Three members of the Houston Dynamo- Defender Eddie Robinson, and Midfielders Ricardo Clark and Brad Davis- have been called up to the United States Men's National Team Training Camp, to be held at The Home Depot Center until February 3, prior to the team's match against Mexico at Reliant Stadium on Wednesday, February 6.
More than 43,000 tickets have already been sold for the showdown with the USA's regional rivals in Houston. Kickoff at Reliant Stadium is set for 8 p.m. CT, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and Univision, as well as on 75 affiliates of the Fútbol de Primera Radio Network. Fans can also follow the game live via ussoccer.com's MatchTracker.
Robinson collected his first cap on Saturday, January 19, against Sweden. He not only started the game for Bob Bradley, but also scored the first goal for Team USA, which won the contest 2-0, thus becoming only the 11th player since 1986 to score in his first contest with the Red, White, and Blue.
All 21 players on the Carson roster were part of the group that began training in early January and participated in the match against Sweden. Missing are four members of the Under-23 Men's National Team - Jozy Altidore, Maurice Edu, Sacha Kljestan and Marvell Wynne - who will participate in the U-23 camp being held from Jan. 24-Feb.3 in Bradenton, Fla.
"We are very pleased with the work we put in so far this year, and are looking forward to the next challenge against Mexico," said Bradley. "We will continue to build on the concepts that we have established during the last year, and we are clearly progressing as a team as we move forward in preparing for the start of World Cup qualifying this summer."
Fourteen of the players saw action in the Sweden match, with three players earning their first international appearance. In the USA's 500th international match, Landon Donovan made another U.S. scoring record all his own, converting a penalty for his 35th career goal, making him No. 1 on the USA's all-time scoring list. Brad Guzan got credit for his first shutout in five internationals played, after having split time in three previous U.S. shutouts in which he appeared.
The 21-man training camp roster remains a largely domestic-based group, holding 16 players who ply their trade in the United States. The MLS teams are well represented, with 11 of 14 clubs contributing players to the Carson camp. The roster boasts several year-end award winners, including MLS Goalkeeper of the Year (Brad Guzan) and Defender of the Year (Michael Parkhurst). In addition, New England Revolution forward Taylor Twellman finished third on the league goal scoring chart with 16 goals, the fourth time in his six-year career he has tallied 15 goals or more.
The list of Scandinavian-based players on the roster has grown to five, with Clarence Goodson (IK Start) and Pat Noonan (Aalesund FK) both signing contracts to head to Norway at the conclusion of their service. They join Aalborg BK captain Dan Califf, Ramiro Corrales and Jeremiah White, who collected his first cap when he replaced Donovan in the second half of the Sweden match.
The team will train in Carson until Feb. 3 before leaving for Houston. The final roster for the Mexico match, which may include more European-based players, will be finalized prior to the team's departure from Carson.
After the Sweden match, the U.S. will compete in a series of friendlies before beginning the attempt to qualify for their sixth-consecutive World Cup finals when they take on the winner of the first round series between Barbados and Dominica. The U.S. will host their first qualifier on June 15, with the second leg to be played between June 18-21 on the road.
