USA Gold Cup Roster: Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore In; Brek Shea and Jordan Morris Out

Jurgen Klinsmann released the 23-man roster the United States will use during the Group Stage of the 2015 Gold Cup. All of this comes with a major caveat, since teams are allowed to swap up to six players from their provisional roster for the knockout rounds.

Nothing about the “final” roster is all that surprising. Clint Dempsey didn’t get suspended by U.S. Soccer for ripping up the referee’s notebook during an Open Cup game, so he’ll wear the captain’s armband. Jozy Altidore is in the mix and appears like his hamstring injury will be healed in time for the tournament.

If there’s any surprise it’s the inclusion of Brad Davis and Tim Ream.

As for omissions? Young forwards Juan Agudelo and Jordan Morris were left out, for now. U.S. fans will ~~likely~~ bitch about their omission coupled with Chris Wondolowski’s inclusion. DaMarcus Beasley came out of international retirement for the provisional roster/camp but was left out of the 23.

Makeshift left back Brek Shea — who scored the tournament winner vs. Panama two years ago — also didn’t make the cut, nor did Bill Hamid who was profiled on this site last week. Matt Besler, a starter at the World Cup a year ago, was left out, too.

U.S. Soccer also lists Fabian Johnson as a defender, which gives a hint as to how Klinsmann will lineup the team during the tournament.

If anything this team looks a lot more like the 2014 World Cup team — 17 players featured on both rosters — compared the relatively new-look squad that defeated the Netherlands and Germany in friendlies earlier this month. It looks like we’ll have to wait until the team moves into a completely new direction with an eye on 2018 for a little bit longer.

Should the U.S. win the Gold Cup it automatically qualifies for the 2017 Confederations Cup, if it loses they’ll play the tournament winner in a one-off playoff to determine who represents CONCACAF in Russia two years from now.

The U.S. plays a friendly with Guatemala on July 3 before the Gold Cup begins the following week.

July 7 vs. Honduras, at Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
July 10 vs. Haiti, at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
July 13 vs. Panama, at Sporting Park, Kansas City, Mo.

If the U.S. wins Group A it plays in Baltimore on July 18 in the quarterfinals.

ROSTER

GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa/2007), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake/2011, 2013), William Yarbrough (Club Leon)

DEFENDERS (7): Ventura Alvarado (Club America), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC/2009), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy/2013), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Tim Ream (Bolton Wanderers/2011)

MIDFIELDERS (9): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake/2009, 2013), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes/2011, 2013), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/2007, 2011), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo/2005), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC/2013), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt), DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham Hotspur), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/2011), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC/2005, 2007, 2011), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes/2011, 2013)