CHICAGO (May 29, 2018) – Following the U.S. Men’s National Team’s 3-0 win against Bolivia, head coach Dave Sarachan has made 10 additions to the youthful MNT roster that will travel to Europe for friendlies against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on June 2 and France on June 9 in Lyon.
Sarachan has called up goalkeepers Zack Steffen and William Yarbrough; defenders Shaq Moore, Tim Parker and DeAndre Yedlin; midfielders Tyler Adams, Luca de la Torre, Kenny Saief and Wil Trapp; and forward Bobby Wood.
Seven players who were part of the MNT roster leading up to Monday’s match against Bolivia have departed camp: Alex Bono, Alejandro Guido, Lynden Gooch, Ethan Horvath, Matt Olosunde, Christian Pulisic and Walker Zimmerman.
With the changes, the average age of the MNT roster that will travel to Dublin on Tuesday night rises to 23 years, 102 days.
“We’re excited about the chance to add some of the veterans from Europe as well as the younger guys in MLS who have been part of our group since November,” Sarachan said. “The games against Ireland and France will bring increasingly more difficult challenges, so we felt it was important to bring in some players that offer a bit more experience. These matches will provide another big development opportunity for these players who are growing in their international careers.”
The U.S. Men’s National Team faces Ireland on Saturday, June 2 at Aviva Stadium in Dublin (3 p.m. ET; ESPN2, UniMás, UDN). A week later, the U.S. takes on star-studded France in Les Bleus’ final match before heading to Russia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Kickoff for the June 9 clash at Groupama Stadium in Lyon is set for 3 p.m. ET (ESPN, UniMás).
Fans can also follow along via U.S. Soccer’s official Facebook, Twitter (@ussoccer_MNT) and Instagram (@ussoccer_MNT) accounts.
Detailed Roster by Position (Club; Caps/Goals)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Bill Hamid (Midtjylland/DEN; 5/0), Zack Steffen (Columbus Crew SC; 2/0), William Yarbrough (Club León/MEX; 3/0)
DEFENDERS (9): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Tottenham Hotspur/ENG; 2/0), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 15/1), Matt Miazga (Chelsea/ENG; 5/1), Shaq Moore (Levante/ESP; 0/0), Erik Palmer-Brown (Manchester City/ENG; 1/0), Tim Parker (New York Red Bulls; 0/0), Antonee Robinson (Everton/ENG; 1/0), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna/MEX; 17/0), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United/ENG; 50/0)
MIDFIELDERS (10): Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls; 3/0), Joe Corona (Club America/MEX; 21/3), Luca de la Torre (Fulham/ENG; 0/0) Julian Green (Stuttgart/GER; 9/3), Weston McKennie (Schalke/GER; 2/1), Keaton Parks (Benfica/POR; 1/0), Rubio Rubin (Club Tijuana/MEX; 6/0), Kenny Saief (Anderlecht/BEL; 2/0), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC; 4/0), Tim Weah (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA; 2/1)
FORWARDS (3): Andrija Novakovich (Reading/ENG; 2/0), Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen/GER; 1/1), Bobby Wood (Hamburg/GER; 37/11)
SARGENT, WEAH WRITE HISTORY IN MNT’S 3-0 WIN AGAINST BOLIVIA
The U.S. Men’s National Team opened its summer tour with an impressive 3-0 win against Bolivia on Monday night at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pa. Walker Zimmerman headed home his first international goal in the 37th minute before the 18-year-old duo of Josh Sargent and Tim Weah made some history. At 18 years, 102 days, Sargent became the second-youngest player in the modern era to score a goal for the MNT and fourth-youngest all-time, when he found the back of the net in the 52nd minute. Not to be outdone by his teammate at last year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup, Weah also scored his first goal for the MNT seven minutes later, finishing off a low cross from Antonee Robinson. Born two days after Sargent, Weah (18 years, 100 days) jumped ahead of Sargent to become the fourth-youngest to find the back of the net for the MNT, pushing Sargent to fifth.
The U.S. has now posted three consecutive shutouts, not surrendering a goal in 329 minutes of action dating back to the 31st minute of the 1-1 draw against Portugal in November 2017. With the win, the MNT holds an unbeaten 2-0-2 record under Sarachan.
YOUTH MOVEMENT CONTINUES
Handing the MNT’s next generation of prospective players opportunities with the senior team has been a theme since last November, and head coach Dave Sarachan has continued with that philosophy in his current roster selection. The 25-player squad headed to Europe averages out at 23 years, 102 days of age, just slightly higher than the group that gathered in Philadelphia ahead of the Bolivia match (22 years, 286 days). Each of the four rosters Sarachan has named in 2018 has averaged 24 years or under, with his selections for the game against Bolivia and European tour as the first and second youngest, respectively. To underline the point, only three players on the Europe-bound roster were born before 1990: Eric Lichaj (1988), Jorge Villafaña and William Yarbrough (both 1989).
DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY PAYING DIVIDENDS
While youngsters are getting their opportunity with the MNT, many of them are rising to the senior team after advancing through U.S. Soccer’s development pathway. Thirteen players, including Tyler Adams, Rubio Rubin and Josh Sargent have been on the final roster at a Youth World Cup, while a total of 14 players have come through the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.
ROSTER NOTES
- The average age of the MNT roster has risen slightly. The group that was gathered in Philadelphia this past week came in at 22 years, 286 days, while the roster that travels to Europe averages out at 23 years, 102 days.
- Fifteen players are age 23 or under, while only three were born before 1990.
- The 25-player roster represents clubs in nine different countries: England (8), Germany (4), Mexico (4), USA (4), Belgium (1), Denmark (1), France (1), Portugal (1), Spain (1).
- Twenty-one players are based in Europe or Mexico, while four – Tyler Adams and Tim Parker (New York Red Bulls), Zack Steffen and Will Trapp (Columbus Crew SC) – represent MLS clubs.
- New roster additions DeAndre Yedlin (50 caps) and Bobby Wood (37) lead the way as the most seasoned players on the roster. They are followed by Joe Corona (21), Jorge Villafaña (17) and Eric Lichaj (15).
- Eighteen players have five or fewer international caps.
- Nine players are age-eligible for participation in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo (born after Jan. 1, 1997): Tyler Adams, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Luca de la Torre, Weston McKennie, Erik Palmer-Brown, Keaton Parks, Antonee Robinson, Josh Sargent and Tim Weah.
- With 50 caps, DeAndre Yedlin is the senior statesmen on the European roster and comes to Ireland after playing in 34 of 38 league matches for Newcastle United, helping the Magpies to a 10th place finish in the English Premier League this season.
- Tyler Adams seeks his fourth-straight appearance for the MNT after making his international debut on Nov. 14, 2017, in the 1-1 draw against Portugal.
- Fresh off securing a permanent move to Belgian giants Anderlecht last week, Kenny Saief meets up with the MNT for the third time.
- Columbus Crew SC captain Wil Trapp has worn the U.S. armband in his last two appearances, the 0-0 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina and the 1-0 win against Paraguay.
- Columbus Crew SC goalkeeper Zack Steffen arrives in camp riding a club record five-match shutout streak that spans 505 minutes.
- Having played a part for newly-promoted English Premier League side Fulham this season, U.S. U-20 World Cup veteran Luca de la Torre earns his first MNT call-up.
- De la Torre is joined by Shaq Moore and Tim Parker as the three players who will seek their first senior-team caps during the two-game trip.
- William Yarbrough returns to the MNT fold for the first time since November 2016.
- With his 52nd minute strike against Bolivia, Josh Sargent (18 years, 102 days) became the second-youngest MNT player in the modern era to score in his international debut. He sits behind only Juan Agudelo who was 17 years, 359 days when he tallied in the USA’s 1-0 win at South Africa on Nov. 17, 2010.
- Tim Weah’s 59th minute goal against Bolivia made him the fourth youngest MNT goal-scorer all-time. Weah follows Christian Pulisic (17 years, 253 days; May 28, 2016 vs. Bolivia), Agudelo (Nov. 17, 2010 at South Africa) and Jozy Altidore (18 years, 96 days; Feb. 6, 2008 vs. Mexico). Sargent’s goal seven minutes earlier makes him the MNT’s fifth youngest goal scorer (18 years, 102 days), just two days behind Weah.
- Both Joe Corona and Antonee Robinson recorded their first international assists against Bolivia. Corona served the corner kick to Zimmerman for his opening goal, while Robinson, who also made his debut, provided the helper on Weah’s 59th minute strike.
- Matt Miazga came to camp last week after scoring the game-winning goal in Vitesse’s 2-1 defeat of Utrecht in the second leg of the Eredivisie’s Europa League Qualifying Playoff Final. Signed to English club Chelsea, Miazga has turned in another strong season on loan with the Dutch club, appearing in 43 of a possible 45 matches across all competitions this season, while contributing four goals.
- Twenty-year-old center back Cameron Carter-Vickers got a great taste of first-team football while on loan this past season, playing 17 league matches for both Sheffield United and more recently Ipswich Town. Earlier this week, Carter-Vickers signed a contract extension with Tottenham Hotspur through 2021.
- Having made 17 appearances during the Clausura campaign, veteran defender Jorge Villafaña helped Santos Laguna secure the Liga MX Clausura title before joining the MNT last Tuesday.
- Weston McKennie is coming off his first full season with Schalke. The central midfielder made 22 league appearances in helping Die Knappen to a second-place finish in the Bundesliga and a spot in next season’s Champions League.
- Forward Andrija Novakovich closed out his impressive campaign on loan from Reading with Dutch Erstedivisie side Telstar, scoring 21 goals in 37 league matches while helping the club to the promotion playoffs.
- One of only two players (Yedlin being the other) on the roster with FIFA World Cup experience, Julian Green earned his first MNT cap since October 2016 in Monday’s 3-0 win vs. Bolivia. Green comes off a season on loan with German side Greuther Fürth, where his goal on the final day of the season helped the club avoid relegation from the 2.Bundesliga.
- A total of 13 players (or more than half the roster) have been part of the final U.S. squad at a Youth World Cup: Tyler Adams, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Luca de la Torre, Matt Miazga, Shaq Moore, Erik Palmer-Brown, Rubio Rubin, Josh Sargent, Zack Steffen, Wil Trapp, Jorge Villafaña, Tim Weah and DeAndre Yedlin.
- Fourteen players are alumni of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy: Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls), Luca de la Torre (Nomads SC), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Weston McKennie (FC Dallas), Matt Miazga (New York Red Bulls), Shaq Moore (FC Dallas), Andrija Novakovich (Chicago Magic PSG), Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting KC), Rubio Rubin (Portland Timbers), Josh Sargent (St. Louis Scott Gallagher-Missouri), Zack Steffen (FC DELCO), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC), Tim Weah (New York Red Bulls/BW Gottschee), Yedlin (Crossfire Premier/Seattle Sounders FC).
