U.S. National Team coach Jurgen Klinsmann called 24 players into camp to prepare for the home-and-home World Cup Qualifiers against Jamaica. The U.S. has never won a qualifier on Jamaican soil, and could play without Landon Donovan, Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey.
They face the Reggae Boyz Friday in Kingston (8 p.m., beIN SPORT), and then four days later they’ll host Jamaica at Columbus Crew Stadium. The games are on FIFA international fixture dates, and players started reporting to Miami today.
“Obviously these are two huge games for us with six points on the line,” said Klinsmann. “We are in a good position at the moment in our group, but we are going into the games against Jamaica with the mindset that we want to win both. We feel very confident in the group that we have coming in.
“We’re developing a lot of good chemistry and experience in the team, and now our goal is to become more and more consistent. We are ready to put in a lot of hard work this week and will be prepared on Friday to get a result.”
Bradley is injured, while Dempsey’s fitness could be in question after finally completing a protracted – and at times ugly – transfer from Fulham to Tottenham.
The U.S. leads Group A in the Semifinal Round of CONCACAF Qualifying for the World Cup with four points after two matches, holding the lead on Jamaica based on a superior goal differential.
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION – Detailed Roster
GOALKEEPERS (4) : Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (9) : Carlos Bocanegra (Racing Santander), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Maurice Edu (Stoke City), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Michael Orozco Fiscal (San Luis), Michael Parkhurst (Nordsjaelland), Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City)
MIDFIELDERS (8) : Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Joshua Gatt (Molde), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Jose Torres (Pachuca), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City). Joshua Gatt of Molde was forced to withdraw.FORWARDS (4 ): Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Clint Dempsey (Tottenham Hotspur), Herculez Gomez (Santos)
