The following is a press release from the US Soccer Federation --
CHICAGO, IL (Dec 30, 2008) USSF -- US National Team head coach Bob Bradley has named 25 players to the training camp roster that will begin workouts Jan. 4 at US Soccer's National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The group will prepare for the USA’s first match of 2009, a friendly against Sweden on Jan. 24 at The Home Depot Center. The match will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel and Galavision beginning at 8:30pm Eastern.
"This is the beginning of a big year for the national team, and it is important that we get started off heading in the right direction,” said Bradley, who advanced the team to the final round of qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup with a 7-0-1 record through two rounds. “This is another great opportunity to reinforce the principles of how this team operates both on and off the field, as well as getting players ready for the match against Sweden and the first World Cup qualifier this year against Mexico in February.”
The annual camp held in January for players in their off-season is a largely domestic-based group that includes 20 players who ply their trade in the United States. The MLS teams are well represented, with 10 of 15 clubs contributing players to the Carson camp. The roster boasts several year-end award winners, including MLS Goalkeeper of the Year (Jon Busch), Defender of the Year (Chad Marshall), Comeback Player of the Year (Kenny Cooper), and Rookie of the Year (Sean Franklin). The defending MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew contribute five players to the Carson camp, the most of any club.
Brian Ching is the leading cap winner on the roster with 32 appearances. The Houston Dynamo forward finished 2008 tied at the top of the US goalscoring charts with Clint Dempsey, each contributing four goals. All of Ching’s goals came in World Cup qualifying action. Sacha Kljestan had the most appearances in 2008 of any player on the roster, featuring in eight matches for the US that included six World Cup qualifiers. He tallied two assists for the full team and scored two goals at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, his efforts earning him the 2008 US Soccer Young Male Athlete of the Year award. In total, there are 10 players on the camp roster who made at least one appearance for the full team last year, including six who started in the USA’s 2-0 victory against Guatemala in the final match of the semifinal round of qualifying. Additionally, there are five members of the 2008 Olympic Team.
At the other end of the experience spectrum, there are 19 players on the roster with 10 caps or less, and nine will be in search of their first-ever appearance with the full team.
FC Midtjylland defender Danny Califf leads the four players based in Scandinavia, the seven-year international having appeared in three matches in 2008, including a start in the 0-0 draw against Argentina on June 8 at Giants Stadium. Troy Perkins backstopped Valerenga to the Norwegian Cup championship in 2008, while IK Start defender Clarence Goodson started in the victory against Guatemala in November. Hammarby striker Charlie Davies was part of the USA’s squad at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The quartet is available because the Scandinavian leagues are shut down for the winter break.
After the Sweden match, the US will begin the final round of qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup when they host regional rivals Mexico on Feb. 11 at Columbus Crew Stadium. In addition to the ten matches in the final round hexagonal, the US will compete in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in June, having been drawn into Group B along with five-time World Cup winners Brazil, current World Champion Italy, and Egypt. Just days after the tournament, the US will begin its defense of the CONCACAF Gold Cup title.
US ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (4): Jon Busch (Chicago Fire), Will Hesmer (Columbus Crew), Troy Perkins (Valerenga IF), Matt Pickens (out of contract)
DEFENDERS (8): Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Danny Califf (FC Midtjylland), Sean Franklin (Los Angeles Galaxy), Cory Gibbs (Colorado Rapids), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Chris Wingert (Real Salt Lake), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Brian Carroll (Columbus Crew), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Jack Jewsbury (Kansas City Wizards), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), John Thorrington (Chicago Fire)
FORWARDS (4): Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire)
Brian Ching is the leading cap winner on the roster with 32 appearances. The Houston Dynamo forward finished 2008 tied at the top of the US goalscoring charts with Clint Dempsey, each contributing four goals. All of Ching’s goals came in World Cup qualifying action. Sacha Kljestan had the most appearances in 2008 of any player on the roster, featuring in eight matches for the US that included six World Cup qualifiers. He tallied two assists for the full team and scored two goals at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, his efforts earning him the 2008 US Soccer Young Male Athlete of the Year award. In total, there are 10 players on the camp roster who made at least one appearance for the full team last year, including six who started in the USA’s 2-0 victory against Guatemala in the final match of the semifinal round of qualifying. Additionally, there are five members of the 2008 Olympic Team.
At the other end of the experience spectrum, there are 19 players on the roster with 10 caps or less, and nine will be in search of their first-ever appearance with the full team.
FC Midtjylland defender Danny Califf leads the four players based in Scandinavia, the seven-year international having appeared in three matches in 2008, including a start in the 0-0 draw against Argentina on June 8 at Giants Stadium. Troy Perkins backstopped Valerenga to the Norwegian Cup championship in 2008, while IK Start defender Clarence Goodson started in the victory against Guatemala in November. Hammarby striker Charlie Davies was part of the USA’s squad at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The quartet is available because the Scandinavian leagues are shut down for the winter break.
After the Sweden match, the US will begin the final round of qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup when they host regional rivals Mexico on Feb. 11 at Columbus Crew Stadium. In addition to the ten matches in the final round hexagonal, the US will compete in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in June, having been drawn into Group B along with five-time World Cup winners Brazil, current World Champion Italy, and Egypt. Just days after the tournament, the US will begin its defense of the CONCACAF Gold Cup title.
US ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (4): Jon Busch (Chicago Fire), Will Hesmer (Columbus Crew), Troy Perkins (Valerenga IF), Matt Pickens (out of contract)
DEFENDERS (8): Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Danny Califf (FC Midtjylland), Sean Franklin (Los Angeles Galaxy), Cory Gibbs (Colorado Rapids), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Chris Wingert (Real Salt Lake), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Brian Carroll (Columbus Crew), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Jack Jewsbury (Kansas City Wizards), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), John Thorrington (Chicago Fire)
FORWARDS (4): Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire)
