Busio, Gutierrez, and Hasler All Called Up for International Duty

The international break in September is going to hit Sporting Kansas City quite hard for their trip to the Portland Timbers on September 7th. After Botond Barath, Krisztian Nemeth, and Johnny Russell were all announced as having been called up to their respective national teams, today came news that three more Sporting players will be joining them on international duty. Gianluca Busio, Felipe Gutierrez, and Nicolas Hasler have also been called up for their respective national teams for games between the 5th and the 10th of September.

Busio has been called up to the US U17 team for their final international games before October’s U17 World Cup in Brazil. The US team will be playing in the 4 Nations Tournament in the Netherlands against Mexico on the 5th, the hosts on the 7th, and Denmark on the 9th. Busio has become a regular contributor for Sporting this season, having appeared in 17 games for the club and has appeared in seven of the clubs last ten regular season games.

Gutierrez has been called back in to the Chilean team for friendlies this window against fellow South American side Argentina in Los Angeles on the 5th, and a friendly against Honduras in San Pedro Sula in Honduras on the 10th. Of the six players call up for Sporting, Gutierrez is arguably going to be missed the most of the six, he’s the club’s leading scorer in league play with 10 goals this season, he’s the team leader in minutes played this year (2,198), he’s played in the most games (26 tied with Ilie Sanchez and Tim Melia) and started the second most (25). His absence would likely lead to a midfield of Sanchez, Roger Espinoza, and Benny Feilhaber in Portland on the 7th.

Hasler is joining the Lichtenstein for their Euro Qualifiers in September. Lichtenstein will be on the road for both of their games this round of qualifying, facing Bosnia and Herzegovina on the 5th and then traveling to Greece for a game on the 8th. Of the six called up, Hasler may be the least missed of the six. While he’s been in the 18 for KC, he hasn’t seen the field since July 3rd against Los Angeles FC. With Jaylin Lindsey regularly getting time with the Swope Park Rangers to return to fitness, Hasler’s absence should be easier to manage.

The six players called up will depart for international duty after Saturday’s game against the Houston Dynamo.