Jurgen Klinsmann leans on some youngsters for Wednesday tough match in Mexico

Aug 12, 2012, 5:32 PM EDT

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Mexico will bring its best for Wednesday’s friendly. The United States – not so much.

U.S. manager Jurgen Klinsmann selected a lesser experienced roster for Wednesday’s friendly against Mexico. The defense, for instance, has a grand total of 21 international appearances.

(MORE: Klinsmann’s Brek Shea “exception”)

Here’s the roster, followed by what it means:

GOALKEEPERS: Tim Howard (Everton), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS: Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steven Beithasour (San Jose Earthquakes), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Michael Orozco Fiscal (San Luis), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim)

MIDFIELDERS: DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Jose Torres (Pachuca), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

FORWARDS: Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Herculez Gomez (Santos), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

Talking points:

The opportunity factor is enormous for a few names. Start with Matt Besler, getting his first call into a Klinsmann camp. Since Geoff Cameron (pictured) and Michael Orozco Fiscal are the only other center backs on the trip, there’s a good chance all three will get playing time.
Joe Corona, who was impressive in those under-23 Olympic qualifying matches, gets a chance with the “varsity.” Graham Zusi was in the January camp, but this is a much chance so much bigger.
The man who can stand and deliver in the heat, altitude and smog and Azteca Stadium – truly, a dreadful cocktail for affecting performance – that man will surely rise in Klinsmann’s eyes.
Not sure what DaMarcus Beasley, 30, adds to the program going forward, but here he is.
This is a lifeline for Brek Shea, who is suffering a year of misery at FC Dallas, individually and with the club. His last two matches have brought signs of recovering whatever was lost. We’ll see.
The names left off are as worthy of consideration as the ones taken. That list includes Clint Dempsey, Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Cherundolo and Michael Bradley and
Dempsey’s club situation is chaos right now. On the one hand, it might do him some good to be with a team, in a more settled environment. On the other hand, he’s probably not fit. Bocanegra may be on the move, although he’s training and playing at Rangers. Bradley just moved to Roma and needs to establish himself.
Given Shea’s modest production and Chris Pontius’ swell campaign at RFK Stadium, expect some teeth gnashing over the lack of inclusion for the D.C United man.
Six players operate out of Mexico’s Liga MX: DaMarcus Beasley, Edgar Castillo, Corona, Herculez Gomez, Michael Orozco Fiscal and Jose Torres. The high number is surely about logistics, but also presumably about psychology, since this represents fabulous recognition for these names within the country of their current employment.

(MORE: The Geoff Cameron conundrum)

Klinsmann’s news teleconference is going on now, so I’ll be back later with more as Klinsmann’s fills us in on some of his thoughts while building this particular roster.

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6 Comments (Feed for Comments)

tylerbetts - Aug 12, 2012 at 5:55 PM

I wonder if Deuce being left out is an indication that he’s about to be sold? That’s how I’m choosing to read it. I’m sure plenty of others will do the same.

Excited to see some of the young guns have a chance to shine at Azteca, though. Klinsmann has made this a truly “can’t lose” game for himself. If he brings his A-Team to Azteca and gets thrashed, what does that do for confidence the next time theyplay there in a game taht counts for more than just money? But, with a more “experimental” side, even if they get thrashed he gets some valuable experience and evaluation time for younger/newer players. And, if they are competitive throughout (not expecting a win, or even a draw, but something like a 2-1 game that’s in doubt throughout), then he gains some psychological points for the game that does count.

Early prediction looking at the squad is a thrashing by Mexico, though. And, about the only thing Klinsman can lose here he will – the CBs will be exposed and lose confidence big time. I think Mexico goes up 4-0, cruises to a win, and a late Golazo by Boyd that is basically meaningless sends many supporters (myself included) into a frenzy overhyping him.

BTW, do you think Cameron is included simply because of his recent work permit status? That if Klinsmann vouches for him and then doesn’t call him in it hurts the chances of future “borderline” candidates? I can’t think of why he’d be included and Bradley not, with both of them trying to settle in and win playing time at new clubs.

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- Steve Davis - Aug 13, 2012 at 9:27 AM
  
  Interesting question about Cameron and a call-up to validate the permit. But he already HAS the permit, so I’m not sure. I’m certainly no expert on UK work permit laws, though; perhaps it was part of the larger equation.
  
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  - tylerbetts - Aug 13, 2012 at 1:47 PM
    
    Not so much a question on Cameron’s permit, but on the larger picture. The next time a bottom-half EPL teams wants to buy a fringe USMNTer and Klinsmann speaks him up, he can’t have it that the last time he spoke up for someone, he declined to call him in on the very next opportunity.
    
    Or at least that’s how it seems to me. That maybe the choice to call in Cameron is political.
  - Steve Davis - Aug 13, 2012 at 1:48 PM
    
    Hmmm. Very interesting theory. Let me find my shovel and dig a little here ….
- schmutzdeck - Aug 13, 2012 at 6:13 PM
  
  MB90 is apparently carrying some sort of hamstring knock. I don’t think Mikey has locked down a starting spot at Roma yet. It seems to me he has stepped up a notch in competition from his Chievo days. Securing his position with Roma is much more important to the long term benefit of both the USMNT and Mikey.
  
  Beside if we brought our very best squad possible to Azteca what good would it do us?. If we win the Mexicans can claim it’s a friendly and they can also claim Olympic hangover.. Going there with this squad gives JK a chance to test a number of new guys in a very instense fire. And if we win or play well and tie so much the better. I see no down side.
  
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evilmonkeycmandtamc - Aug 12, 2012 at 7:34 PM

Tyler, you made a few great points. The only thing bringing a full A-team to Mexico to Azteca could do was provide a small amount of pride IF we did the impossible and won. This team, however, has plenty to learn and grow in from the experience. The Mexican Olympic team showed the benefits of their trial by fire in Copa America. For our guys, this is their trial by fire.

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