COLUMBUS, Ohio - Crew midfielders Eddie Gaven and Robbie Rogers are among 23 players named by U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team head coach Peter Nowak to participate in the team's second training camp of 2008, from Jan. 26-Feb. 2 at the IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla.
The week-long camp will be Nowak's final chance to train and evaluate players before selecting the team that will compete in CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualification from March 11-23, 2008, in Los Angeles, Tampa and Nashville. The U.S. will play its three games of the group stage in Tampa against Cuba on March 11, Panama on March 13 and Honduras on March 15. Group B, which will begin on March 12, features Canada, Guatemala, Haiti and Mexico, and will be played at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
After group play, the top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals which will be played on March 20 at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn. LP Field will also be the location for the third-place and championship matches on Sunday, March 23. The two finalists will advance to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The eight-team tournament will send the two finalists to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Gaven, 21, tallied five goals and seven assists in 2007, his second season with the Crew and fifth overall in MLS. Rogers, 20, tallied three goals and one assist with the Crew in his first MLS campaign, after spending six months with Heerenveen of the Dutch First Division.
Jozy Altidore, Maurice Edu, Sacha Kljestan and Marvell Wynne will re-join Nowak's squad after training with the Men's National Team leading up to their January 19 friendly against Sweden, in which the U.S. picked up a 2-0 win.
U.S. Under-23 MNT Roster by Position
GOALKEEPERS (3): Dominic Cervi (Chicago Fire), Tally Hall (Esbjerg fB), Chris Seitz (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (8): Kamani Hill (Vfl Wolfsburg), Patrick Ianni (Houston Dynamo), Chance Myers (Kansas City Wizards), Michael Orozco (San Luis), Mike Randolph (LA Galaxy), Nathan Sturgis (Real Salt Lake), Anthony Wallace (FC Dallas), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Arturo Alvarez (FC Dallas), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Dax McCarty (FC Dallas)
FORWARDS (6): Josmer Altidore (New York Red Bulls), Chad Barrett (Chicago Fire), Adam Cristman (New England Revolution), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Robbie Findley (LA Galaxy), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)
