BRIDGEVIEW, IL - U.S. Soccer announced today that U.S. Men's National Team interim Head Coach Bob Bradley has selected three Fire players to join the 29-man training camp roster that will begin workouts on Jan. 4 at U.S. Soccer's National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA. Fire midfielder Justin Mapp, defender Dasan Robinson and forward Chris Rolfe unite with 28 MLS-based players to prepare for the USA's first match of 2007, a friendly against Denmark on Jan. 20 at The Home Depot Center. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN2 beginning at 4:00 p.m. CT (and will be tape-delayed on Univision). Fans can also follow the game live via ussoccer.com's MatchTracker.
"I think the three players that Bob has called in are good choices given that they are the next generation of emerging players at that level," said Fire Head Coach Dave Sarachan.
Justin Mapp is one of six 2006 MLS Best XI players invited to the first U.S. camp of the 2010 World Cup cycle. The Brandon, Mississippi native is also a graduate of the U.S. Residency system and veteran of two World Youth Championships (2001, 2003). Former U.S. boss Bruce Arena called Mapp into his first senior National Team camp in January of 2005, as well as in advance of World Cup Qualifiers on Sept. 4 vs. Mexico and Sept. 7 at Guatemala. Mapp earned his first U.S. senior cap on Oct. 12, 2006 vs. Panama, starting and playing 58 min. in the USA's 2-0 victory in Foxboro, MA.
"Justin Mapp had one of his best years in Major League Soccer with us this year and made a real impact. He's really turned the corner as far as going from a player with a lot of potential, to starting to make his real presence felt. I strongly believe he belongs in the National Team camp and hopefully he'll show well."
After being selected as the 22nd pick in the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft, any contributions made by Fire defender Dasan Robinson during the 2006 season would initially be seen as a bonus. But for the second straight season the Fire would extract a diamond-in-the-rough out of the University of Dayton, as Robinson moved his way up the depth chart during the preseason and found himself a sudden starter in central defense after Jim Curtin went down to injury in early May. The 22-year-old Elyria, OH native started in all 23 of his regular season appearances during his rookie season and scored one goal, a game-winner on Aug. 26 in a 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids in Bridgeview. Today's announcement marks Robinson's first U.S. National Team call-up at any level.
"We felt very good about Dasan in his rookie year with us, and he performed higher than the expectations we had on him. I told Bob that he is a guy that when you put a pool of young defenders together should be considered."
Fire forward Chris Rolfe saw injuries threaten his sophomore season in Chicago, but the setbacks weren't enough to cut down his production entirely, as he finished the 2006 MLS season with seven goals - just one shy of his 2005 team-leading total - and one assist in only 21 games. Rolfe earned his first of four senior international caps on Nov. 12, 2005 at Scotland, coming on in the 58' minute in the USA's 1-1 draw in Glasgow. He tallied his first start and first assist for the U.S. MNT on Feb. 19, 2006 vs. Guatemala, playing 80 min. and helping on Eddie Johnson's 47' strike that helped the U.S. to a commanding 4-0 win at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, TX. Then-U.S. Manager Bruce Arena named him as one of 12 alternates for the USA's 2006 World Cup squad.
"Although Chris suffered a few ups and downs during this past season, I still believe his best soccer is still ahead of him. He's clearly one of the best and brightest young forwards in [MLS]. He's already had a taste of the National Team from a year ago and will certainly have the comfort level going into this camp."
ROSTER BY POSITION
Goalkeepers (4) - Joe Cannon (Los Angeles Galaxy), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Troy Perkins (D.C. United), Matt Reis (New England Revolution)
Defenders (9) - Chris Albright (Los Angeles Galaxy), Bobby Boswell (D.C. United), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Bryan Namoff (D.C. United), Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution), Heath Pearce (FC Nordsjælland), Dasan Robinson (Chicago Fire), Eddie Robinson (Houston Dynamo)
Midfielders (10) -Kyle Beckerman (Colorado Rapids), Brian Carroll (D.C. United), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Clint Dempsey (New England Revolution), Joshua Gros (D.C. United), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Justin Mapp (Chicago Fire), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), Brian Mullan (Houston Dynamo), Pat Noonan (New England Revolution)
Forwards (6) -Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas), Alecko Eskandarian (D.C. United), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Nate Jaqua
(Los Angeles Galaxy), Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire), Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution)
Head Coach: Bob Bradley
After the Denmark match, the U.S. will host regional rivals Mexico on Feb. 7 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (ESPN2, 8:00 p.m. CT). Along with a series of friendlies, the United States will compete in two major championships next summer. The three-time champions will first try to defend their title against 11 other teams at the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup, scheduled from June 6-24 in several cities across the United States. Just a few days later, the U.S. will participate in the 2007 Copa America, the regional championship of South America. The 12-team tournament will run from June 26 to July 15 in nine cities across Venezuela. For the United States, the appearance will mark their third entrance into CONMEBOL's signature event.
