Aron-johannsson Courtesy of AGF
Direct from Sarajevo

ASN Is in Sarajevo. But What About the Players?

The United States roster announcement is later than usual, but players are assembling in Sarajevo right now for training. ASN correspondent Graham Ruthven is there, and will be posting updates over the next three days.
BY Graham Ruthven Posted
August 12, 2013
10:22 AM
AS THE UNITED STATES men's soccer team arrived in Sarajevo to face Bosnia and Herzegovina, head coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s final roster remains as big a secret as what product Mix Diskerud uses in those flowing locks of his.

Diskerud will be involved in Wednesday's friendly, unless he has decided to take a vacation in the Balkans at exactly the same time as his USA teammates—or perhaps he is here or start the Sarajevo branch of the American Outlaws.

The Rosenborg midfielder joined Brad Evans, Tim Howard, Jermaine Jones, Sacha Kljestan, and Eddie Johnson on a flight from Munich on Monday morning, arriving in the Bosnian capital early afternoon.

Waiting for the bus from Terminal 1 to Terminal Z, I uttered “busted” to Evans, at which point he turned round and smiled. (This wasn’t as creepy as it sounds). At that moment, Diskerud asked Evans why the roster always takes so long to be announced. Neither player could muster up a conclusion.

Of course while I waited to progress through passport control and customs, the six guys were shouted out from the crowd, “U.S. NATIONAL TEAM— THIS WAY PLEASE,” and led through a side door for expedited passage.

But not before Aron Johannsson appeared from seemingly nowhere (kinda the narrative of his U.S. national team career so far) to shake hands with his new teammates in a somewhat awkward first meeting.

As for Wednesday’s opposition, Miralem Pjanic dodged past me in the line for a taxi, sporting that look so common among soccer players: backward baseball cap, big headphones, shiny sneakers.

There were no more sightings (although I did spot a gentleman walking through Sarajevo old town sporting Kyle Beckerman-esque dreads) before heading off to Klinsmann’s first training session in Bosnia, with the final roster still not public.

Why so late on the announcement? I'll get back to you on that.

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