COLOGNE, Germany --
United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann has left out World Cup stalwarts Geoff Cameron and Jermaine Jones from his 35-player preliminary roster for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The absence of the duo punctuated the initial choices revealed on FOX Sports 1 during the broadcast of the friendly between the U.S. and Germany on Wednesday afternoon, though the inclusions of DaMarcus Beasley and Brad Davis plus the return of in-form target man Alan Gordon also received attention.
Cameron misses out on the Gold Cup after Klinsmann opted to experiment with other defensive options this year. Jones sits out the tournament after he sustained a groin injury with the Revolution on May 31 and pulled out of the squad to face Netherlands and Germany as a result.
Klinsmann permitted Matt Besler, Omar Gonzalez and Graham Zusi to stay with their club teams for this pair of friendlies, but the World Cup trio all warrant a place in the provisional squad here. They are joined by Houston Dynamo duo Beasley and Davis with Beasley’s presence a particular surprise given the fact that he announced his retirement from international duty in December.
The tournament could also mark the revival of Gordon’s international career after the Galaxy forward impressed during the early stages of the MLS campaign. The 33-year-old forward last featured in the squad for the Gold Cup triumph two years ago, but he did not play in that tournament.
Stanford Univ. forward Jordan Morris also keeps his place after scoring against Mexico and setting up Bobby Wood for the winner in Amsterdam on Friday, but U.S. under-20 duo Rubio Rubin and Gedion Zelalem are not named in the pool. Wood is one of three players -- including Miguel Ibarra and Danny Williams -- to miss out on the Gold Cup after featuring on the roster to face Netherlands and Germany.
U.S. Soccer submitted the preliminary roster to CONCACAF on Friday, pursuant to CONCACAF regulations. Klinsmann must cull this initial group to 23 players before submitting his final roster to CONCACAF 10 business days before the start of the tournament. He may make up to six changes to his roster between the group stage and the quarterfinals, but he may only select from players named on his preliminary roster.
United States preliminary roster for the CONCACAF Gold Cup
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), William Yarbrough (Club León)
Defenders: Ventura Alvarado (Club América), DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Greg Garza (Club Tijuana), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Michael Orozco (Pubela), Tim Ream (Bolton Wanderers), Brek Shea (Orlando City), DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham Hotspur)
Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Perry Kitchen (D.C. United), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt), Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
Forwards: Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution), Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), Alan Gordon (LA Galaxy), Aron Jóhannsson (AZ), Jordan Morris (Stanford University), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
