Michael Bradley and Zack Steffen named to U.S. National Team

The first 27-man roster selected by new U.S. men’s national soccer team manager Gregg Berhalter, as he looked to rebuild the squad that underperformed under former manager Jurgen Klinsmann.

And in doing so, Berhalter selected as many as 12 players with no experience with the national team, demonstrating his focus on injecting his team with a new sense of energy and perspective.

However, as the saying goes: “young horses run fast, but old horses know the way.” It’s a saying in which Berhalter like believes, because alongside the youthful – if not inexperienced – squad he selected, this team includes two American stalwarts in veteran Michael Bradley and reigning U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year Zack Steffen.

Bradley represents the most-capped player on the team, with 142 appearances in international play. Among the select four veterans tapped to be on the preliminary squad, the 31-year-old midfielder was the oldest player; the average age of the players on the current team is a youthful 24 years and 230 days.

Bradley was originally dropped from the U.S. National Team when the squad suffered its humiliating defeat to Trinidad and Tobago back in October of 2017, which snapped the Americans’ streak of appearing in the World Cup seven straight times.

But his inclusion was an integral one, as the largely-youthful team will likely rely on Bradley’s years of experience in the middle of the pitch. In fact, there’s almost something of a “Captain America” feel to including Bradley among the current selections. He’s been described as an intelligent, physically dominant, and hard-working player who can assume a variety of positions on the pitch, doing everything from defending the field to setting up plays for attackers. Others see him as a tenacious, energetic, and savvy player who can force turnovers and get the ball moving in the right direction for the Americans.

Bradley expressed excitement, in regards to returning to the team, citing the opportunity to rejoin some of the familiar faces he’s played alongside, and getting to know all the new additions made by Berhalter.

However, one familiar face he’ll see when he joins the team includes Steffen, the goalkeeper for the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer, and a veteran of international play on the Under 18, Under 20, and Under 23 squads. In 2018, Steffen started in several friendlies, helping the Americans finish with a 1-1 tie against France and a shutout win against Mexico. Steffen was previously called up to the National Team by Klismann in the spring of 2016 for a transitional camp.

Steffen was given the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award in 2018, after registering 10 clean sheets and a miniscule 1.28 goals against average for Columbus. On the professional side, Steffen will play with English team Manchester City starting in July of 2019.

Bradley and Steffen will join all their American cohorts in Chula Vista, California, for Berhalter’s first camp that will end with friendlies against Panama and Costa Rica. Both matches will take place in January of 2019.

© Image courtesy of USA Soccer Federation Inc.