With Howard off, Rimando and Guzan vie for USMNT spot


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SALT LAKE CITY — When U.S. men's national team starting goalkeeper Tim Howard announced he was taking a break from international duty last month, it created a chance for RSL 'keeper Nick Rimando. That chance will start Sept. 6 in Prague, Czech Republic.

Rimando was one of 22 players named to head coach Jurgen Klinsmann's roster Thursday for next month's friendly against the Czechs. The 35-year-old goalkeeper was the only MLS-based player to take part in the European friendly, and one of three goalkeepers with Aston Villa starter Brad Guzan and young Southampton 'keeper Cody Cropper.

“This gives us a huge opportunity to see Brad Guzan and Nick Rimando going forward and fighting for the No. 1 spot,” Klinsmann said in a release.

The match will air live at 12:15 p.m. MT on NBC Sports Network, and will also feature U.S. veterans from Brazil in defenders John Brooks, Timmy Chandler and Fabian Johnson; midfielders Mix Diskerud, Julian Green; and forward Jozy Altidore.

RSL also announced Joao Plata's second-ever inclusion with the Ecuadorian national team. The 5-foot-2 striker was called into camp for his team's U.S.-based friendlies against Bolivia and Brazil on Sept. 5 and Sept. 9, respectively, in advance of the 2015 Copa America in Chile.


This gives us a huge opportunity to see Brad Guzan and Nick Rimando going forward and fighting for the No. 1 spot.

–U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann


Defender Carlos Salcedo will also join Mexico's U-21 national team for its pre-Olympic camp ahead of the 2016 Summer Games.

Both Plata and Salcedo will miss RSL's home match against FC Dallas on Sept. 6, but will return in time for the match at Seattle on Sept. 12. Rimando will depart for Prague immediately following Saturday's match at San Jose and return in time to play against Dallas.

The full roster for the USA-Czech Republic friendly is below:

GOALKEEPERS:Cody Cropper (Southampton), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS: John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Greg Garza (Club Tijuana), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Michael Orozco (Puebla), Tim Ream (Bolton)

MIDFIELDERS: Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Emerson Hyndman (Fulham), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt), Brek Shea (Stoke City)

FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Joe Gyau (Borussia Dortmund II), Jordan Morris (Stanford), Rubio Rubin (Utrecht), Bobby Wood (1860 Munich)

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