Graham Zusi

19. Graham Zusi Midfielder | Club: Sporting Kansas City Sporting Kansas City’s quiet attacking talisman, Zusi has benefitted from Klinsmann’s faith in him to

Liviu Bird | Jun 2, 2014

Graham Zusi /

19. Graham Zusi

Midfielder | Club: Sporting Kansas City

Age	Hometown	Height	Weight	Goals	Caps
27	Longwood, Fla.	5-10	160	3	22

Sporting Kansas City’s quiet attacking talisman, Zusi has benefitted from Klinsmann’s faith in him to become a U.S. regular. Whenever he is available, he seems to slot into the starting lineup in his preferred right-wing slot, serving balls into the box and also getting himself into dangerous areas. Zusi scored two goals in qualifying, in each of the last two matches.

OUTLOOK: Zusi’s skill set is a mixture of service into the box and maintaining possession. If he starts in Brazil, his defensive abilities will be stretched, although he has proven he can cover for his fullback partner as well. As a primary set piece taker, Zusi will also have to take advantage of any corner kicks and free kicks around the penalty area to create scoring chances.

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).