USMNT names roster to open Copa America Centenario training camp

By foxsports
Published

Jurgen Klinsmann has named a 22-man roster for the start of Copa America Centenario training camp. U.S. Soccer is calling it "transition camp" and it features all of the names you would expect from Europe and Mexico, with several new faces thrown in.

Transition camp will begin this week and run through the May 22 friendly against Puerto Rico (12 p.m. ET, FS1). It features a roster of entirely players who play for clubs in Europe and Mexico whose seasons have ended. The MLS contingent will join up with the team on the 23rd, three days after Klinsmann has to submit his final 23-man roster for Copa America Centenario.

The most notable newcomer is Fabrice Picault, who scored four goals for 2. Bundesliga side St. Pauli this season and provides Klinsmann with an option either on the wing or at striker. The 25-year-old will be making his first appearance in a U.S. men's national team camp and with Jozy Altidore's hamstring potentially keeping him out of Copa America, along with the Americans' struggles up top, he could have a chance to force his way onto the tournament's final roster.

Paul Arriola, Amando Moreno, Caleb Stanko and Zach Steffen join Picault as players getting their first look in senior team camp. It would be a surprise if any of those four cracked the Copa America team, with Steffen having the best chance as a third goalkeeper there more to gain experience than anything else.

There are players with plenty to gain in training camp, led by Brad Guzan and Tim Howard. The two are battling for the starting goalkeeper job, having alternated for six months now, but Klinsmann will presumably like to have a set starter for Copa America.

John Brooks, Geoff Cameron and Michael Orozco all figure to be in the battle for a starting spot in central defense so a good camp will help them out, while DeAndre Yedlin will be looking to parlay his fine form for Sunderland into a starting spot for the national team.

Then there are the likes of Tim Ream, Matt Miazga, Eric Lichaj, Perry Kitchen, Alfredo Morales and Danny Williams, all of whom are trying to play their way onto the Copa America team.

Christian Pulisic is the only notable omission from the transition camp roster, but that is because his Borussia Dortmund team has the DFB Pokal final still to play. He is expected to join the team when the MLS players are called up next week.

After the week's transition camp, the U.S. will open full-fledged training camp, with just short of two weeks to prepare for their Copa America Centenario opener on June 3 against Colombia. They will have two more friendlies before that, against Ecuador on May 25 and Bolivia on May 28 (8 p.m. ET, FS1).

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids), Zach Steffen (SC Freiburg)

Defenders: John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest), Matt Miazga (Chelsea), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana), Tim Ream (Fulham), DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham)

Midfielders: Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Emerson Hyndman (Fulham), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Monchengladbach), Perry Kitchen (Heart of Midlothian), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt), Caleb Stanko (SC Freiburg), Danny Williams (Reading)

Forwards: Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Fabrice Picault (FC St. Pauli), Amando Moreno (Club Tijuana), Bobby Wood (Hamburg)

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