U.S. coach names five penalty takers for World Cup round of 32

U.S. men's national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino said Tuesday that he and his coaching staff have selected five players to take penalty kicks if any World Cup match reaches a shootout. The team begins knockout-stage play Wednesday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Pochettino said the order was set internally and players were not asked about their confidence level.

Player availability Defender Auston Trusty returned to training Tuesday after missing the previous two sessions with a minor ankle issue. Defender Mark McKenzie and midfielder Crisitna Roldan did not train; McKenzie has received treatment for irritation over the last three sessions, and Roldan has not trained since June 20 after a small quad issue.

Pochettino said fitness at the moment of any shootout will also influence selections. "It depends [on] your performance – if you came from the bench, if you played 120 minutes, if you are tired, if you are not tired, if you feel something in your body," he said.

Preparation history The coach said the staff has worked on penalties throughout his tenure and consulted outside specialists. The team won a shootout during last year's Concacaf Gold Cup, defeating Costa Rica 4-3 after a 2-2 draw, with goalkeeper Matt Freese making two saves.

Defender Tim Ream said Monday the group has practiced penalties for weeks, including before the tournament began. m. ET and will be televised on FOX and Telemundo.