USL Feature
Monday, May 12, 2014
TAMPA, Fla. – U.S. Men’s National Team coach Jürgen Klinsmann announced his initial 30-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil on Monday, with nine of the players selected having competed in the USL, from the professional ranks to the Super Y-League.
Leading the selections is goalkeeper Tim Howard, now of Everton, who began his professional career with the North Jersey Imperials before making the jump to Major League Soccer. Capped 97 times by the United States, Howard is set to become just the fourth player on the roster to reach three digits this summer.
Guzan, who has served as Howard’s backup and had another strong campaign for Aston Villa this past fall, completed for the Chicago Fire U-23 in the PDL. While with the Fire in 2004, Guzan earned the league’s Goalkeeper of the Year award as he led the side to an undefeated regular-season and recorded a 0.388 goals-against average and eight shutouts in 13 appearances.
Other former PDL award winners on the squad include 2012 PDL All-League selection DeAndre Yedlin, who starred for the Sounders FC U-23 as the side claimed the Western Conference title two years ago. 2006 All-Eastern Conference selection Geoff Cameron, now with Stoke City, had four goals and an assist in 16 games for the Rhode Island Stingrays.
Forward Jozy Altidore was among six forwards named, with the former Super Y-League standout for Ft. Lauderdale Schulz Academy aiming to continue his outstanding form for the U.S. in 2013. The Sunderland striker had eight goals and two assists in 14 appearances last year, and will go into his second World Cup aiming to notch his first goal on soccer’s biggest stage.
Other former PDL standouts to earn selection to Klinsmann’s squad include the Columbus Crew’s Michael Parkhurst, a former member of IMG Bradenton Academy in 2003, and he is joined in defense by the San Jose Earthquakes’ Clarence Goodson, who made 12 appearances for the Boulder Rapids U-23s in 2003, and Seattle Sounders FC’s Brad Evans, who competed for the Orange County Blue Star.
Rounding out the group is Sporting Kansas City’s Graham Zusi, who made 10 appearances for the Central Florida Kraze in 2005. An MLS Best XI selection in 2013, Zusi will aim to reach the same heights for the U.S. as he did in 2013 this summer after recording two goals and two assists in 13 appearances last year.
World Cup training camp begins on Wednesday in Carson, Calif., with three pre-tournament scrimmages set to be held at Candlestick Park on May 27 against Azerbaijan, at Red Bull Arena against Turkey on June 1, and at Everbank Field on June 7 against Nigeria. The United States will then name its final 23-man roster prior to its opening game of the 2014 World Cup on June 16 against Ghana, at the Estadio das Dunas in Natal, Brazil.