Omar Gonzalez

3. Omar Gonzalez Defender | Club: L.A. Galaxy Gonzalez has had his ups and downs in a U.S. jersey, but Klinsmann continues to stick by the L.A. Galaxy center

Liviu Bird|

Omar Gonzalez

3. Omar Gonzalez

Defender | Club: L.A. Galaxy

Age	Hometown	Height	Weight	Goals	Caps
23	Dallas	6-5	205	0	19

Gonzalez has had his ups and downs in a U.S. jersey, but Klinsmann continues to stick by the L.A. Galaxy center back and one-time MLS Defender of the Year. What he lacks in technique, he tries to make up for in size and physicality, and he could receive playing time in Brazil if the U.S. needs to lock down a late lead or mark a particularly athletic forward.

OUTLOOK: Gonzalez has had his share of landmark games with the U.S., but he seems to have moments during matches when he switches off mentally as well. That’s when he commits his defensive errors, and those are moments that top teams in World Cups will punish every time. Gonzalez will have to remain focused and use his physical tools to keep the ball out of the U.S. goal, either as a starter or in a reserve role.

Meet the 23: Complete roster breakdown

Published Jun 2, 2014

LIVIU BIRD

Liviu Bird is a soccer analyst with more than 20 years of experience in the game. He learned how to play in the streets of Romania before moving to the soccer wilderness of Fairbanks, Alaska, escaping to play collegiately as a goalkeeper at Highline Community College and Seattle Pacific University, where he also earned his B.A. in journalism. Bird played semiprofessionally and had tryouts at professional clubs but hung up his gloves in 2012 to focus on writing and coaching at the youth and collegiate levels. He joined Sports Illustrated in March 2013 as a freelance contributor and has also written for NBC Sports, Soccer Wire, The New York Times, American Soccer Now and the Telegraph (UK).

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