SEATTLE, WASH. - U.S. Soccer today announced that Sounders FC forward Clint Dempsey and defender Brad Evans have been named to the U.S. Men's National Team roster for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann's 23-man squad includes 17 players from the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, and 10 players that have previously won a Gold Cup, including six from the group that won the competition in 2013.
Dempsey, 32, is tied for sixth all-time with 112 appearances and seventh with 101 starts for the USMNT, including appearances in each of the last three FIFA World Cups. His 40 career goals rank second all-time and his 13 assists are tied for eighth.
Evans, 30, has 19 career international caps and recorded the game-winning assist in the USMNT's 2-1 win at Germany on June 10. He has one international goal - a stoppage-time winner at Jamaica on June 7, 2013, the latest match-winning goal in U.S. FIFA World Cup Qualifying history. Evans most recently logged 10 minutes as a substitute in a 2-0 win over Mexico on April 15.
"Our approach for putting together the roster for this summer's Gold Cup, which is very, very important to us, is obviously to do everything possible to win this competition," said Klinsmann. "Winning it would qualify us for the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia, so putting the pieces together is very crucial. That's why we came out with a roster full of quality, but also a lot of experience; players that are used to playing in the CONCACAF region and also younger players that came through the ranks over the last year that made a stamp on the senior National Team program. It's an exciting roster, and obviously we have a chance to make some changes after the group stage if necessary. We put all of these things into consideration, and we believe we have a very, very strong group that can win this prestigious tournament."
The USMNT takes the pitch for a final Gold Cup tune-up against Guatemala on July 3 at LP Field in Nashville. The game is being broadcast live on FOX Sports 1, UniMás and Univision Deportes Network. Four days later, the five-time Gold Cup champions begin their quest for title defense in the 13th edition of the tournament with the opening-round match against Honduras on July 7 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. That game is also being broadcast live on FOX Sports 1 and UniMás. Complete information and schedule for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup can be found here.
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3) : Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), William Yarbrough (Club Leon)
DEFENDERS (7) : Ventura Alvarado (Club America), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Tim Ream (Bolton Wanderers)
MIDFIELDERS (9) : Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt), DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham Hotspur), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (4) : Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
