Altidore Dropped From Knockout Rounds; Beasley Added
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After a sluggish group stage, U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann decided to make some changes in the roster ahead of Saturday’s quarterfinal in Baltimore. The biggest news from the changes sees striker Jozy Altidore leaving the U.S. Men’s roster and he will now miss the rest of the Gold Cup.
Klinsmann added defender DaMarcus Beasley, midfielder Joe Corona, and forward Alan Gordon to the team, replacing Altidore, Greg Garza and Alfredo Morales.
Despite starting the first two matches of the group stage, Altidore has been dealing with a hamstring issue that inhibited his performance.
“We believe that Jozy’s just not there yet,” Jurgen Klinsmann told the team’s website.”Jozy never really got into this tournament and never really picked up the rhythm. He’s just simply not in shape to help us. For Jozy it’s just simply going back to Toronto, picking up his rhythm, getting in shape, working on his fitness and then he will start scoring goals again. That’s why Alan Gordon was on the standby roster from the beginning and that’s why we brought him in.”
Gordon has scored four goals for Los Angeles Galaxy, including the winner against Club America over the weekend
“He’s fully fit, he’s so full of energy, he scores goals with the Galaxy, and he fits in right away,” Jurgen Klinsmann said of Gordon. “He’s a pure giver to the group, and he might be a player that can make a difference at any second when you bring him in.”
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Beasley returns to the national team despite announcing his international retirement last year. He comes in to try to help improve a defense that has been weak lately.
U.S. men’s coach indeed stated, “Having DaMarcus come into the team is huge, because of his character, his giving nature, the spirit he brings, but also the high quality he brings. He brings a lot of experience into this group, and he’s hungry. He’s still as hungry as day one in his career. That speaks for us having him back in the group and now it gives us a couple of different options on how to put pieces together. We’re very happy to have Beas back.”
Beasley has 121 international caps for the U.S., the fifth-most all time and more than anyone else on the current squad.
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Despite starting in the 1-0 win against Haiti, Greg Garza was another one replaced by Jurgen Klinsmann.
“With Greg Garza it’s tough. It hurts when you have to tell a player that they’re not part of the final stage of the competition,” Klinsmann said. “Hopefully he joins us in Philadelphia for the final to be with the group again. He’s an emerging player.”
Morales was another left out from the roster, replaced by Joe Corona. Alfredo Morales Started against Panama in the 1-1 draw.
“He’s still in the process to become a part of our team in the fine tuning element. There are certain things that just don’t click yet, and it’ll just take a little bit of time. Right now in the tournament, we don’t have that time,” Klinsmann said, adding further about Corona saying, “He’s a player that can also help us, here and there, to hold the ball better, to take care of the ball. With his great technique, with his one-touch passing, he makes things very easy and simple. I think it’s a great opportunity to have Joe back, even if it hurts a little bit for Alfredo, but that’s just part of the game.”
The U.S. will play their quarterfinal knockout stage game on Saturday in Baltimore, their opponents are yet to be determined.
