US roster does not include SKC's Besler or Zusi for Ecuador match

Sporting KC fans can breathe a little easier. U.S. Men's National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann did not call up Graham Zusi and Matt Besler for the upcoming friendly against Ecuador on October 10^th in Connecticut. The Sporting KC pair will not miss the match with Chicago on the 10th.

Klinsmann announced the 21 players for the Ecuador match today but he is expected to make several changes to the U.S. roster that will face CONCACAF rival Honduras (and Sporting KC midfielder Jorge Claors) in Florida on October 14^th. That roster could still include the Sporting Kansas City players.

"We look at these two games as an opportunity to take a picture of the player pool as it stands now," Klinsmann explained. "Already the hierarchy starts to shift in some ways, which is normal at the beginning of a cycle. We are excited to look at this group against a very competitive team like Ecuador, and then we will have a chance to bring some different faces for the game against Honduras. Obviously, it's going to be a special night on Friday as everyone in the U.S. Soccer family will have the chance to honor the amazing career of Landon Donovan."

The match with Ecuador will be Landon Donovan's last appearance for the U.S., ending a 15 year career with National Team. Donovan was controverally left off of the 2014 World Cup roster. Donovan has been the most consistent performer for the U.S. and has arguably been their best player. A comparison with the current roster has Donovan with 156 caps and 57 goals and the rest of the roster with 260 caps and 35 goals, (Altidore has 23 of those).

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION

GOALKEEPERS (3):Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (7): John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Greg Garza (Club Tijuana), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Michael Orozco (Puebla), Tim Ream (Bolton Wanderers), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Joe Corona (Tijuana), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Luis Gil (Real Salt Lake), Julian Green (Hamburg), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt)
FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Joe Gyau (Borussia Dortmund), Miguel Ibarra (Minnesota United FC), Bobby Wood (1860 Munich)