Neither Clint Dempsey nor Brad Evans of the Sounders were called up to fill spots on the U.S. Men’s National Team for its first two World Cup qualifiers against St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad/Tobago. But Nigeria called up Obafemi Martins and Guatamala summoned Marco Pappa.
Both will be available for the Sounders’ second Western Conference semifinal playoff match in Dallas Sunday. Should the Sounders advance to the West finals, the Cup schedule will not keep away Martins and Pappa.
Seattle will be represented by two players: DeAndre Yedlin of O’Dea High School and Jordan Morris of Mercer Island High and Stanford were invited by USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann.
“Obviously, Brad is hurt right now, in Jurgen’s mind,” Sounders coach Sigi Schmid said Friday. “Jurgen and I talked about that when he was up here, so I knew that was coming. Jurgen can answer his own question in regards to Clint, but I think he went with a younger group up front with maybe the exception of Alan Gordon.
“I think he’s looking at these two games and saying, hey, give these younger guys a shot and maybe stay away from the guys still in the playoffs.”
USMNT
GOALKEEPERS (3) : Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Tim Howard (Everton)
DEFENDERS (8) : Ventura Alvarado (Club America), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Matt Miazga (New York Red Bulls), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana), Tim Ream (Fulham FC), Brek Shea (Orlando City SC)
MIDFIELDERS (7) : Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Miguel Ibarra (Club Leon), Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), DeAndre Yedlin (Sunderland)
FORWARDS (5) : Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Alan Gordon (LA Galaxy), Jordan Morris (Stanford), Bobby Wood (Union Berlin), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
