U.S. national team head coach Bob Bradley has selected 12 current MLS players and five MLS alumni as part of a 23-man roster for his CONCACAF Gold Cup squad as the team aims to defend its title in the tournament to be held from June 6-24 across the United States.
"We are excited to announce our roster for the Gold Cup," Bradley said. "Without a doubt, the roster has been put together with consideration to many different factors, including, of course, the Copa America. We feel very good about the mix of talent on this roster because it gives us a blend of youth and experience. We look forward to getting together and (to) start working together to defend our Gold Cup title."
Training camp opens on May 27 for foreign-based players, while MLS players will report on June 3. This means that most MLS players should be able to play through the weekend of June 2-3 for their MLS sides before reporting for duty.
If the United States reaches the Gold Cup final, MLS players would miss three or four matches with their club sides.
That was a consideration for Bradley in constructing his squad list.
"We've had very good discussions with MLS on many levels," Bradley said. "We worked closely with [MLS commissioner] Don [Garber] and [deputy commissioner] Ivan [Gazidis]. I feel very good about the cooperation of the MLS coaches, teams and general managers. We know the schedule is difficult. First and foremost, we want to put together a team that can defend the title. We tried to keep in mind the schedules of the teams and try to keep things balanced across the board."
These discussions will lead to third goalkeeper Brad Guzan returning to Chivas USA to play matches and could see Colorado midfielder Pablo Mastroeni return his club while suspended for the first two matches of the Gold Cup group stages.
Bradley will also utilize Chivas USA players to supplement the European-based players in a June 2 friendly with China in San Francisco because Chivas USA have no league match scheduled for that weekend.
The league-leading New England Revolution contribute three players to the squad, which is the most of any foreign club or MLS team. Taylor Twellman, who leads MLS in scoring with six goals on the campaign, headlines the contingent. Steve Ralston earns a recall after a year out of the squad, while Michael Parkhurst will aim to earn his first cap for the United States after earning a recall.
"Michael had an excellent start," Bradley said of Parkhurst. "He was in in January and we were impressed with his play. I believe he's done very well to start the season. New England has done exceptionally well. We think he's a young defender with very good qualities to pass the ball out of the back."
Houston and Chivas USA each send two players to the squad. Defensive midfielder Ricardo Clark and striker Brian Ching comprise the duo selected from Dominic Kinnear's side, while fullback Jonathan Bornstein and goalkeeper Brad Guzan earn a call up from Preki's club.
The attack will be spearheaded by Landon Donovan (Los Angeles) and Eddie Johnson (Kansas City). The veteran defensive duo of Frankie Hejduk (Columbus) and Mastroeni (Colorado) earns a spot, while there is also a place for winger Justin Mapp (Chicago).
"Landon's a very important part of what we're trying to do," Bradley said, who added that discussions are ongoing regarding Donovan's availability for the Copa America later this summer.
"There's a group of players that will be on both rosters," Bradley said. "We all understand that it is our responsibility this summer that we need to put together two good rosters. We understand that it makes for a difficult calendar."
Part of that group could include the all-MLS strike force that has tallied a combined 13 goals in the league this season. Bradley is excited with the form of his MLS-based strike force of Ching, Johnson and Twellman in addition to Donovan.
"We're excited to see Taylor playing so well for New England," Bradley said. "Obviously, his form for New England has been excellent. Brian has qualities going beyond a goal scorer. His ability to fight for balls, hold for balls and create advantages for others around him. It's not that different than what Brian McBride brought to the team. I think Eddie Johnson has had a great start to the season for Kansas City. That is very promising as well."
Five former MLS players are also included in the squad. Former Revolution midfielder Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC/England) will join Fire alumnus DaMarcus Beasley (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands) and former MetroStars midfielder Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen/Netherlands) in midfield. Former Fire player Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham FC/England) will stiffen the defense in front of former MetroStars netminder Tim Howard (Everton FC/England).
Bradley also selected six players with no MLS connections: goalkeeper Kasey Keller (Borussia Monchengladbach/Germany), defenders Frankie Simek (Sheffield Wednesday/England), Jay Demerit (Watford FC/England), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United/England) and Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege/Belgium), and midfielder Benny Feilhaber (Hamburger SV/Germany).
The U.S. team will open the 2007 Gold Cup on June 7 at 9 p.m. ET against Guatemala at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. They will follow that match two days later when they take on Trinidad & Tobago at 5 p.m. ET. The group stage concludes with a match against El Salvador at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., on June 12 (7 p.m. ET). All three U.S. group matches will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel and TeleFutura.
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
