Galaxy's Gyasi Zardes called up to national team

Galaxy’s Gyasi Zardes called up to national team

Galaxy forward Gyasi Zardes, left, controls the ball against Real Salt Lake's Joao Plata during the second half of a game May 27 at StubHub Center.

Staff Writer

May 31, 2015 4:29 PM PT

Galaxy forward Gyasi Zardes was among 22 players called up Sunday by U.S. Coach Juergen Klinsmann ahead of Friday’s friendly with the Netherlands in Amsterdam and next week’s game against World Cup champion Germany in Cologne.

Zardes is one of nine players to be summoned off Major League Soccer rosters. Galaxy teammate Omar Gonzalez, who started against Germany in last summer’s World Cup, was not among them. The call-up was the fourth this year for the 23-year-old Zardes, who earned his first career assist in a 2-0 win over Panama in February.

The European exhibitions account for two of three games the U.S. has scheduled before July’s Gold Cup tournament.

“Our time since the World Cup has been a transition period which now winds down before the Gold Cup,” Klinsmann said in a statement. “Playing against top teams like Germany and the Netherlands provides valuable experience, especially for the younger players here.”

Not called up was forward and team captain Clint Dempsey of the Seattle Sounders. He will remain in Seattle awaiting the birth of his fourth child.

Eight of the 22 players summoned have played 10 or fewer games for the U.S. while nine have made at least 20 appearances. Eleven were on last summer’s World Cup team.

The roster:

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), William Yarbrough (Club Leon)

Defenders: Ventura Alvarado (Club America), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Michael Orozco (Puebla), Brek Shea (Orlando City SC), DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Miguel Ibarra (Minnesota United FC), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Monchengladbach), Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt), Danny Williams (Reading)

Forwards: Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Bobby Wood (1860 Munich), Gyasi Zardes (Galaxy)