US skipper Clint Dempsey stripped of armband ahead of Gold Cup

Michael Bradley will be the US 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 on June 16 in Seattle's fourth-round loss to Portland in the US 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 US 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," US coach Juergen Klinsmann said.

"Clint is about scoring goals. We need Clint Dempsey badly with the national team. We need him in a good spirit. What happened was a mistake, but it was the first red card in his career and a lot of people went at him. I think the best thing for everyone right now is to let him concentrate really on playing and doing what he does best."

The Americans played Guatemala in a friendly this morning in Nashville and open the defence of their Gold Cup title against Honduras on Tuesday, at Frisco, Texas - when Bradley could make his 100th international appearance. If the Americans win the Gold Cup, they would earn a berth in the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia.