U.S. Men's National Team head coach Bob Bradley has named 26 players -- including Crew goalkeeper Will Hesmer -- to the training camp roster that will begin workouts Jan. 3 at U.S. Soccer's National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The group will prepare for the USA's first match of 2008, a friendly against Sweden on Jan. 19 at The Home Depot Center. The match will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel beginning at 5:30 p.m. PT. Fans can also follow the game live via ussoccer.com's MatchTracker.
Hesmer, 26, recently completed his fourth MLS season and first with the Crew. He went 8-7-5 with a 1.45 goals-against average in 20 starts in 2007.
"This is the beginning of a very important year for the national team, and we are looking forward to continuing the work of 2007," said Bradley, who completed his first year as head coach with a 12-5-1 record and the 2007 Gold Cup title to his credit. "This is another great opportunity to reinforce the principles of how this team operates both on and off the field, as well as giving us the chance to look at players that may be able to help us when World Cup qualifying begins in June."
The largely domestic-based group includes 23 players who ply their trade in the United States. The MLS teams are well represented, with 13 of 14 clubs contributing players to the Carson camp. The roster boasts several year-end award winners, including MLS Goalkeeper of the Year (Brad Guzan), Defender of the Year (Michael Parkhurst) and Rookie of the Year (Maurice Edu). In addition, New England Revolution forward Taylor Twellman finished third on the league goalscoring chart with 16 goals, the fourth time in his six-year career he has tallied 15 goals or more. Two-time MLS Cup defending champions Houston Dynamo are one of four clubs to send a trio of players, along with MLS Cup runners up New England Revolution, Chicago Fire and Toronto FC.
Landon Donovan is the leading capwinner on the roster with 96 appearances. The 25-year-old is currently tied for first place on the USA's all-time goalscoring chart with 34 goals and can lay claim to sole possession of the record with a tally against Sweden. The 2007 U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year finalist is already the all-time leader in assists and points. At the other end of the experience spectrum, there are 20 players on the roster with 10 caps or less, and seven will be in search of their first-ever appearance with the senior team. In 2007, Bradley gave 61 players at least one cap.
Aalborg BK captain Dan Califf leads the three players based in Scandinavia, the six-year international having appeared in the USA's victories against Switzerland and South Africa earlier this year. Ramiro Corrales returns to the U.S. fold for the first time since 2004, while AGF Aarhus striker Jeremiah White gets his first-ever appearance in a senior national team camp. The trio is available because the Scandinavian leagues are shut down for the winter break.
After the Sweden match, the U.S. will host regional rivals Mexico on Feb. 6 at Reliant Stadium in Houston. More than 30,000 tickets have been sold for the match that will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and Univision. Along with a series of friendlies, the United States will begin the attempt to qualify for their sixth-consecutive World Cup finals when they take on the winner of the first round series between Barbados and Dominica. The U.S. will host their first qualifier between June 11-14, with the second leg to be played between June 18-21 on the road.
ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (4) -- Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Will Hesmer (Columbus Crew), Matt Pickens (Chicago Fire), Zach Wells (D.C. United)
DEFENDERS (9) -- Dan Califf (Aalborg BK), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Ramiro Corrales (SK Brann), Todd Dunivant (Toronto FC), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Drew Moor (FC Dallas), Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution), Eddie Robinson (Houston Dynamo), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)
MIDFIELDERS (7) -- Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Brian Davis (Houston Dynamo), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Justin Mapp (Chicago Fire), Pat Noonan (New England Revolution)
FORWARDS (6) -- Josmer Altidore (New York Red Bulls), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Eddie Johnson (Kansas Cit y Wizards), Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire), Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution), Jeremiah White (AGF Aarhus)
