SANDY, UT (Sunday, October 1, 2017)
–
Real Salt Lake
GK
Nick Rimando
has been called in by
U.S. National Team
Head Coach
Bruce Arena
for the upcoming World Cup Qualifying matches against Panama and Trinidad & Tobago. The U.S. will face Panama on Friday (5 p.m. MT, ESPN2) at Orlando City Stadium in Orlando, Florida, then Trinidad & Tobago in Couva on October 10 (6 p.m. MT, beIN SPORTS).
With two games remaining in the Final Round of Qualifying, the U.S. holds its destiny in its own hands and has positioned itself to advance for its eighth consecutive World Cup. Wins at home against Panama and away to last-place Trinidad & Tobago would virtually guarantee a spot in Russia 2018.
"It's a roster we've selected that we believe will give us success in these next two games. We have a pretty balanced roster with experienced players," Arena said. "The players always give the commitment, that's never an issue. The issue is whether we get the results we need, and I think we're positioned to do that. I think if it comes down to where we need four or six points in our last two games, I think that's fine and we'll get it done."
Rimando, 37, is Major League Soccer's all-time leader in games played (450), games started (450), minutes played (40,621), wins (195) and shutouts (137). This season he holds a 12-9-5 record with eight shutouts and a 1.21 goals against average. In RSL's current run of form that has seen the club go 7-2-4 in the last 13 matches, he has four shutouts and a 1.23 goals against average.
The 17-year MLS veteran has 22 career caps for the U.S. and has five shutouts on the international stage, including one against Serbia during this year's January camp.
"Nick is playing at a very high level. He has been great in the role that he plays for our national team. He has been good when called upon and he's a very good teammate in the U.S. system," Real Salt Lake General Manager Craig Waibel said. "It's a good reward and doesn't come to everyone to be able to last so long at such a high level, so it's a real compliment."
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION (Club; WCQ Caps/Goals)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC; 15/0), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids; 37/0), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (9): DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo; 35/6), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City; 12/1), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/ENG; 24/2), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca/MEX; 16/0), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana/MEX; 6/1), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 6/0), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna/MEX; 4/0), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United/ENG; (8/0), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City; 20/3)
MIDFIELDERS (10): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; 5/0), Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution; 0/0), Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 5/1), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union; 9/0), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/CAN; 38/7), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City; 6/0), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire; 0/0), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers; 9/0), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 11/5), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy; 4/1)
FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/CAN; 39/16), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC; 41/18), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes; 0/0), Bobby Wood (Hamburg/GER; 12/4)