MLS International Call-Ups Roundup
By Eric Harris
Where are all the MLS stars going on their International Break?
Atlanta United – Miguel Almiron (PAR), Josef Martinez (VEN), Brad Guzan (USA)
Almiron and Martinez both played but did not go the full 90 in their first games. Almiron’s Paraguay got the upset of the day on Thursday, beating Chile 3-0. It will be interesting to see if Guzan and Howard both get a start like the last set of quaifiers.
Chicago Fire – Dax McCarty (USA)
Dax is back with the USMNT and that’s it for Chicago who have to win games fast so this is probably welcome.
Colorado Rapids – Mekeil Williams (T&T), Tim Howard (USA)
Williams will try to turn things around with a desperate Trinidad side, and Howard will certainly start at least one match for the USMNT.
Columbus Crew – Harrison Afful (GHA), Jonathan Mensa (GHA), Justin Meram (IRQ)
Ghana needs a big turn around to qualify for Russia. They absolutely need three points against Congo. Meram got a goal for Iraq in a match with both teams eliminated from qualifying.
DC United – Paul Arriola (USA), Zoltan Stieber (HON)
DC bringing a likely pair of bench players to their respective camps. Although, Arriola started in Azteca so stranger things have happened.
FC Dallas – Kellyn Acosta (USA), Tesho Akindele (CAN), Maynor Figueroa (HON), Carlos Gruezo (ECU), Matt Hedges (USA)
Our first big bunch of the group. Acosta is more likely to play for the USMNT than Hedges. Gruezo didn’t play in Ecuador’s loss to Brazil but could play against Paraguay. Tesho will take part in a CONCACAF sad friendly against Jamaica
Houston Dynamo – DaMarcus Beasley (USA), Alberth Elis (HON), Boniek Garcia (HON), Adolfo Machado (PAN), Romell Quioto (HON)
The Honduran trio will have a big pair of qualifiers against Trinidad and the United States. Hopefully for them Elis and Quioto are better in front of goal than during the Gold Cup. DaMarcus Beasley continues to play for the USMNT forever and Machado gets to take a trip to the Azteca.
LA Galaxy – Clement Diop (SEN), Giovani dos Santos (MEX) Jonathan dos Santos (MEX)
Diop is somehow getting called in. I don’t know what that says about the Senegal keeper situation but it isn’t good. Dos dos Santos brothers are going to try and book their tickets to Russia this camp.
Minnesota United – Francisco Calvo (CRC), Johan Venegas (CRC), Kevin Molino (T&T), Jermaine Taylor (JAM)
Calvo and Venegas have a tough pair of matches this camp. They face off against both the US and Mexico.
Montreal Impact – David Choiniere (CAN), Anthony Jackson-Hamel (CAN), Samuel Piette (CAN), Laurent Ciman (BEL), Blerim Dzemaili (SUI)
Montreal’s two European call ups didn’t play in their respective wins. The Impact also have the most participants in the CONCACAF sad friendly.
New England Revolution – Je-Vaughn Watson (JAM), Antonio Delamea (SVN)
Slovenia has a critical match against their rivals Slovakia. Winner is in pole position for the playoff spot in their group behind England.
New York City FC – Alex Ring (FIN), Yangel Herrera (VEN), David Villa (ESP), Rodney Wallace (CRC)
The most important thing here is David Villa. Who is an MLS player playing against Italy. I want Villa to get a hat trick and force Gian Pedro Ventura how an MLS player put their World Cup in danger.
New York Red Bulls – Michael Amir Murillo (PAN), Fidel Escobar (PAN)
Just a pair of Panamanians going to likely get beat by Mexico this camp.
Orlando City – Will Johnson (CAN), Cyle Larin (CAN), Yoshimar Yotun (PER)
Man, None of those three are playing in any qualifier of consequence. Just get them back healthy is all I ask.
Philadelphia Union – Alejandro Bedoya (USA), Andre Blake (JAM), Haris Medunjanin (BOS)
Andre Blake is back with Jamaica after his Gold Cup injury. Bedoya could see some substitute minutes for the US. Medunjanin didn’t play in Bosnia’s really bad loss to Cyprus.
Portland Timbers – David Guzman (CRC), Darlington Nagbe (USA), Alvas Powell (JAM)
Nagbe will be a huge key for the USMNT against Costa Rica. Having him and Pulisic continue to develop some attacking chemistry is key for 2018.
Real Salt Lake – Nick Rimando (USA), Albert Rusnak (SVK), Jefferson Savarino (VEN)
Rusnak is on the other side of that Slovakia/Slovenia royal rumble. Rimando gets the best seat in the house to watch Howard and maybe Guzan play.
San Jose Earthquakes – Anibal Godoy (PAN), Cordell Cato (T&T), Marco Urena (CRC), Chris Wondolowski (USA), Jahmir Hyka (ALB), Vako Qazaishvili
Yes Wondo got called up again. No we’re not going to talk about it any more.
Seattle Sounders – Roman Torres (PAN), Nicolas Lodiero (URU), Joevin Jones (T&T), Gustav Svensson (SWE), Cristian Roldan (USA), Clint Dempsey (USA), Jordan Morris (USA), Nouhou Tolo (CAM), Oniel Fisher (JAM)
NINE. Nine players from Seattle got called up! And most are going to play as well! The American trio are all likely to be called upon. Lodiero and Svensson didn’t play in their first matches but could in the next. Nouhou’s Cameroon has a big pair of qualifiers in this camp as well.
Sporting KC – Amer Didic (CAN), Matt Besler (USA), Graham Zusi (USA), James Musa (NZL), Soony Saad (LEB)
Musa and New Zealand got a big qualifying win. Besler and Zusi might be half of the USMNT’s backline in the next week. Saad and Didic get some good international experience.
Toronto FC – Jay Chapman (CAN), Armando Cooper (PAN), Raheem Edwards (CAN), Jonathan Osorio (CAN), Tosaint Ricketts (CAN), Michael Bradley (USA), Jozy Altidore (USA), Nicolas Hasler (LIC)
WE GOT A LICHTENSTEIN CALL UP. Also Jozy and Michael are going to be pretty important for the US as well. But you already knew that.
Vancouver Whitecaps – Alphonso Davies (CAN), Marcel de Jong (CAN), Kendall Watson (CRC), Christian Bolanos (CRC), Stefan Marinovic (NZL)
Marinovic was in goal for New Zealand’s win. Watson and Bolanos are going to have a tough time while we all hope Davies rocks the CONCACAF sad friendly.