USMNT Announce 60-Player Preliminary Gold Cup Roster
The USMNT recently dropped their 60-player preliminary roster for the 2021 Gold Cup. With World Cup Qualifying looming, most fans anticipated that the USMNT Gold Cup roster would mainly consist of MLS players, with a few European players sprinkled in. With that in mind, Head Coach Gregg Berhalter’s selections are below:
Goalkeepers:
Brad Guzan
Bill Hamid
Sean Johnson
Tim Melia
Matt Turner
Defenders:
Julian Araujo
George Bello
Reggie Cannon
Cameron Carter-Vickers
Jusin Che
Kyle Duncan
Chase Gasper
Jonathan Gomez
Aaron Herrera
Henry Kessler
Shaq Moore
Erik Palmer-Brown
Kevin Paredes
Donovan Pines
Miles Robinson
James Sands
Auston Trusty
Sam Vines
Walker Zimmerman
Midfielders:
Kellyn Acosta
Frankie Amaya
Cole Bassett
Gianluca Busio
Caden Clark
Hassani Dotson
Leon Flach
Julian Green
Johnny
Sebastian Lletget
Djordje Mihailovic
Moses Nyeman
Andres Perea
Paxton Pomykal
Cristian Roldan
Tanner Tessman
Eryk Williamson
Jackson Yueill
Forwards:
Jozy Altidore
Paul Arriola
Corey Baird
Cade Cowell
Daryl Dike
Jeremy Ebobisse
Jesus Ferreria
Nicolas Gioacchini
Matthew Hoppe
Jonathan Lewis
Chris Mueller
Ricardo Pepi
Robbie Robinson
Memo Rodriguez
Rubio Rubin
Mason Toye
Gyasi Zardes
This initial roster is an interesting group of players, with a lot of key talking points built in. Let’s start with what appears to be an easy and obvious group to tackle - the goalkeepers. I think Matt Turner will most likely be our starting ‘keeper for the 2021 Gold Cup. It is clear and obvious that Turner is statistically one of the best goalkeepers in MLS history. The Gold Cup could help Turner cement his place within the USMNT, secure a move to Europe… hell, it could even make him a contender for the starting job moving forward. Assuming Turner is the starter, behind him are several MLS veterans - if I had to pick one as Turner’s backup, it would be Sean Johnson. Johnson has been around the USMNT more recently and more often when compared to the rest of the ‘keepers and, honestly, he’s a baller. Johnson is a great shot stopper, passer, and leader as well.
“It is clear and obvious that Turner is statistically one of the best goalkeepers in MLS history.”
Moving on to defenders, there are a ton of intriguing names in this list, even if most won’t make the final 23-person roster. The defender most likely to make the cut (and likely the easiest choice) is Reggie Cannon. Cannon is the only defender in this group who played on the USMNT team that recently won the CONCACAF Nations League. This Gold Cup run should give Cannon a chance to not only start, but to lead this group at the national level and prove his worth at the club level. Cannon is on the verge of a transfer from Portuguese Primeira Liga side Boavista, so his form this summer could set him up for a move to a “Top 5” league in Europe. If I took Cannon on the right, I would want Sam Vines on the left. Vines is clearly at the top of his position in MLS and I think a European move will happen sooner rather than later. A solid run of form at the Gold Cup could help propel Vines, perhaps following a path similar to fellow teammates Brenden Aaronson and Mark McKenzie. Two other fullbacks who stand out to me are George Bello and Julian Araujo. Bello and Araujo have been playing at a high level in MLS so far and could push the likes of Vines and Cannon. I want to give a quick shout to Jonathan Gomez from USL side Louisville City, who is included on this list - the 17 year old is a dual international with Mexico and has already had the eye of Mexico Head Coach Tata Martino. If Gomez were to make the 23rd and final roster spot (which would cap-tie him to the US) I wouldn’t hate it, especially since the USMNT is weak at the LB position. When it comes to center-back, the final roster will likely include the pairing of Walker Zimmerman and Miles Robinson – both players are MLS Best XI selections and are trusty options in the back as well. To back them up, I hope to see Cameron Carter-Vickers make the final cut. CCV had another great season for English Championship side Bournemouth, so a good summer could also raise his stock globally as well. To round things out on the backline, I expect someone with versatility – in this case, I would select James Sands. Sands should have been a part of the Olympic Qualifying group, as his skill at both defensive midfield and center-back area huge asset to any group.
“This Gold Cup run should give Cannon a chance to not only start, but to lead this group at the national level and prove his worth at the club level.”
The midfielders are the toughest group to sort through of the preliminary roster, which is why I saved them for last. On that note, on to the forwards! Up front, I think there are two easy selections, depending on their club situations: Daryl Dike and Paul Arriola. Dike has stolen the show within the USMNT striker pool lately and, if he is still roaming around Orlando City when the Gold Cup comes around, he should be the clear-cut starter. I also think Arriola is deserving of a selection here, especially considering he has rarely had a bad game for the US. Arriola would also be a veteran presence among this young group, with the USMNT will need. Assuming the USMNT use three forwards, who will fill out the the forward position? Preferably the exciting San Jose Earthquakes youngster Cade Cowell. It may not be the perfect fit, but the Cowell is an excellent passer and, with Dike’s big body in the box, give it to me! For some back-up winger options in a weak group overall, I would select Jonathan Lewis and Chris Mueller. Though I really like Memo Rodriguez and Corey Baird, I’m not sure if they are USMNT quality yet. With that said, this group would still need a backup striker. No disrespect intended, but I have eliminated Robbie Robinson, Ricardo Pepi, Mason Toye, Jesus Ferreria, Jeremy Ebobisse, and Rubio Rubin. Though I like these strikers and feel confident in many of them at the MLS level, I don’t think they compare to Matthew Hoppe, Nicholas Gioacchini, Gyasi Zardes, and Jozy Altidore. If I had to choose a backup striker from this group, I’d go with Altidore. I can already hear some people huffing and puffing about this pick, but look – Altidore is a veteran and some good performances at the Gold Cup could get him get back into the USMNT picture. Also, as a veteran, Altidore’s selection could bring World Cup experience with the likes of Jonathan Brooks and Deandre Yedlin to the 2022 group.
“…if [Dike] is still roaming around Orlando City when the Gold Cup comes around, he should be the clear-cut starter.”
I’ve stalled for long enough - time to tackle this USMNT midfield. I truly wish the US could have more than 23 spots for this Gold Cup group because I like SO many of these midfielders. If Sebastian Lletget joins the camp, he is an easy starter. Though he didn’t play well against Honduras in the COCACAF Nations League semifinal, Lletget should be a major part of the USMNT midfield moving forward. The other central midfielder I hope to see is Caden Clark. The young phenom is reportedly making the move to the Bundesliga at the end of the MLS season, so the US should start rotating him in now, especially since Clark has had a hot start to the 2021 season. Starting behind these two at Tyler Ada- I mean, defensive midfielder, is Kellyn Acosta. We all witnessed what a confident Kellyn Acosta can bring to the USMNT with his performance Nations Leage Final performance against Mexico – I would solidify him behind Adams now based on that alone. Unfortunately, Jackson Yueill is currently slipping down that DM ladder - I personally would prefer to see Leon Flach make the Gold Cup roster over Yueill right now, but I don’t want to be too harsh on the kid after a few bad games. Regardless, Flach would make my 23rd roster spot in a toss-up with the previously mentioned Gomez. With two more roster spots left and a ton of MLS talent in this midfield already, I unfortunately have to axe some exciting young players like Moses Nyeman, Cole Bassett, Tanner Tessman, and Paxton Pomykal. I also have to leave off seasoned veterans like Julian Green and Cristian Roldan. Why? Because Gianluca Busio and Eryk Williamson should both make this roster. Even if you’ve only paid casual attention to the 2021 MLS season, it’s obvious that Busio and Williamson deserve to be there. Williamson has played all over the Portland Timbers midfield and has also done a fantastic job replacing Diego Chara while he is out hurt. Busio has been a star on a talented Sporting KC team, not to mention he has scored some big goals as well. With growing interest from Serie A clubs and rumors of interest from the Italian Men’s National Team, the USMNT should get Busio locked in soon.
“… the US should start rotating him in now, especially since Clark has had a hot start to the 2021 season.”
With all that said, these are just my takes and early thoughts on this roster. I like this preliminary list and am looking forward to seeing what this “MLS Side” can do when they take on CONCACAF and the Gold Cup this summer.
