Who missed the cut? The three biggest US national team roster snubs

Not even a larger-than-normal 28-man roster for the US men’s national team can keep everyone happy. 

The USMNT released their squad for friendlies against England and Italy in Europe this month, including 12 MLS players. Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams are among those on the roster, but before we get closer to the games, who got snubbed?

Russell Canouse

The quickest takeaway when this roster was announced: where’s Russell Canouse?

Canouse was one of the key drivers behind D.C. United‘s second-half revival, alongside Wayne Rooney, Luciano Acosta, Bill Hamid and Audi Field, and seemed poised to make his senior debut with the national team in November after being called to the January camp 11 months ago.

No @RussellCanouse 😔 pic.twitter.com/91y7lzlznb

— Paul Arriola (@PaulArriola) November 6, 2018

The 23-year-old made his season debut on July 14, missing the first few months of the season due to injury. Three games later he was fit enough to play from the opening whistle and started the team’s final 17 games, controlling the midfield and providing the team’s shape for Rooney and Acosta to do what they do best. 

One would imagine to see Canouse at the 2019 January camp.

Paul Arriola

Canouse’s teammate is another key absentee from November’s roster.

Paul Arriola also played a big part in D.C.’s second-half surge, playing a ground-covering right midfielder as well as marauding fullback when the team’s injuries piled up. His flexibility is a useful trait. He figured to be in the mind of interim head coach Dave Sarachan at two positions.

But with DeAndre Yedlin firmly ensconced as the team’s right back for the present and future, Arriola would have an uphill to figure into the depth chart as a fullback, especially with FC Dallas‘ Reggie Cannon, 20, and Shaq Moore, 22, on the come up. 

Tim Parker

After not making the MLS Defender of the Year ballot due to the New York Red Bulls being restricted to two nominees, Tim Parker did not get a call from Sarachan. It doesn’t help that the position is one of the deepest for this pool of players. 

Red Bulls’ teammate Aaron Long got the call, as did John Brooks, Matt Miazga, Cameron Carter-Vickers and LAFC‘s Walker Zimmerman. There was no more room for Parker, who has had a stellar 2018 season. After earning two caps in June, the center back has not made another appearance for the US. He did receive a call-up for two September friendlies but did not see any action.