Jurgen Klinsmann Names USA Roster For World Cup Qualifiers Vs. Jamaica

Gatt was unlikely to start, but very likely to get some time off the bench at right wing (or in an emergency, right back) during the next two qualifiers. Unfortunately, Klinsmann already has to phone up a replacement. Why U.S. Soccer released a roster and the news of Gatt’s injury dropped mere minutes later is difficult to figure out.

Getting results in friendlies and doing so in qualifiers are two very different things and Jamaica is unquestionably the next best team in the United States’ group. Knowing that, Klinsmann called in the very best team of players available to him, even the ones who might have been asked to stay with their new clubs after just joining them.

Josh Gatt is the only real surprise on the team as he aims to earn his first cap, but he has been playing very well for Molde and is one of the bright young stars in the U.S. program. Also of note is the inclusion of Jose Francisco Torres, who has had a string of rough matches at the international level, while the defense is made up almost entirely of Klinsmann’s first choice players, Timothy Chandler excepted, in a rare bit of health and fortune for the U.S.