U.S. national team manager Bob Bradley has named a 21-man roster who will train at The Home Depot Center in preparation for Sunday's first game of 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying.
The USA will take on Barbados in the first leg of an aggregate home-and-home series and the roster will include 19 of the players chosen for the U.S. team's scoreless draw against top-ranked Argentina at Giants Stadium last Sunday. The two additions are captain Carlos Bocanegra, who missed the friendly against Argentina because of a personal commitment, and Houston Dynamo forward Brian Ching.
There are 13 players with World Cup experience, led by Landon Donovan, who became the fourth youngest player in the world to earn his 100th cap when he played the entire game against Argentina. The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder, who has 20 World Cup qualifying caps, is tied with Eddie Johnson for most goals scored in qualifying with six. The Fulham striker scored the first hat trick as a substitute in U.S. history in a 6-0 rout of Panama at RFK Stadium on Oct. 13, 2004.
Defender Eddie Lewis is second among the 21 players selected with 17 World Cup qualifying caps while Columbus Crew veteran Frankie Hejduk is in his fourth qualifying campaign. DaMarcus Beasley, who is still working his way back from knee surgery in November, appeared in 13 matches during the 2006 campaign.
Tim Howard, who is coming off a stellar effort against Argentina, has 18 wins and 11 clean sheets in 31 international appearances and is the top goalkeeper for this campaign. Chivas USA 'keeper Brad Guzan will serve as Howard's backup.
Eight players on the roster are in search of their first cap in a World Cup qualifier, including Michael Bradley, Freddy Adu, Toronto FC's Maurice Edu, Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan and goalkeeper Dominic Cervi. All those players could be part of Peter Nowak's under-23 squad that will compete in the Summer Olympics in Beijing in August.
The U.S. and Barbados have met just twice before, with the Red, White and Blue claiming a 7-0 victory in Foxborough, Mass. and a 4-0 win on the road in the 2002 semifinal round.
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
