CARSON, Calif. - Like they have done almost every day this season, Chivas USA players Jesse Marsch, Ante Razov and Sacha Kljestan reported for training at The Home Depot Center this week.
The only difference this time is the colors they are defending. The trio joined the United States national team as it prepares for a friendly on Saturday against China in San Jose.
U.S. coach Bob Bradley called in 23 players for the CONCACAF Gold Cup but MLS-based players will not join the U.S. until after this weekend's matches. Bradley, who coached Chivas USA last season, called in three of his former players to help supplement the roster.
"It's always an honor to represent the national team. It's nice to get called in for the game against China," Razov said. "With the off week, it kind of worked out to where the other teams are going to be losing players for a while for the Gold Cup so it's a chance for some of us to come out here and we're trying to make the most of it."
Razov last played for the U.S. on March 13, 2004 in a friendly against Haiti. He has 24 caps and has scored six goals. He last scored a goal for the U.S. in the 2002 Gold Cup when he scored in a 4-0 rout of El Salvador at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 27, 2002. However, he was overshadowed by then-Columbus Crew striker Brian McBride, who had a hat trick in the victory.
Marsch, meanwhile, played once for the U.S. national team. Marsch played the final nine minutes of a World Cup qualifier in Trinidad & Tobago on Nov. 11, 2001. The match finished in a goalless draw but the U.S. had already qualified for the 2002 World Cup.
A longtime Bradley understudy, Marsch said he was content to fill whatever role Bradley saw fit.
"It's always an honor to be involved with the group. More than anything, I'm here just to try and help with the atmosphere and help with some numbers," Marsch said. "If he needs me in the game to come in late or something like that, that's fine but I'm not taking it more than I'm happy to be here and happy to contribute in whatever way Bob needs me."
While Razov and Marsch, both 33, are at the tail ends of their respective careers, Kljestan has a bright future with both club and country ahead of him. Earlier this year, Kljestan participated in camp with the full national team but did not play against Denmark or Mexico.
He then participated in camp with the under-23 national team and traveled to Japan with the squad. Now, he is back with the senior team and Marsch said the 21-year-old fits right in with the team.
"Sacha is doing just fine," Marsch said. "He's been involved a bit more so that he's got a comfort zone but is still eager to do well."
Bradley, meanwhile, said these experiences are valuable for Kljestan, a player he drafted fifth overall in the 2006 SuperDraft while coaching Chivas USA.
"Sacha is ... certainly one of the young players that we continue to look towards," Bradley said. "He didn't get on the field when he was in the previous camps but this is maybe an opportunity to get him his first experience with the full team and hope that he can continue to develop."
Also in U.S. camp is a pair of Chivas USA players called in for the Gold Cup. Jonathan Bornstein and Brad Guzan are part of the 23-man Gold Cup roster. Both were named to the roster for the China match but only Bornstein is expected to make the trek up north.
As for Razov and Marsch, each an MLS original, Bradley said the duo and similar veterans still have value and can serve a role with the national team.
"We always are hoping that by keeping some veterans in the picture that at certain moments down the road depending upon their form, injuries, that they can become players if called on can still step in and help the national team," Bradley said.
Razov, though, said the national team is a "younger guy's game, for sure."
"Most national teams around the world don't have many 33-year-olds playing on their team," Razov said. "If the national team in the future is relying on a lot of guys 33, 34 or 35 years old, then we might be in some trouble."
U.S. NATIONAL TEAM (vs. China, June 2, San Jose, Calif.)
GOALKEEPERS: - Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Tim Howard (Everton FC/ENG), Kasey Keller (Borussia Moenchengladbach/GER)
DEFENDERS: Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham FC/ENG), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC/ENG), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege/BEL), Frank Simek (Sheffield Wednesday/ENG), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United/ENG)
MIDFIELDERS: DaMarcus Beasley (PSV Eindhoven/NED), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen/NED), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC/ENG), Benny Feilhaber (Hamburger SV/GER), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Jesse Marsch (Chivas USA), Lee Nguyen (PSV Eindhoven/NED)
FORWARDS: Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF/SWE), Kamani Hill (VfL Wolfsburg/GER), Ante Razov (Chivas USA)
