CHICAGO (AP) — Clint Dempsey will not join the U.S. national team for its exhibition game Friday against Costa Rica.
U.S. Soccer says Dempsey, a midfielder for Fulham of the English Premier League, will stay in London to get treatment for back spasms. He will join the Americans on Sunday ahead of their match Sept. 6 in Brussels against Belgium.
U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann also added Chris Pontius and Jonathan Spector to the roster Monday for the Costa Rica match in Carson, Calif. They’ll replace Zach Loyd and Heath Pearce, both nursing hamstring injuries.
