The notable roster for the U.S. Men's National Team for the 2024 Paris Olympics has been announced, with three over-age players joining a group of talented young players competing for medals in Paris.
Coach Marko Mitrovic's U-23 squad is allowed to have up to three players over the age limit, and he selected three veteran Major League Soccer and U.S. men's national team players in midfielder Djordje Mihajlovic and center backs Walker Zimmerman and Miles Robinson.
[ MORE: Draw, schedule for 2024 Paris Olympics ]
In many ways, the two centre-backs are excellent choices for Mitrovic, who can rely on their elite experience: Zimmermann and Robinson have a combined 72 caps, while Mihajlovic has 11.
The youngsters are already ready to take on the challenge without the veterans and there is plenty of talent up front and in defence, with Chelsea goalkeeper Gaga Slonina looking to improve and Venice midfielders Gianluca Busio and Tanner Tessmann, as well as Wolfsburg's Kevin Paredes, looking to attract attention from the veterans.
Can the U.S. men win a medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics?
The U.S. men's team will need to pull off a major upset or pick a favorable bracket to be a medal favorite in Paris.
France, Spain and Argentina have great teams and will be counted among the favourites to win, while Japan and Morocco also boast strong squads.
France's over-age players include Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta and Alexandre Lacazette, while Michael O'Leary and Ryan Cherki are both still under-23.
Argentina have called up Manchester City's Julián Alvarez, former City player Nicolas Otamendi and Ajax goalkeeper Jeronimo Rulli, while Claudio Etxeberri and Lucas Beltran are in the Under-23 squad.
Other players to watch include Guinea's Naby Keita and Morocco's Achraf Hakimi and Munir Mohamedi.
The U.S. is likely underdog after its opening match against hosts France, but is expected to advance from Group A with wins over Guinea and New Zealand. Next up is the first or second-placed team from Group B (Argentina, Morocco, Iraq and Ukraine). A win would put them in position to compete for gold or silver, and potentially even bronze.
U.S. Men's Soccer Team for the 2024 Paris Olympics
Goalkeeper (2)Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew, St. Charles, Missouri), Gaga Slonina (Chelsea/ENG, Addison, Illinois)
Defender (6) Maximilian Dietz (Greuther Fürth/GER, Frankfurt, Germany), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union, Oldsmar, Florida), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati, Arlington, Massachusetts), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls, Chatham, New Jersey), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United FC, Atlanta, Georgia), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC, Lawrenceville, Georgia).
Midfielder (5)Gianluca Busio (Venice/ITA, Greensboro, N.C.), Benjamin Cremaschi (Inter Miami CF, Key Biscayne, Fla.), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union, Queens, N.Y.), Djordje Mihailovic (Colorado Rapids, Jacksonville, Fla.) and Tanner Tessman (Venice/ITA, Birmingham, Ala.).
Forward (5):Paxten Aaronson (FC Utrecht/NED, Medford, NJ), Taylor Booth (FC Utrecht/NED, Eden, UT), Duncan Maguire (Orlando City SC, Omaha, NE), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg/GER, South Riding, VA) and Griffin Yeo (KVC Westerlo/BEL, Clifton, VA).
Alternative (4):Josh Atencio (midfielder, Seattle Sounders FC, Bellevue, Washington), Jacob Davis (defender, Sporting Kansas City, Rochester, Michigan), Johan Gomez (forward, Eintracht Braunschweig/Germany, Keller, Texas), John Parskamp (goalkeeper, Sporting Kansas City, Bakersfield, California)
