Here is the final roster that the USA will dress against Brazil tonight. Coverage will begin at 8pm on ESPN2-HD.
GOALKEEPERS- Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton)
DEFENDERS- Carlos Bocanegra (Saint-Étienne), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)
MIDFIELDERS- Alejandro Bedoya (Örebro), Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht)
FORWARDS- Jozy Altidore (Villareal), Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Herculez Gomez (Pachuca)
Jermaine Jones and Chad Marshall were initially called in but had to decline the invites, unfortunately. While some were worried that Jones may be second-guessing his decision to join the American squad he put those rumors to rest pretty swiftly, explaining that he wants to make sure he is 100% healthy before joining the team. I'm good with this explanation. It isn't important to me that a guy who is still recovering from a broken leg to play a friendly in August, it's important that he comes out next year and monkey-stomps Mexico in the Gold Cup.
There is a silver lining to JJ missing the game though, and that is Omar Gonzalez's USMNT debut. I <3 this kid. He's been a rock in the back line for LA, and with the US backline looking pretty shaky for 2014 grooming this kid for international duty is going to be super important.
One guy who didn't get the call up was Bobby Convey. I understand that he was kind of an entitled punk for a couple years there, but he seems to have turned his game and personality around this season. He performed well in 45 previous caps during his younger, less d-bag years, and has been a force for the San Jose midfield this season, dishing out 8 assists and providing numerous more dangerous balls. Even if he is already 27, I'd love to see him on the field as either a left-side midfielder or left-back and I think his play this year has earned that.
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