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Beasley on US roster for CONCACAF Gold Cup

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MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) Houston Dynamo defender DaMarcus Beasley, who announced his retirement from the U.S. national team in December, was among 35 players on the Americans' preliminary roster for next year's CONCACAF Gold Cup that was announced Wednesday.

Beasley, a left back who turned 33 last month, last year became the first American to play in four World Cups.

Los Angeles Galaxy forward Alan Gordon, who also is 33, was another surprise inclusion on the roster. Gordon's only appearance for the national team was in October 2012, when he assisted on Eddie Johnson's tiebreaking 90th-minute goal in a World Cup qualifier at Antigua and Barbuda. Gordon was on the 2013 Gold Cup roster but did not appear in a match.

Toronto forward Jozy Altidore, sidelined since May 16 by a strained right hamstring, also was picked, but New England midfielder Jermaine Jones, who injured his left groin May 31, was not.

Stoke defender Geoff Cameron also was omitted along with midfielder Danny Williams, whose 88th-minute goal tied the score in Friday's 4-3 exhibition win at the Netherlands.

U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann did not include 18-year-old Arsenal midfielder Gedion Zelalem, who is with the American team at the Under-20 World Cup after receiving approval from FIFA to play for the U.S.

Each team must select 23 players from the 35 for its opening tournament roster, which will be announced June 23. Each nation that advances may replace six players after the group stage, with the replacements coming from among the original 35.

After an exhibition against Guatemala on July 3 at Nashville, Tennessee, the Americans open their title defense against Honduras four days later at Frisco, Texas. They play Haiti on July 10 at Foxborough, Massachusetts, and finish the first round three days later against Panama at Kansas City, Kansas.

If the Americans win the final July 26 at Philadelphia, they would earn a berth at the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia. If another nation wins the Gold Cup, it would meet the U.S. in a playoff for the Confederations Cup berth.

The roster:

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa, England), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Nick Rimando (Salt Lake), William Yarbrough (Leon, Mexico)

Defenders: Ventura Alvarado (America, Mexico), DaMarcus Beasley (Houston), Matt Besler (Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin, Germany), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany), Brad Evans (Seattle), Greg Garza (Tijuana, Mexico), Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles), Michael Orozco (Puebla, Mexico), Tim Ream (Bolton, England), Brek Shea (Orlando), DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham, England)

Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes, France), Michael Bradley (Toronto), Joe Corona (Tijuana, Mexico), Brad Davis (Houston), Mix Diskerud (New York City), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany), Perry Kitchen (D.C. United), Alfredo Morales (Inglostadt, Germany), Lee Nguyen (New England), Gyasi Zardes (Los Angeles), Graham Zusi (Kansas City)

Forwards: Juan Agudelo (New England), Jozy Altidore (Toronto), Clint Dempsey (Seattle), Alan Gordon (Los Angeles), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar, Netherlands), Jordan Morris (Stanford), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose)