Klinsmann calls 24 players to U.S. Men’s National team camp to prepare for Critical FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has called 24 players into training camp to prepare for its final two matches in the Semifinal Round of qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup against Antigua & Barbuda and Guatemala.

The U.S. first faces the Benna Boyz on Oct. 12 in North Sound, Antigua. Kickoff for the USA’s first visit to the island is set for 7 p.m. ET and the match will be broadcast live on beIN SPORT. Four days later, the U.S. will close out the Semifinal Round at sold-out LIVESTRONG Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan. That match will be broadcast live at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN2, WatchESPN and the Univision family.

The U.S. team begins reporting to Miami on Monday and departs for Antigua three days later.

“The mentality we are bringing into these two games is to get six points,” said Klinsmann. “It’s important that the players arriving into Miami prepare themselves for two ‘finals.’ We must have urgency within the group and a clear understanding that we need to deliver, which means each player has to bring a 100 percent effort. All our focus and energy for the next few days will be on getting the right preparation for the team so we can win the next two games.”

The U.S. is currently even with Guatemala at the top of Group A with seven points and matching totals in both goal differential and goals scored. Jamaica also has seven points but sits in third place due to a lower goal differential. With the three nations tied on points and jockeying for the top two spots, no team will be able to secure a place in the Final Round until the last group matches are played on Oct. 16.

As part of the continuing effort to connect with the fans, the U.S. Men’s National Team will host a public training session on Sunday, Oct. 14, at 10:30 a.m. CT at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. Admission and parking for the event are free.

Fans who pre-register on ussoccer.com will be entered to have a chance to meet U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann at the stadium prior to the training session.

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3) : Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (8) : Carlos Bocanegra (Racing Santander), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Maurice Edu (Stoke City), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Michael Parkhurst (Nordsjaelland)
MIDFIELDERS (8) : Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Roma), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (5): Clint Dempsey (Tottenham Hotspur), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Herculez Gomez (Santos), Alan Gordon (San Jose Earthquakes), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders)

ADDITIONAL ROSTER NOTES

• Clint Dempsey has scored in three of four World Cup Qualifiers in this round, with two of the goals coming on the road. Herculez Gomez has collected a pair, including the game-winner against Jamaica on Sept. 11 in Columbus.
• Michael Bradley returns to the fold after recovering from a muscle injury that sidelined him for four weeks and forced him to miss the previous two qualifiers against Jamaica.
• Five players have appeared in all four World Cup Qualifiers in this round: Dempsey, Maurice Edu, Gomez, Tim Howard and Jermaine Jones.
• Jones leads all U.S. players in games played (10) and minutes (877) in 2012.
• Howard sits in second place all-time for victories among U.S. goalkeepers (33) and third in shutouts (29). He has nine clean sheets in 20 World Cup Qualifying appearances.
• Brad Guzan brings an additional three shutouts in five matches played.
• Dempsey now has eight career goals in World Cup Qualifying, good for a tie for fourth place all-time on the U.S. list.
• Sporting Kansas City midfielder Graham Zusi is in first place in assists (15) in Major League Soccer this season, along with Landon Donovan.
• The U.S. and Antigua met for the first time in international competition when they opened Group A play on June 8 in Tampa. The lineup from the USA’s 3-1 win: Howard; Cherundolo, Goodson, Bocanegra (capt.), Torres (Onyewu, 57); Edu, Bradley, Jones (Boyd, 81); Donovan, Dempsey, Gomez (Altidore, 80).
• Bocanegra scored his 13th career goal that day, tying Marcelo Balboa for the most all-time by a U.S. defender.
• Leagues from eight different countries are represented; MLS contributes the most with seven players called into Miami.
• Seattle Sounders forward Eddie Johnson and Anderlecht midfielder Sacha Kljestan are no strangers to the U.S. Men’s National Team. Johnson, who has 14 goals in MLS this season, has eight career goals in World Cup Qualifying. Kljestan has 34 career caps and has earned two under Klinsmann against Costa Rica on Sept. 2, 2011, and against Italy on Feb. 29 earlier this year.
• Five players are carrying yellow cards: Bradley, Edu, Fabian Johnson, Jones and Zusi. Their next caution will result in a one-match suspension.