USMNT visits Dublin on Saturday for friendly against Ireland

DUBLIN (Via U.S. Soccer) – After a 3-0 win against Bolivia fueled by the USA’s younger generation, a reconfigured U.S. Men’s National Team will take on the Republic of Ireland at Aviva Stadium on Saturday, June 2 in Dublin. The roster additions add a bit of veteran seasoning to a youthful 25-player squad in Europe, as the team has an average age of just 23 years.

Coverage from Aviva Stadium in Dublin kicks off at 3 p.m. ET (ESPN2; UniMas, UDN).

“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.”

#USMNT visits Dublin on Saturday for international friendly against Ireland
(3 p.m. ET on ESPN2; UniMas, UDN)

PREVIEW: https://t.co/YmeO1R3dZZ
? courtesy U.S. Soccer/Wazee Digital pic.twitter.com/mzuoADt0Qb

— SoccerWire.com (@TheSoccerWire) June 1, 2018

U.S. MNT 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)

STORYLINES

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 Mondaynight at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pa. Walker Zimmerman headed home his first international goal in the 37^th 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 in his debut and fourth-youngest all-time, when he found the back of the net in the 52^nd 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 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 31^st minute of the 1-1 draw against Portugal in November 2017.

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.

IRELAND-USA NOTES

• The USA will take on Ireland for the ninth time on Saturday. The MNT is 2-5-2 all-time against the Boys in Green.
• The last meeting between the teams came Nov. 18, 2014, a 4-1 loss in this same venue
• Four USA players return to Ireland from that game. Billl Hamid started and played the full 90 in goal, Bobby Wood and Rubio Rubin came in as second-half subs and Julian Green was rostered but did not play.
• Four players on Ireland’s roster took the field against the USA: Jeff Hendrick, Shane Long, James McClean and David Meyler, who captained the Boys in Green
• Having kept clean sheets in its last three matches, the USA has not allowed a goal since the 31^stminute of its 1-1 draw last November against Portugal, a streak that has gone 329 minutes.
• Saturday’s match will serve as a send-off game for veteran Irish defender John O’Shea. Capped 116 times by the Boys in Green, O’Shea played with MNT right back DeAndre Yedlin at Sunderland during Yedlin’s loan to the club in 2015-16.
• Veteran MNT defender Eric Lichaj began his professional career at Aston Villa under the tutelage of current Ireland manager Martin O’Neill.

USA-Ireland All-Time Results

USA 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. 2017 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, 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 (alongside Yedlin) 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), DeAndre Yedlin (Crossfire Premier/Seattle Sounders FC).

Ireland Roster by Position (Club; Caps/Goals)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Colin Doyle (Bradford City/ENG; 3/0), Conor O’Malley (Peterborough United/ENG; 0/0), Shane Supple (Bohemians; 0/0)

DEFENDERS (11): Seamus Coleman (Everton/ENG; 45/1), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers/ENG; 2/0), John Egan (Brentford/ENG; 2/0), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion/ENG; 19/2), Kevin Long (Burnley/ENG; 6/0), Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers/ENG; 0/0), Declan Rice (West Ham United/ENG; 2/0), John O’Shea (Sunderland/ENG; 116/3), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United/ENG; 0/0), Derrick Williams (Blackburn Rovers/ENG; 1/0), Greg Cunningham (Preston North End/ENG; 4/0)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Harry Arter (Bournemouth/ENG; 12/0), Alan Browne (Preston North End/ENG; 3/0), Jeff Hendrick (Burnley/ENG; 39/1), Daryl Horgan (Preston North End/ENG; 3/0), James McClean (West Bromwich Albion/ENG; 59/10), David Meyler (Hull City/ENG, 26/0) Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City/ENG, 9/0), Eunan O’Kane (Leeds United/ENG, 7/0)

FORWARDS (3): Graham Burke (Shamrock Rovers; 1/0), Shane Long (Southampton/ENG; 81/17), Jonathan Walters (Burnley/ENG, 52/14)

IRELAND NOTES

• Ireland narrowly missed out on the 2018 FIFA World Cup after falling to Denmark in the playoff by a 5-1 aggregate score in November.
• Ireland drew with Denmark away in Copenhagen and took an early lead at the home fixture in Dublin, but ultimately fell 5-1 to the Red-White
• The Boys in Green finished second in Group D, just two points behind Serbia to advance to the playoff round.
• Four players – Conor O’Malley, Shane Supple, Darragh Lenihan and Enda Stevens – will look to earn their first caps against the USA.
• Forward Shane Long is the Green Army’s leading scorer, with 17 goals in 81 international appearances.
• Head coach Martin O’Neill has coached the Republic of Ireland since 2013. After a long-playing career in England, O’Neill managed several English and Scottish clubs before taking his first international job with Ireland.
• A total of 24 of Ireland’s 26 players ply their trade in England across the Premier League, Championship and League One.
• Goalkeeper Shane Supple (Bohemians) and forward Graham Burke (Shamrock Rovers) are the two players active in the domestic League of Ireland.