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana), Tim Ream (Fulham)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Joe Corona (Veracruz), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution), Alfredo Morales (FC Ingolstadt), Danny Williams (Reading), DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham Hotspur)
FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Aron Johannsson (Werder Bremen), Bobby Wood (Union Berlin), Andrew Wooten (SV Sandhausen), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
