US World Cup team player capsules

Players on the U.S. World Cup team:

GOALKEEPERS

Brad Guzan (Aston Villa, England) - Born Sept. 9, 1984. … Hometown: Homer Glen, Illinois. … 25 international appearances. … Finished his second full season as starter for Aston Villa in England’s Premier League following four years spent primarily as a backup, first to fellow American Brad Friedel and then to Shay Given. … Was with Chivas USA from 2005-09 and was loaned to Hull for two stints during the second half of the 2010-11 season.

Tim Howard (Everton, England) - Born: March 6, 1979. … Hometown: North Brunswick, New Jersey. … 99 international appearances. … Has spent the past eight seasons as the starter with Everton in England’s Premier League after six years with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars and three seasons with Manchester United. … Had 15 shutouts, one behind co-leaders Petr Cech of Chelsea and Wojciech Szczesny of Arsenal. … On Jan. 4, 2012, scored on a 100-yard-plus, wind-blown clearance against Bolton’s Adam Bogdan, becoming the fourth goalkeeper to score in Premier League history. … Had 3-0 shutout of Millwall in the 2004 FA Cup final and was voted Premier League goalkeeper of the year. … Was a backup to Kasey Keller at the 2006 World Cup and the U.S. starter at the 2010 Cup. … Holds U.S. record with 54 wins.

Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake) - Born June 17, 1979. … Hometown: Montclair, California. … 14 international appearances. … Helped UCLA win NCAA title as a freshman in 1997. … Has spent more than a decade in MLS with D.C. United (2002-06) and Salt Lake (2007-present). … Was starting goalkeeper as U.S. won CONCACAF Gold Cup last summer.

DEFENDERS

DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla, Mexico) - Born: May 24, 1982. … Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana. … 17 goals in 115 international appearances. … A midfielder for most of his career, has been moved to left back by the national team in recent years. … Was youngest member of 2002 U.S. World Cup team. … Could become the first American to appear in four World Cups. … Has played for Chicago (2000-04), PSV Eindhoven (2004-07), Manchester City (2006-07), Glasgow Rangers (2007-10), Hannover (2010-11) and Puebla (2011-present). … In 2005 became the first American to appear in a Champions League semifinal, starting and playing until the 61st minute for PSV Eindhoven against AC Milan. … Won Silver Ball as the U.S. finished fourth at the 1999 FIFA World Under-17 Championship, where Landon Donovan won the Golden Ball.

Matt Besler (Kansas City) - Born: Feb. 11, 1987. … Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas. … 0 goals in 16 international appearances. … Made national team debut against Canada in January 2013 and wound up starting six games in the final round of World Cup qualifying. … Was Notre Dame’s captain as junior and senior in 2007 and ’08.

John Brooks (Hertha Berlin, Germany) - Born: Jan. 28, 1994. … Hometown: Berlin. … 0 goals in 4 international appearances. … Made national team debut in August at Bosnia-Herzegovina. … The son of an American serviceman, was raised in Berlin and visited family in Chicago. … Made debut with Hertha Berlin in 2012-13, helping earn promotion to the Bundesliga, and scored in his Bundesliga debut against Eintracht Frankfurt last Aug. 10. … Missed time this season with broken elbow and strained knee ligament. … Caused a commotion in April when he got a back tattoo, causing him to be benched for a club game.

Geoff Cameron (Stoke, England) - Born July 11, 1985. … Hometown: Attleboro, Massachusetts. … 1 goal in 26 international appearances. … Scored on May 29 last year in 4-2 exhibition loss to Belgium. … After playing college ball at West Virginia and Rhode Island, spent 2008-12 with the Houston Dynamo and then transferred to Stoke. … Plays mostly right back for his club, but preferred at center back with the national team. … Scored first Premier League goal against Arsenal in September, then got another when he beat fellow American Brad Guzan during March victory over Aston Villa.

Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany) - Born March 29, 1990. … Hometown: Frankfurt, Germany. … 0 goals in 11 international appearances. … Made national team debut in March 2011, then turned down an invitation in 2012 ahead of the start of World Cup qualifying. … Didn’t appear in an official international match until a World Cup qualifier at Honduras in February 2013. Did not play in another game for U.S. before May 27 exhibition against Azerbaijan. … Tore meniscus in left knee against Bayern Munich on Feb. 8, had surgery and returned to action April 26.

Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles) - Born Oct. 11, 1988. … Hometown: Dallas. … 0 goals in 19 international appearances. … Tallest player on U.S. roster at 6-foot-5. … Dual U.S.-Mexican citizen. … Made national team debut against Brazil in August 2010 in first American match after World Cup. … Returned to national team in January 2013 after a two-year absence. … Helped Los Angeles Galaxy win MLS titles in 2011 and 2012. … 2009 MLS Rookie of the Year. … 2011 MLS Defender of the Year. … Loaned to Nuremberg in January 2012, he tore his left ACL in a collision with Timmy Chandler and was sidelined until July. … Won 2008 NCAA title with Maryland.

Fabian Johnson (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany) - Born Dec. 11, 1987. … Hometown: Munich. … 1 goal in 21 international appearances. … Son of an American serviceman and a German mother, he played in the Germany youth national team system and started against England in the final of the 2009 European Under-21 Championship. He then switched allegiance to the United States in 2011 and made his debut that November in exhibition at France. … Can play either right or left back or in midfield. … Has played for 1860 Munich (2006-09), Wolfsburg (2009-11) and Hoffenheim (2011-14), and in February agreed to sign with Borussia Moenchengladbach for next season.

DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle) - Born July 9, 1993. … Hometown: Seattle. … 0 goals in 4 international appearances. … Made national team debut in January as second-half substitute against South Korea. Also was second-half sub against Mexico in April and Azerbaijan in May. … Was the Sounders’ first homegrown player and made MLS debut in 2013, becoming the first rookie All-Star since Parkhurst in 2005.

MIDFIELDERS

Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake) - Born April 23, 1982. … Hometown: Crofton, Maryland. … 1 goal in 36 international appearances. … Scored against Panama in quarterfinal of 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. … Was teammate of Donovan and Beasley as U.S. finished fourth at the 1999 FIFA Under-17 World Championship. … Has spent entire career in MLS with Miami (2000-01), Colorado (2002-07) and Salt Lake, where he has been captain since 2008.

Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes, France) - Born April 29, 1987. … Hometown: Weston, Florida. … 1 goal in 27 international appearances. … Scored against Guatemala in exhibition last July ahead of CONCACAF Gold Cup. … Was on 30-man preliminary roster for 2010 World Cup, then was cut. … After playing at Fairleigh Dickinson (2005-06) and Boston College (2007-08), has spent professional career in Europe with Orebro (2009-11), Glasgow Rangers (2011-12), Helsingborgs (2012-13) and Nantes (2013-present).

Michael Bradley (Toronto) - Born July 31, 1987. … Hometown: Manhattan Beach, California. … 12 goals in 85 international appearances. … Son of former U.S. coach Bob Bradley. … Trained with U.S. World Cup team in 2006 and made his national team appearances that May in exhibition against Venezuela. … Scored against tying goal vs. Slovenia in 2-2 draw during 2010 World Cup. … Had two goals against Mexico in 2009 World Cup qualifier. … Received red card vs. Spain in 2009 Confederations Cup semifinal, causing him to miss final. … Played twice at the 2008 Olympics. … Began pro career with New York-New Jersey MetroStars (2004-05), and has gone on to play for Heerenveen (2006-08), Borussia Moenchengladbach (2008-11), Aston Villa (2011), Chievo Verona (2011-12) and Roma (2012-14). Signed in January with Toronto.

Brad Davis (Houston) - Born Nov. 8, 1981. … Hometown: St. Charles, Missouri. … 0 goals in 16 international appearances. … Left-sided midfielder noted for free kicks and corner kicks. … January 2013 start in exhibition against Canada was first U.S. appearance since February 2010. … Scored winning penalty kick during shootout against Panama in the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup final … Has spent more than a decade in MLS with MetroStars (2002), Dallas (2003-04), San Jose (2005) and Houston (2006).

Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg, Norway) - Born Oct. 2, 1990. … Hometown: Oslo, Norway. … 3 goals in 19 international appearances. … Full first name Mikkel. … Mother is from Arizona, father from Norway. … Scored in 2012 exhibition against Russia, 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal against El Salvador and in 2014 exhibition vs. Azerbaijan. … Played exhibitions for Norway youth teams before switching to U.S. program. … Has been with Stabaek (2008-12), Ghent (2012) and Rosenborg (2012-present).

Julian Green (Bayern Munich, Germany) - Born June 6, 1995. … Hometown: Tampa, Florida. … 0 goals in 2 international appearances. … Born in Florida, moved with his family to Germany when he was 2. … Played for Germany in three qualifiers for the 2014 European Under-19 Championship, making his debut last Oct. 10 against Belarus, then asked FIFA for a change in affiliation in March. … Made his professional debut for Bayern on Nov. 27 as an 88th-minute substitute in a Champions League match at CSKA Moscow. … Made his U.S. national team debut in April against Mexico.

Jermaine Jones (Besiktas, Turkey) - Born Nov. 3, 1981. … Hometown: Chicago. … 2 goals in 41 international appearances. … Born in Frankfurt to an American father and German mother, Jones lived in the United States until he was 7 and would visit each year during vacations. … Made debut for German national team as a substitute against Austria on Feb. 6, 2008, then appeared against Belarus on May 27 and England on Nov. 19 - all exhibitions. Was among Germany coach Joachim Loew’s final roster cuts for the 2008 European Championship, and in 2009 he asked FIFA for a change in affiliation last summer. … Made U.S. debut in October 2010. … Scored against Jamaica in 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup and vs. Scotland in 2012 exhibition. … Has 72 club yellow cards since the start of the 2005-06 season, according to soccerway.com. … Has played for Eintracht Frankfurt (1999-04, 2005-07), Bayer Leverkusen (2004-05), Schalke (2007-14), Blackburn (2011) and Besiktas (2014).

Graham Zusi (Kansas City) - Born Aug. 18, 1986. … Hometown: Longwood, Florida. … 3 goals in 22 international appearances. … Scored in January 2012 exhibition at Panama, then had goals in World Cup qualifiers against Jamaica and at Panama last October. Goal vs. Reggae Boyz was in his home stadium, Sporting Park; the goal vs. Panama tied the score in stoppage time, advancing Mexico to a playoff for a World Cup berth at the expense of Panama. … Spent entire professional career since 2009 with Sporting Kansas City. … Helped Maryland win NCAA titles in 2005 and 2008. Received degree in criminology.

FORWARDS

Jozy Altidore (Sunderland, England) - Born Nov. 6, 1989. … Hometown: Boca Raton, Florida. … 21 goals in 69 international appearances … Started all four American games at 2010 World Cup. … In 2013 became the first American to score in five consecutive international matches. … Played in all three U.S. games during the 2008 Olympics. … Made his professional debut at 16 with the New York Reds Bulls in 2006. Joined Villarreal in 2008, was loaned to Xerez (2009), Hull (2009-10) and Busaspor (2011), then sold to AZ Alkmaar for the 2011-12 season. … Scored 19 goals in his first season in the Netherlands and 31 in his second, breaking Dempsey’s record for goals by an American in a European club season. … Joined Sunderland for 2013-14 and scored two goals in 39 games, reminiscent of 2009-10, when he had two goals in 30 games for Hull.

Clint Dempsey (Seattle) - Born: March 9, 1983. … Hometown: Nacogdoches, Texas. … 37 goals in 104 international appearances. … Scored vs. Ghana in 2006 World Cup and vs. England in 2010 World Cup. … Scored vs. Egypt, Spain and Brazil at 2009 Confederations Cup, where he earned Bronze Ball as third-best player. … Played for New England (2004-06), Fulham (2007-12, 2014), Tottenham (2012-13) and Seattle (2013-present). … Scored 60 goals for Cottagers, including 23 in 2011-12, then a record for an American with a European club. … Goal on long chip beat Juventus and advance Fulham to the 2009-10 Europa League quarterfinals. Played in overtime loss to Atletico Madrid in the final. … Scored three goals vs. Newcastle on Jan. 21, 2012, becoming the first American to score a hat trick in England’s Premier League. … Fulham player of the year in 2010-11 and 2011-12. … Nickhamed “Deuce,” his number with Tottenham and Seattle. … Recorded rap song as part of 2006 World Cup marketing promotion.

Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar, Netherlands) - Born: Nov. 10, 1990. … Hometown: Mobile, Alabama. … 2 goals in 8 international appearances. … Born in Alabama to Icelandic parents and moved to Iceland when he was 3. … Attended the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, in 2007-08. … Appeared in eight qualifiers for Iceland for the 2012 European Under-21 Championship, then asked FIFA for a change in affiliation last summer. … Made U.S. debut in August and scored second-half, stoppage-time goal for 3-2 win at Panama in World Cup qualifier last October, then scored against Azerbaijan in May 2014. … Played for Fjolnir in Iceland from 2008-10, Aarhus in Denmark (2010-13) and AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands (2013-present), scoring 26 goals this season.

Chris Wondolowski (San Jose) - Born: Jan. 28, 1983. … Hometown: Danville, California. … 9 goals in 20 international appearances. … Scored hat trick against Belize in last year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, when name was mis-spelled on his jersey: “Wondowlowski.” Since then, has extra “W’’ sewn on inside of national team jerseys. … Led MLS with 18 regular-season goals in 2010 and 27 in 2012, and tied for lead with 16 in 2011. … Half Native American and a member of Kiowa Tribe. Tribal name Bau Daigh means “Warrior coming over the hill.”