Klinsmann names 23 to face Bosnia

Michael Parkhurst was named to the 23-man U.S. roster to face Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday. (Photo by Art Donahue/artdonahue.com)

U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann today named a 23-man roster for a three-day training camp in preparation for the Wednesday, August 14^th friendly against 13^th-ranked Bosnia-Herzegovina on Aug. 14 in Bosnia-Herzegovina’s capital city, Sarajevo. Klinsmann’s roster is mostly European-based, and features just two MLS players – Seattle Sounders’ forward Eddie Johnson and Brad Evans. The U.S. is currently on a record 11-game winning run heading into the match.

“This is another opportunity to give ourselves a benchmark against a great opponent and one of the top teams in Europe,” said Klinsmann in a statement. “Our European-based players are just getting started with their seasons and this gives them a chance to get going a couple weeks before our big World Cup Qualifiers. We’re also excited to bring some new faces into the Senior Team and have them start to become part of the group.”

Two New England natives, defenders Michael Parkhurst (Providence, RI), currently with Augsburg (German Bundesliga), and Geoff Cameron (Attleboro, Mass.), currently with Stoke City (English Premier League), were named to the roster, as was Boston College product Alejandro Bedoya, who recently signed with Nantes (French Ligue 1). Parkhurst, a former New England Revolution star, and Bedoya, were both key parts of the U.S. squad that won the CONCACAF Gold Cup in July.

The U.S. roster features four young players making their debut in camp with the senior team: John Anthony Brooks (Hertha Berlin/German Bundesliga), Cody Cropper (Southampton/English Premier League), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar/Dutch Eredivisie) and Bobby Wood (1860 Munich/German 2. Bundesliga). Brooks, a 20-year-old 6-foot-4 center back, scored in his Bundesliga debut for Hertha Berlin this past weekend, a 6-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt. Brooks, who is also eligible to play for Germany, reportedly turned down a call-up for the German U-21 team to join the U.S. for this match.

Johannsson, 22, had previously played in the Icelandic National Team youth set-up and had received a call-up for Iceland’s World Cup Qualifiers in October 2012. An appearance in a Qualifier would’ve cap-tied Johannsson to Iceland, but the young striker had to pull out of the squad with groin injury and has now applied to FIFA for a change of association to play for the U.S. While Johannsson is in camp, he is unable to play while he awaits the completion of the process in order to be eligible to participate in matches. Johannsson has scored in each of AZ Alkmaar’s games to open the Eredivisie season.

Cropper, 20, was the starting goalkeeper for the U.S. U-20 team at the 2013 U-20 World Cup. Wood, 20, has played for both the U.S. U-20 and U-23 teams and would become the second Hawaiian after Brian Ching to play for the U.S. if he makes an appearance.

This is the first ever meeting between the now 19th ranked U.S. and Bosnia-Herzegovina, whose roster features Manchester City star Edin Džeko. The match is set to kick-off at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION

GOALKEEPERS (3): Cody Cropper (Southampton), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton)

DEFENDERS (7): John Anthony Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Michael Orozco Fiscal (Puebla), Michael Parkhurst (Augsburg), Tim Ream (Bolton Wanderers)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Roma), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Jermaine Jones (Schalke), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Danny Williams (Reading)

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