Michael Bradley replaces Clint Dempsey as US captain for CONCACAF Gold Cup

Michael Bradley will be the U.S. captain for the CONCACAF Gold Cup rather than Clint Dempsey. Dempsey took over as the American captain from Carlos Bocanegra two years ago. He was suspended for three games by Major League Soccer for a confrontation with a referee June 16 in Seattle’s fourth-round loss to Portland in the U.S. Open Cup, when he grabbed a notebook from the official and tore it after a teammate was given a red card. He also was suspended for six U.S. Open Cup matches. “For the time being we thought it’s the best thing to give the captaincy to Michael Bradley and let Clint focus on what he’s all about,” U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said in comments posted Wednesday on the U.S. Soccer Federation’s website. “Clint is about scoring goals.” – AP