24-man Roster Yields a Surprise or Two

The US roster for the next two World Cup 2010 qualifiers has been released, and there is a surprise or two for the Yanks.

Real Salt Lake's 24-year-old striker Robbie Findley is a part of the squad, while new 1860 Munich boy Kenny Cooper is not. Findley has played mere minutes in the red, white and blue kit, but has 10 goals in 15 MLS games this year.

Also out? Freddy Adu won't be in the mix, which is surely making his bout with Benfica even less fun. It's hard to argue for his inclusion at the expense of any midfielder who did make the 24-man. Freddy might want to think about going somewhere where he can actually play soccer, because he's no longer a cute teenage story on the bench. I really wish the best for him.

The full roster sees no surprises in goal (Tim Howard and Brad Guzan), but Clarence Goodson's inclusion in the group of backliners may raise an eyebrow. The other defenders are Carlos Bocanegra, Jonathan Bornstein, Steve Cherundolo, Jay DeMerit, Chad Marshall, Oguchi Onyewu and Jonathan Spector.

Joining Findley up top are big men Brian Ching and Conor Casey, with new Hull City striker Jozy Altidore, Landon Donovan and Charlie Davies rounding out the group. The midfield includes Kyle Beckerman, Ricardo Clark, Benny Feilhaber, Michael Bradley, Stuart Holden, Clint Dempsey, Robbie Rogers and Jose Torres.

The Gold Cup Roster - Who's In, Who's Out

The 5-nil drubbing Mexico hung on the USMNT yesterday still fresh in our minds, I'm taking a look at the US Gold Cup Roster and trying to make sense of who's moving forward today, who put themselves on the map for the 2014 World Cup, and whose national team careers are over.

In net:

With Tim Howard entrenched as the first choice keeper and Brad Guzan his heir apparent, the number three spot is wide open. Troy Perkins started 5 of 6 matches and was solid in net. The third spot for 2010 is up for grabs between Perkins and Marcus Hahnemann. Luis Robles is still young and starting in the 2nd Bundesliga for Kaiserslautern. Robles should factor in a depth roll in the future as Howard and Guzan are 30, and 24 respectively. Jon Busch is a respectable MLS keeper, but should not factor again for the USMNT.

Defense:

The starting back four is set in the middle with Oguchi Onyewu and either Carlos Bocanegra or Jay DeMerit next to him. Chad Marshall and Clarence Goodson each performed well enough to move them up the depth chart. Michael Parkhurst is still an option at center back, but the depth at the position could find him hard-pressed to see more time with the MNT. Jimmy Conrad was playing very well before he suffered a concussion to end his tournament. Right back Jay Heaps finally got the call to represent his country at the international level and after receiving four caps won't get called back. Heaps is a likable player and a strong competitor (and he was absolutely wronged on the penalty call for Mexico's first goal) but he's on the wrong side of 30 and didn't do much to impress. Left back Heath Pearce had some up and down performances and hasn't done much to cement himself as the first choice left back. With Luis Castillo declaring his American allegiance and Carlos Bocanegra's capabilities at left back Pearce may find himself on the bench in a battle with Jonathan Bornstein for depth.

Next up: Midfielders and Forwards

First-half goal, second-half excitement: US to Final, 2-0 over Honduras

Unlike a great many of the Gold Cup games, I genuinely enjoyed the soccer on display during Thursday's semifinal between the States and Honduras. The Hondurans play with such passion -- and dirtiness -- that they have skipped the stairs and taken the escalator to 1a to Mexico's 1 on the list of CONCACAF teams I despise.

While the first half was almost entirely the teams feeling each other out -- odd for squads that have met several times in recent months -- it ended with a spectacular corner kick goal that set the tone for a dynamic second half.

Clarence Goodson headed home a picture-perfect corner service from Stuart Holden in the 45th minute to give the US its first of two goals on the night, but the second 45-plus minutes were a sales pitch for soccer in America.

Holden was phenomenal for this cliched rag-tag group of misfits (and by "misfits," I mean "mostly second-choice players" in the nicest of fashions). His speed was fantasic, his creativity necessary and his services were first-class. With apologies to goalkeeper Troy Perkins, Holden was unquestionably the man of the match. He played a game very similar to that of Robbie Rogers during his brilliant group play, only -- maybe -- more disciplined.

Kenny Cooper's goal was another piece of great football. Brian Ching continues to impress, holding up his man and touching the ball to Holden who found the barely onside Cooper for his second goal in two matches. It looked a little funny from the camera angle, but Cooper's finish was very nice, perhaps even understated.

There was great pace and guts to the second half, with both teams providing a great contest. It's an absolute shame the Mexico/Costa Rica semifinal isn't be aired on FSC. The venue will be Giants Stadium on Sunday for the 2009 Gold Cup Final, and I've got absolutely zero love for it being scheduled on my first anniversary. I'll wait to see how the other semi plays out before I go predicting "Dos a Cero, v5.0"

Also important to point out that Bob Bradley has been pretty solid with his line-ups and substitues. Kudos.

By the way, Freddy Adu "tweets" that there are some interesting developments going on... full-time to Monaco? Actual time on Benfica? A transfer elsewhere? Getting back together with JoJo? What an American moment for soccer this music video was...

Look at this joker

"I just thought I'd support Brazil and Honduras, bro, cause like Brazil isn't playing. I know this guy from Brazil though, and I got this flag so, put two and together, bro... I'll take off these glasses, but I'm not saying sorry."

1-0 States at the half. Clarence Goodson gets up and over on a Stuart Holden corner. That's how you get some looks.