Altidore exits as Klinsmann makes Gold Cup roster changes
CHICAGO --
United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann said he had some ideas about how he might change his roster after the group stage of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. It turns out the biggest one involved the departure of Jozy Altidore.
Altidore will return to Toronto FC after Klinsmann made three changes to his 23-man roster ahead of the knockout stage.
LA Galaxy forward Alan Gordon replaces Altidore up front, while DaMarcus Beasley returns to the squad for the first time since the World Cup in place of Greg Garza at left back. Joe Corona completes the trio of alterations as he takes Alfredo Morales' spot in midfield.
CONCACAF regulations allow teams to make up to six roster changes within 24 hours of the conclusion of the final group stage game. The summoned players must be included in the 35-man provisional squad submitted prior to the tournament.
Altidore's departure serves as the primary talking point as the Americans move forward in the tournament. The stalwart forward, 25, recently returned to full fitness after a hamstring injury and struggled to make an impact in two group stage starts.
Klinsmann pulled Altidore at halftime in the 1-0 victory over Haiti on Friday, but he subsequently backed his forward to make an impact in the Gold Cup as it unfolded.
"On the one hand, Jozy is still working in this process," Klinsmann said after that match. "We talked about it in the last couple of days. The work is ongoing. I'm not worried about it. He's going to come into this tournament. He will get stronger and stronger with every day in training and every minute on the field. We're going to keep building him."
The next few days did not proceed according to plan, though. Klinsmann left Altidore on the bench for the 1-1 draw with Panama on Monday and ultimately opted to release him from the squad ahead of the last eight.
"We believe that Jozy's just not there yet," Klinsmann told ussoccer.com on Tuesday. "Jozy never really got into this tournament and never really picked up the rhythm. He's just simply not in the shape right now to help us. For Jozy, it's just simply going back to Toronto, picking up his rhythm, getting in shape, working on his fitness and then he will start scoring goals again."
"That's why Alan Gordon was on the standby roster from the beginning and that's why we brought him in," Klinsmann continued. "He's fully fit, he's so full of energy, he scores goals with the Galaxy, and he fits in right away. He's a pure giver to the group, and he might be a player that can make a difference at any second when you bring him in."
"Having DaMarcus come into the team is huge, because of his character, his giving nature, the spirit he brings, but also the high quality he brings," Klinsmann told ussoccer.com. "He brings a lot of experience into this group, and he's hungry. He's still as hungry as day one in his career. That speaks for us having him back in the group and now it gives us a couple of different options on how to put pieces together."
Klinsmann and his revamped squad will play against an opponent to be determined in a quarterfinal match in Baltimore on Saturday.
