While their Sporting Kansas City teammates recuperate during FIFA’s international window, defender Matt Besler and winger Graham Zusi have joined the United States for two pivotal World Cup qualifiers.
Led by head coach Jurgen Klinsmann and fresh off a respectable fourth-place finish at Copa America Centenario, the U.S. MNT travels to face heavy underdog St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Friday at Arnos Vale Stadium in Kingstown. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT on beIN SPORTS as the Americans look to solidify their position in Group C ahead of Tuesday’s group stage finale vs. Trinidad and Tobago at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.
The U.S. currently occupies second place in Group C — three points behind leaders Trinidad and Tobago and a point ahead of third-place Guatemala — entering the final set of matches in the semifinal round. The top two sides from the group will advance to the Hexagonal, CONCACAF’s final World Cup qualifying round in which six nations meet home-and-away between October 2016 and October 2017.
Assembled for the first time since falling to Colombia in the Copa America third place match on June 25, the U.S. could clinch progression to the Hexagonal with a win on Friday coupled by a Guatemala loss to Trinidad and Tobago on the same day. If not, the U.S. could face a do-or-die group stage finale against Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday.
Besler and Zusi join the 26-man roster well-accustomed to the international spotlight. Both featured extensively at the 2014 FIFA World Cup before taking backup roles at this summer’s Copa America Centenario. Their inclusion in the squad — despite both players battling injuries over the last two months — points to Klinsmann’s trust in the Sporting Kansas City duo. Besler and Zusi are among the 19 players on the current roster who competed at Copa America in June.
Besler earned two starts at Copa America, both of which at left back, but could be poised for a return to central defense after an injured John Brooks withdrew from the team. Other notable inclusions along the back line include FC Dallas’ Kellyn Acosta, D.C. United’s Steve Birnbaum and Pachuca’s Omar Gonzalez, who was Besler’s center back partner at the 2014 World Cup.
Zusi made five appearances at Copa America Centenario and enters a strong contingent of 10 midfielders in the setup. He is one of just three players on the roster with three career goals in World Cup qualifying, alongside Jozy Altidore (13) and Michael Bradley (five). Zusi and Bradley join fellow midfielders Kyle Beckerman, Alejandro Bedoya and Jermaine Jones as U.S. MNT veterans, while New York Red Bulls’ Sacha Kljestan provides a fresh face after a two-year absence from the national team.
The U.S. had no problem disposing of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the Group C opener, cruising to a 6-1 victory in November 2015. The Vincy Heat are 156th in the latest FIFA rankings and sit at the bottom of the table with an 0-4-0 record and a minus-16 goal differential.
Following Friday’s penultimate set of group stage matches, Tuesday brings a decisive slate of action as all six Hexagonal places are clinched. Placing in the semifinal round carries legitimate importance, given the following scenarios:
- If the U.S. finishes first in Group C, they’ll open the Hexagonal at home to — drumroll — rivals Mexico on Nov. 11, then travel to face the Group B winner (likely Costa Rica) on Nov. 15.
- If the U.S. finishes second in Group C, they’ll host the Group B winner on Nov. 11 before traveling to face the Group A runners-up (likely Canada or Honduras) on Nov. 15.
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Middlesbrough), Ethan Horvath (Molde FC), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids)
DEFENDERS (8): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Monchengladbach), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United)
MIDFIELDERS (10): Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Jermaine Jones (Colorado Rapids), Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls) Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund), Caleb Stanko (FC Vaduz), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC), Rubio Rubin (FC Utrecht), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Bobby Wood (Hamburg SV)
