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World Cup 2014 – Discussing Jurgen Klinsmann’s 23-man USMNT squad

By on May 22, 2014

Jurgen Klinsmann has finally narrowed his 30-man preliminary Us Men’s National Team World Cup squad down to 23 of the best American players, and in no small way signaled his intent to make the US Men’s team his long-term project.

Controversially cutting 32-year-old Landon Donovan, as well as releasing senior players including Brad Evans, Clarence Goodson and Michael Parkhurst, but keeping the likes of DeAndre Yedlin and Jozy Altidore in the team; Klinsmann is clearly looking to give experience to the next generation of US stars who will be on the front line in the next three World Cups to come – after all, even with Donovan in the squad, getting past a World Cup group consisting of Germany, Portugal, and Ghana could be nearly impossible this summer. It’s not as if Donovan, USMNT’s all time top scorer, would have been a stick in Klinsmann’s side if not started at the World Cup, nor is the decision likely to be due to a strained relationship between the two, but instead it could simply be a smart move tactically, in the long run, from the Germany-born manager.

Also, the timing of the squad announcement couldn’t have been better.  Although some argue it is insensible to invite seven players to the team’s per-tournament training camp at Stanford and release them just a week into camp, by making the decision to cut seven players now leaves the remaining squad going to Brazil with twenty-five days to meld together as a team; this was obviously a factor in making the announcement now, as the team left to play beach volleyball as a group immediately following the cuts. Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard clearly have established themselves as leaders of the squad, as well, leading them in volleyball to boot. But however the squad cuts affect the team this summer, and despite the fact that they have gone down poorly with most fans, it is clear that they will benefit them come 2018 and 2022.

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Dempsey; taking the drivers seat of the squad along with Howard

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.