Welcome to the US national team, John Anthony Brooks, Bobby Wood, Cody Cropper and Aron Johannsson.
On Monday morning, U.S. Soccer announced the 23-man roster called in for the three-day camp preceding Wednesday's friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Sarajevo (2:30 pm ET, ESPN2 and UniMas, Live chat on MLSsoccer.com), a group that included a mix of European-based prospects, USMNT veterans from both Europe and North America and a few surprises.
Apart from much-discussed prospects Brooks, Wood and Johannsson, the most notable inclusion was Bolton defender Tim Ream, who is in US camp for the first time since October 2011. Southampton goalkeeper Cropper, who was first choice for the US during the U-20 World Cup, is also in camp for the first time.
With the US riding a 11-game winning streak, head coach Jurgen Klinsmann will be able to choose from a squad that includes seven members of the Gold Cup-winning team and six players who appeared in all three of the team’s World Cup qualifying matches against the Bosnians, who are currently ranked 13th in the world by FIFA.
"This is another opportunity to give ourselves a benchmark against a great opponent and one of the top teams in Europe," Klinsmann said in a statement. "Our European-based players are just getting started with their seasons and this gives them a chance to get going a couple weeks before our big World Cup qualifiers. We're also excited to bring some new faces into the senior team and have them start to become part of the group."
Leading the US against Bosnia, which boasts a nine-game unbeaten streak of their own, will be a core that includes Tim Howard, Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones and Jozy Altidore along with a sizable contingent of European veterans. Altidore is currently riding a four-game scoring streak that’s tied for longest all-time for an American player.
- AMERICAN EXPORTS: As eyes focus on Johannsson, US striker defends his switch from Iceland
MLS contributed two players to the roster – the Seattle Sounders’ Eddie Johnson and Brad Evans – and three players from Liga MX will take part: the Club Tijuana duo Edgar Castillo and Joe Corona and Puebla defender Michael Orozco Fiscal.
The match is the Americans’ final tune up before crucial World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica in San Jose and Mexico in Columbus on Sept. 6 and 10, respectively.
US ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3): Cody Cropper (Southampton/England), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa/England), Tim Howard (Everton/England)
DEFENDERS (7): John Anthony Brooks (Hertha Berlin/Germany), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/England), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana/Mexico), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Michael Orozco Fiscal (Puebla/Mexico), Michael Parkhurst (Augsburg/Germany), Tim Ream (Bolton Wanderers/England)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes/France), Michael Bradley (Roma/Italy), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana/Mexico), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg/Norway), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim/Germany), Jermaine Jones (Schalke/Germany), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht/Belgium), Danny Williams (Reading/England)
FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Sunderland/England), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna/Austria), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders FC), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar/Netherlands), Bobby Wood (1860 Munich/Germany)
