Tim Weah will get a chance to wear a U.S. jersey at the senior level for the first time. (Photo courtesy of PSG)
By Michael Lewis
FrontRowSoccer.com Editor
Talk about thinking young.
U.S. men’s national coach Dave Sarachan selected a 22-player squad for its March 27 international friendly against Paraguay that averages 23 years and 84 days.
Moreover, 17 players are 24 or under and the roster has a total of 162 international appearances and 14 goals under its collective belt. And, seven players don’t even have a cap for the game in Cary, N.C
Defender DeAndre Yedlin, who plays for Newcastle United (England), has the most internatonal experience with 49 caps, followed by Bobby Wood (Hamburg, Germany) with 36.
Three players will be familiar to metropolitan area fans — former Red Bulls center back Matt Miazga (four caps), who performs for Vitesse in the Netherlands, Red Bulls midfielder Tyler Adams (two apperances) and Tim Weah (Paris Saint-Germain, France), a former B.W. Gottschee standout who was called into his first camp. Weah, who grew up in New York City, is the son of soccer legend George Weah, who recently was elected president of Liberia.
“This match once again represents an opportunity for some new faces. The roster has an average age under 24, so for the most part this is a group of younger players that we feel have a future with the National Team along with some familiar names,” Sarachan said. “The timing is right to give these guys international exposure, and they will certainly be tested against a strong and experienced Paraguay side.
U.S. roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): Alex Bono (Toronto FC/CAN; 0/0), Bill Hamid (Midtjylland/DEN; 5/0), Zack Steffen (Columbus Crew SC; 1/0)
DEFENDERS (8): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Ipswich Town/ENG; 1/0), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 14/1), Matt Miazga (Vitesse/NED; 4/1), Shaq Moore (Levante/ESP; 0/0), Erik Palmer-Brown (Kortrijk/BEL; 0/0), Antonee Robinson (Bolton Wanderers/ENG; 0/0), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna/MEX; 15/0), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United/ENG; 49/0)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls; 2/0), Marky Delgado (Toronto FC/CAN; 0/0), Weston McKennie (Schalke/GER; 1/1), Darlington Nagbe (Atlanta United FC; 24/1), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 2/0), Kenny Saief (Anderlecht/BEL; 1/0), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC; 3/0), Tim Weah (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA; 0/0)
FORWARDS (3): Andrija Novakovich (Telstar/NED; 0/0), Rubio Rubin (Club Tijuana/MEX; 4/0), Bobby Wood (Hamburg/GER; 36/10)