Jurgen Klinsmann does Sounders no favors with Gold Cup roster

Clint Dempsey and Brad Evans were both named to the initial 23-man Gold Cup roster by United States manager Jurgen Klinsman today. The club plays a tune up match July 3rd against Guatemala meaning that this weekend's match against Portland is likely the last time either player is with the Sounders and that we might not see Dempsey suit up for the Sounders until August, meaning his U.S. Open Cup tirade will cost him as many as seven league games.

Evans is listed as one of seven defenders and is likely going to be viewed as a RB/CB for Klinsman with former Sounder DeAndre Yedlin making the squad as a midfielder. Dempsey is part of a forward set that includes Jozy Altidore, Aron Johannsson, and Chris Wondolowski. One of the more notable exclusions from the team was Jordan Morris, who was starting to become a regular with the senior squad.

If the USMNT makes it all the way to the finals on July 27 and both players remain with the team until the end, they wouldn't be available to play until the Aug. 1 match against the Vancouver Whitecaps. The Sounders' next game is on Aug. 9 against the LA Galaxy.

The US has the ability to replace up to six players on the roster after the group stages which end on July 15th. It's possible that Evans could be sent home or Morris to be called up at that time, although neither seem particularly likely. The Sounders will be without Evans and Dempsey at least for matches against DC United and Chicago during the group stages and Colorado and Montreal during the knockout rounds. Evans, if healthy, should play against Portland on Sunday before leaving for Gold Cup duty while Dempsey will be serving the final game of his suspension. Marco Pappa is also expected to be called into Guatemala's Gold Cup team.

It is worth noting that none of the teams the Sounders play during this stretch have had players called up. Overall, 17 players on this squad were on the World Cup 2014 Squad and 12 are from MLS.

Full roster

GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa/2007), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake/2011, 2013), William Yarbrough (Club Leon)
DEFENDERS (7): Ventura Alvarado (Club America), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC/2009), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy/2013), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Tim Ream (Bolton Wanderers/2011)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake/2009, 2013), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes/2011, 2013), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/2007, 2011), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo/2005), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC/2013), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt), DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham Hotspur), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/2011), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC/2005, 2007, 2011), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes/2011, 2013)