Houston Dynamo midfielder Corey Ashe was among the 22 players named by U.S. Under-23 men's national team head coach Peter Nowak to the U.S. squad for the Toulon International Tournament in Toulon, France, May 20-29, the U.S. Soccer Federation announced Monday. The tournament is a warm-up for several teams that will compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.
Ashe and his U.S. teammates will arrive in Toulon on May 15, and Group B play in the tournament will include U.S. games May 21 against Turkey, May 23 against the Côte d'Ivoire, and May 25 against Italy. Group A includes France, Chile, the Netherlands and Japan. The semifinals will be held May 27, and the third-place match and championship will take place May 29. All games will be televised on Fox Soccer Channel.
"This tournament will give us an opportunity to have a look at some players we have had in previous camps, and also a look at the new faces," said Nowak. "We don't want to be short-sighted with our selection for the Olympics. We want a whole picture that includes a variety of players, and to make sure we see every option before we make final choices."
Ashe, 22, represented the United States at the FIFA U-17 World Championships in 2003 but will be making his first appearance with the U-23 team. Ashe appeared in 22 regular season games for Houston last year, notching four assists.
"It is a huge honor to represent your country," Ashe said. "It would be awesome to go to the Olympics; it is something you dream about as a kid."
The United States will be participating in its 13th Olympic Games, earning its place by advancing to the final of CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying in March. Dynamo teammates Stuart Holden and Patrick Ianni were with the U-23 team for Olympic qualifying.
Roster by Position
GOALKEEPERS (3):
Dominic Cervi (out of contract), Chris Seitz (Real Salt Lake), Quentin Westberg (Troyes AC).
DEFENDERS (10): Tony Beltran (Real Salt Lake), Eric Brunner (out of contract), Kyle Davies (Southampton), Michael Gavin (Los Angeles Galaxy), Kamani Hill (Vfl Wolfsburg), Jonathan Leathers (Kansas City Wizards), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Julian Valentin (Los Angeles Galaxy), Rob Valentino (New England Revolution), Blake Wagner (FC Dallas).
MIDFIELDERS (5): Bryan Arguez (Hertha Berlin), Corey Ashe (Houston Dynamo), Greg Dalby (SC Charleroi), Benny Feilhaber (Derby County), Lee Nguyen (Randers FC).
FORWARDS (3): Gabe Ferrari (Sampdoria), Bryan Jordan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Ellis McLoughlin (Hertha Berlin), Sammy Ochoa (Tecos).
