The Kansas City Wizards will again have a strong presence on the U.S. Men's National team at Bob Bradley's next training camp, which begins March 18 in Bradenton, Florida. Defender and Kansas City captain Jimmy Conrad will join forward Eddie Johnson on the squad set to play friendly matches against Ecuador and Guatemala.
Thirteen of the 24 players called to camp by Bradley are based in Europe. The Wizards tie with MLS Champions Houston Dynamo and the Chicago Fire of MLS for the most members in camp with two apiece. Bradley also called in two members of Fulham Football Club of England.
"This camp provides a great opportunity to see some of our experienced players from Europe, as well as some new faces, and incorporate them into the group and share the ideas that we have been building on since the beginning of the year," said Bradley, who is 2-0 at the helm of the full national team. "By the end of this camp, we will have had the chance to work with a vast majority of our player pool. It will be extremely beneficial when we have to make decisions about the Gold Cup and Copa America."
The players begin training March 18 in preparation for matches March 25 against Ecuador in Tampa, Florida and March 28 against Guatemala in Frisco, Texas. The friendlies will be the United Statess last competition before the CONCACAF Gold Cup June 6-24 held in the United States and the South American regional championship, Copa America, June 26-July 15 held in nine Venezuelan cities. The U.S. will play a tune-up match June 2 against China in San Jose prior to Gold Cup play.
Both Conrad and Johnson played a prominent role in the United States' first two matches of 2007. The U.S. squad beat Denmark 3-1 January 20 and archrival Mexico 2-0 February 7. Conrad started both matches, serving as captain against Denmark and scoring the game-winning goal against Mexico.
Johnson started against Denmark and came on in the second half against Mexico. Johnson enters the camp as the third-leading international goal-scorer on the squad with nine career goals. His 22 career appearances have him seventh on the roster.
Conrad is tied for ninth in appearances with 19. His goal against Mexico was his only international tally.
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
Goalkeepers (3) - Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Tim Howard (Everton FC), Kasey Keller (Borussia Moenchengladbach)
Defenders (8) -Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham FC), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Jay Demerit (Watford FC), Oguchi Onyewu (Newcastle United), Heath Pearce (FC Nordsjælland), Frank Simek (Sheffield Wednesday), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)
Midfielders (7) - DaMarcus Beasley (Manchester City), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Brian Carroll (D.C. United), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Benny Feilhaber (Hamburger SV), Justin Mapp (Chicago Fire)
Forwards (6) - Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Eddie Johnson (Kansas City Wizards), Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire), Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution)
