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Jurgen Klinsmann has selected his team for the United States' friendly against Ukraine on March 5 and it includes just two players from MLS. The team was expected to be heavy on European-based players, but Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley being the lone MLS players is a bit of a surprise.
The match falls on a FIFA international date so Klinsmann could have called in any players he wanted, but with the match coming just days before the start of the MLS season, he didn't want to ask players to travel so far for a single match. That includes the Liga MX contingent, who are represented by only Edgar Castillo.
The lack of MLS and Liga MX players presents players some opportunities to impress Klinsmann, most notably at the back. John Brooks, Will Packwood, Tim Ream, Alfredi Morales and Oguchi Onyewu all got call-ups, something that probably would not have happened had Omar Gonzalez, Matt Besler, Clarence Goodson, Brad Evans and DaMarcus Beasley been in the mix.
As expected, Julian Green was named to the roster, but he will not play in the match, which was always the plan. The Bayern Munich starlet would have to file a one-time switch to play for the U.S. in a match so he is solely going to train with the team, which allows him to get used to the program and also keep the option of playing for Germany open.
This is the final friendly that the U.S. will have on an international date before World Cup training camp so it is very important, as much for the players to impress Klinsmann as it is for Klinsmann to get a look at players.
The U.S. and Ukraine will play the match in Cyprus, not Ukraine as originally planned due to civil unrest in Ukraine. It will still be televised on ESPN2.
Goalkeepers: Cody Cropper (Southampton), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton).
Defenders: John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt), Oguchi Onyewu (Sheffield Wednesday), Will Packwood (Birmingham City), Tim Ream (Bolton Wanderers)
Midfielders: Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Brek Shea (Barnsley), Danny Williams (Reading)
Forwards: Juan Agudelo (Utrecht), Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar)
