United States national team roster highlighted by MLS stars

United States national team head coach Gregg Berhalter.(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
United States national team head coach Gregg Berhalter.(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Head coach Gregg Berhalter called 27 players to the United States national team for a friendly on May 30 at Switzerland. The roster, not surprisingly, has a distinct MLS flavor – both current and present.

The list of players called up to the United States national team includes five players under contract with MLS teams. One player, Daryl Dike, is with Orlando City but currently on loan at Barnsley in the English Championship. The other four currently in MLS are goalkeeper David Ochoa (Real Salt Lake), midfielder Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids), midfielder Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy) and midfielder Jackson Yueill (San Jose Eathquakes).

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Also included in the United States national team selection are a number of players who played in MLS before moving to Europe. The New York Red Bulls lead the way with three former players (Tim Ream, Matt Miazga and Tyler Adams) who all played with the MLS club prior to being sold to European clubs.

And then others got their starts in MLS academies such as Justin Che (FC Dallas, now with Bayern Munuch) and Gio Reyna (New York City FC to Borussia Dortmund).

GOALKEEPERS (3): Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge/BEL; 4/0), Chituru Odunze (Leicester City/ENG; 0/0), David Ochoa (Real Salt Lake; 0/0)

DEFENDERS (10): John Brooks (Wolfsburg/GER; 40/3), Reggie Cannon (Boavista/POR; 14/0), Justin Che (Bayern Munich/GER; 0/0), Sergiño Dest (Barcelona/ESP; 7/1), Mark McKenzie (Genk/BEL; 2/0), Matt Miazga (Anderlecht/BEL; 21/1), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 42/1), Bryan Reynolds (Roma/ITA; 1/0), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 10/0), DeAndre Yedlin (Galatasaray/TUR; 62/0)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids; 27/2), Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig/GER; 12/1), Julian Green (Greuther Fürth/GER; 15/4), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 20/6), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 21/6), Yunus Musah (Valencia/ESP; 4/0), Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; 9/0)

FORWARDS: (7): Brenden Aaronson (Red Bull Salzburg/AUT; 4/2), Daryl Dike (Barnsley/ENG; 2/0), Matthew Hoppe (Schalke/GER; 0/0), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 4/2), Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen/GER; 13/5), Jordan Siebatcheu (Young Boys/SUI; 2/0), Tim Weah (Lille/FRA; 10/1)

The most surprising inclusions on the roster were right back DeAndre Yedlin, who has had an up-and-down season since moving to Galatassaray. Also surprising was the inclusion of midfielder Julian Green, currently in Germany’s second division and Schalke forward Matthew Hoppe.

Follow Kristian Dyer of ‘MLS Multiplex‘ on Twitter @KristianRDyer