Ghana's World Cup opponents United States have named a 24-man squad dominated by Europe-based players for next week’s international friendly with Ukraine.
The US meet the eastern European nation in Larnaca, Cyprus on March 5 but will prepare for the encounter, which is a tune-up for this summer’s World Cup, in Frankfurt, Germany from March 2.
Jurgen Klinsmann has called in Bayern Munich young gun Julian Green for his possible international debut while Seattle Sounders ace Clint Dempsey (currently on loan at Fulham) and Toronto FC recruit Michael Bradley have been included.
Klinsmann said that the training camp in Frankfurt and the match against Ukraine was a great chance for the US players to put their best foot forward for a World Cup berth.
“This game is a huge opportunity, mainly for our European-based players, for those guys to prove to us that they are eager and hungry to jump on the train to the FIFA World Cup,†said Klinsmann.
“With this game being the only chance for these players before our World Cup preparation camp begins, it’s even more important they have a good showing.â€
The game was moved from Kharkiv to Cyprus because of political unrest and violence in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev.
24-man USA roster for Ukraine friendly
Goalkeepers
Cody Cropper (Southampton, ENG) Brad Guzan (Aston Villa, ENG) Tim Howard (Everton, ENG)
Defenders
John Brooks (Hertha Berlin, GER) Geoff Cameron (Stoke City, ENG) Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana, MEX) Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt, GER) Oguchi Onyewu (Sheffield Wednesday, ENG) Will Packwood (Birmingham City, ENG) Tim Ream (Bolton Wanderers, ENG)
Midfielders
Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes, FRA) Michael Bradley (Toronto FC, USA) Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg, NOR) Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim, GER) Jermaine Jones (Besiktas, TUR) Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht, BEL) Brek Shea (Barnsley, ENG *on loan from Stoke City, ENG) Danny Williams (Reading, ENG)
Forwards
Juan Agudelo (FC Utrecht, NED *on loan from Stoke City, ENG) Jozy Altidore (Sunderland, ENG) Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna, AUT) Clint Dempsey (Fulham, ENG *on loan from Seattle Sounders FC, USA) Julian Green (Bayern Munich, GER) Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar, NED)