CHICAGO (AP) – Seattle forward Clint Dempsey was left off the U.S. roster for its opening qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup, but U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann included a pair of players who could make their national team debuts: Portland Timbers midfielder Darlington Nagbe and New York Red Bulls defender Matt Miazga
In the absence of Dempsey and injured striker Aron Johannsson, Klinsmann’s forwards include Jozy Altidore, Alan Gordon, Bobby Wood, Gyasi Zardes and Stanford junior Jordan Morris.
“At this point in time, I want to give the younger strikers a chance to prove themselves, and this is a good stage to do it,” U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. “I communicated with Clint about it, and it’s all fine.”
The U.S. opens against St. Vincent and the Grenadines at St. Louis on Nov. 13, then plays at Trinidad and Tobago four days later.
Borussia Moenchengladbach’s Fabian Johnson is on the roster announced Friday despite a spat last month with Klinsmann, who was angered the defender asked to come off in the 111th minute of the Oct. 10 playoff against Mexico for a Confederations Cup berth. The U.S. lost 3-2, and Klinsmann sent Johnson back to Germany before an exhibition against Costa Rica on Oct. 13, saying “he can rethink his approach about his team.”