Roster Set for Italy Match

Cranston, R.I. native Michael Parkhurst will get another chance to try to cement a spot on the U.S. Men's National Team. (Photo by Art Donahue/artdonahue.com)

U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann named a 21-man roster on Thursday for the upcoming international friendly against four-time World Champions Italy. The U.S. is set to face Italy at Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa on Wednesday, February 29, at 2:45 p.m. ET with the game broadcast live on ESPN2.

Former New England Revolution defender Michael Parkhurst and Former Revolution midfielder Clint Dempsey, along with Attleboro, Mass. native defender Geoff Cameron were among the call-ups. Parkhurst and Cameron, both New England natives, saw time together at center back in the USA’s pair of 1-0 wins over Panama and Venezuela in January.

With veteran center back Oguchi Onyewu (Sporting Lisbon) out for eight weeks with a knee injury, the opportunity is there for Parkhurst and/or Cameron to step in and earn a spot. Parkhurst (FC Nordsjaelland/Denmark), 28, has appeared 11 times for the U.S., while Cameron (Houston Dynamo), 26, has appeared 3 times.

“Now we have two center backs coming into the picture in Geoff Cameron and Michael Parkhurst who want to challenge the established guys,” Klinsmann told USSoccer.com. “Obviously losing Gooch (Oguchi Onyewu) was a bummer, but we expect that he’ll be back and ready to go this summer and we have Clarence Goodson step in who has done very well at Brondby.”

Dempsey, 28, is currently tied for fourth all-time in goals scored for the United States with retired Revolution forward Joe-Max Moore. Dempsey, who has 24 goals in 82 appearances for the U.S., is having a career year at Fulham FC in England’s Premier League with 16 goals through all competitions.

Other notables on the roster include Borussia Dortmund reserve’s German-American forward Terrence Boyd who is a regular on the U.S. U-23 Men’s National Team, but has yet to make an appearance for the full U.S. Men’s National Team. Boyd, who turned 21 last week, has 11 goals in 17 games for Borussia Dortmund II this season in the Regionalliga West (fourth division of German soccer).

Notably absent from the roster is Revolution midfielder and World Cup veteran Benny Feilhaber, who took part in the U.S.’ January camp.

The full U.S. roster is below.

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION Detailed Roster

GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Michael Parkhurst (FC Nordsjaelland), Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Michael Bradley (Chievo Verona), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Jose Torres (Pachuca), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim)

FORWARDS (5):Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Terrence Boyd (Borussia Dortmund), Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)

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