May 12, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina men’s soccer alum Brad Guzan was named to the 30-man preliminary roster for the 2014 FIFA World Cup by U.S. National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann on Monday. The U.S. opens its seventh-consecutive World Cup appearance against Ghana on June 16 in Natal, Brazil.
One of 10 players who were also on the preliminary roster for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Guzan is one step away from making his second-straight U.S. World Cup roster. Along with Guzan in 2010, Josh Wolff in 2002 and 2006 and Clint Mathis in 2002, the Gamecocks have been represented on the last three U.S. World Cup rosters. The former Gamecock All-American will look to make it four straight when the 23-man roster is announced by June 2.
Guzan has solidified his spot as Team USA’s No. 2 goalkeeper behind Tim Howard. In 2013, the keeper backstopped three huge results in qualifying, notching back-to-back clean sheets against Costa Rica and the historic 0-0 draw against Mexico four days later. He then helped the U.S. to a 3-2 win against Panama in the final game of the Hexagonal. He has posted five shutouts in eight career World Cup qualifiers. Guzan has been with Aston Villa in the Premiere League since 2008.
The U.S. begins its journey on May 14 with training camp at Stanford University. The team will then play a three-match Send-Off Series from May 27-June 7. USA vs. Azerbaijan on May 27 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco is the first in the series. Team USA then hosts Turkey at 2 p.m., ET, on Sun., June 1, at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, before traveling to Jacksonville, Florida, to face Nigeria on June 7 at 6 p.m., ET, at EverBank Field.
The U.S. was drawn into Group G along with Ghana, Portugal and Germany for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and opens play against Ghana on June 16 at 6 p.m., ET, at Estadio Das Dunas in Natal. Next, the U.S. will take on Portugal on June 22 at 3 p.m., ET, at Areana Amazonia in Manaus before wrapping up group play against three-time World Cup champion Germany at Arena Pernambuco in Recife at noon ET.
ESPN’s new six-episode documentary series “Inside: U.S. Soccer’s March to Brazil” will detail the U.S. Men’s National Team preparations ahead of the upcoming World Cup. The series premieres on Tues., May 13, at 7 p.m., ET. The show is set to spotlight the announcement of the final 23-man roster.
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3) : Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (11) : DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Michael Parkhurst (Columbus Crew), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)
MIDFIELDERS (10) : Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Maurice Edu (Philadelphia Union), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (6) : Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
