RSL GK Nick Rimando Called Into U.S. National Team for World Cup Qualifiers

RSL Goalkeeper Nick Rimando (Photo Rob Gray)

RSL Goalkeeper Nick Rimando (Photo Rob Gray)

SANDY, UT (Wednesday, March 15, 2017)Real Salt Lake GK Nick Rimando has been called in by U.S. National Team Head Coach Bruce Arena for the upcoming World Cup Qualifying matches against Honduras and Panama. The U.S. will face Honduras on March 24 (8:30 p.m. MT, FS1) at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California, then Panama in Panama City on March 28 (8 p.m. MT, beIN SPORTS).

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Nick Rimando

“I’m extremely excited and honored to be called in to represent my club and country in this month’s World Cup Qualifying games,” Rimando said. “I realize how important these games are and I’m looking forward to helping the U.S. get back on track.”

Rimando, 37, is Major League Soccer’s all-time leader in games played (426), games started (426), minutes played (38,493), wins (183) and shutouts (130), including a shutout in the season opener this year – his 11th with Real Salt Lake – against Toronto FC.

Utah Sporting News

Nice Rimando

The 17-year MLS veteran has 22 career caps for the U.S. and has five shutouts on the international stage, including one against Serbia during this year’s January camp.

“He’s in a great spot physically and mentally. He keeps defying age right now, which is great,” Real Salt Lake General Manager Craig Waibel said. “He’s worked his butt off this offseason and it shouldn’t go unmentioned. A lot of people haven’t seen the work he’s put in in the last six months. As fit as he is right now, he deserves the opportunity and any accolades that come with it.”

Nick Rimando

Nick Rimando

Through the first two matches of the Hexagonal Round, the U.S. is in sixth place after losing at home against Mexico and on the road against Costa Rica. The top three finishers in the six-team stage will qualify for the World Cup with the fourth-place finisher playing in an inter-confederation playoff against other finishers from Asia, South America and Oceania.

“We put together a roster that we think has balance and one that gives us an option in playing a number of different ways,” Arena said. “It’s a roster where the primary rationale is to help us be successful in these two games, but we’re also looking down the road and bringing in some young players that we think have an opportunity to be an important part of the National Team program as well. Our approach to these games is simple: we want to win.”

U.S. MNT Roster By Position (Club; WCQ Caps/Goals)

Goalkeepers (3): Brad Guzan (Middlesbrough/ENG; 13/0), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids; 33/0), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake; 0/0)

Defenders (8): John Brooks (Hertha Berlin/GER; 2/0), DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo; 33/6), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/ENG; 19/2), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca/MEX; 12/0), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana/MEX; 6/1), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 2/0), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna/MEX; 0/0), Walker Zimmerman (FC Dallas; 0/0)

Midfielders (9): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; 1/0), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union; 6/0, Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/CAN; 31/5), Jermaine Jones (LA Galaxy; 16/0), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 15/1), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 0/0), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers; 3/0), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire; 0/0), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 5/2)

Forwards (4): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/CAN; 33/16), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC; 36/13), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; 3/0), Bobby Wood (Hamburg/GER; 8/3)

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