The 2007 regular season didn't end well for FC Dallas forward Arturo Alvarez. The Houston native was sent off in the second half of the second leg of the Western Conference Semifinals against eventual champion Houston Dynamo, a deciding move in the Orange's series-clinching victory.
But that is now ancient history for Alvarez, who along with teammate Dax McCarty, is taking part in a two-week camp with the U.S. under-23 team in Bradenton, Florida. Alvarez and McCarty participated in a similar camp last month before the U-23 team traveled to China for a pair of games against the Chinese U-23 national team.
"The trip to China with the 23s was a really good experience," Alvarez said. "We got to see a lot of players that are in the pool but it was the first time for us to get together as a team, so it was a really good experience."
This camp will run until Jan. 20, and Alvarez admitted it wasn't a big shock when he received the news that both he and McCarty would be returning for a second time with the U-23s.
"I wasn't surprised that we were both called back, "Alvarez said. "I thought Dax (McCarty) and myself both did really well in China. I think that my hard work is paying off and I'm going to keep doing the same. Hopefully that will carry me all the way through the qualifiers and to the Olympics."
Making the Olympics would be the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for Alvarez.
"I've participated in the qualifiers for the 2005 (FIFA) under-20 championship in Holland and that was a really good experience even thought I didn't make that team," he said.
"But this year, I want to be part of that qualifying process to get though to the Olympics," he said. "It's a dream to be an Olympic athlete. Hopefully, I will be part of that qualifying team and will make it all the way to the Olympics in Beijing."
Alvarez's contract with FCD expired on Dec. 31, 2007, so the fifth-year player finds himself currently without a contract, but admits he would love to be in Hoops again next season.
"I really don't know right now," he said. "I'm in the process of talking and things are looking good. Hopefully something good comes out and I will be back in Dallas next year. I'm happy there and last year was a good year for me. If I'm back in Dallas, then I will be really happy. I want to see something finalized and to be back in Dallas next season."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
