Despite enjoying a decent start to the 2016 season, Orlando City left back Brek Shea couldn’t work his way onto the US national team’s 40-man preliminary roster for this summer’s Copa América Centenario.
Shea was left out of Jurgen Klinsmann’s group when it was announced on May 1, with potential outside backs Kellyn Acosta, Edgar Castillo, Timmy Chandler, Brad Evans, Eric Lichaj, Tim Ream and DeAndre Yedlin all making the cut ahead of the 26-year-old.
The decision came as a surprise to some in the American soccer community, Shea included.
The winger-turned-defender, who has 34 career USMNT caps and one goal and one assist in eight regular season games this year, recently spoke about his disappointment to be left off the preliminary Copa roster with Kevin Flynn on ESPN’s Over the Ball podcast.
“I haven’t spoken to [Klinsmann about it]. Obviously I was surprised and frustrated, but they obviously have reasons to do what they do,” he said. “There’s nothing I can do about it, just have to move on and try to get better.”
Shea, who was last called to the USMNT last November, won’t have another opportunity to earn a US call-up until the fall, when the US take on Trinidad & Tobago and St. Vincent and the Grenadines in a pair of World Cup qualifiers.
He'll take out any frustrations on Sporting Kansas City on Sunday afternoon as Orlando City travel to Children's Mercy Park for a nationally televised match (3:30 pm ET; ESPN in USA, MLS LIVE in Canada)
