Three LA Galaxy players have been named in head coach Peter Nowak's 22-man U.S. Under-23 National Team squad which will compete in the Toulon International Tournament in Toulon, France. Michael Gavin, Bryan Jordan and Julian Valentin will join 19 other players in France, giving the Galaxy the biggest contingent of players in the U.S. squad. All three players accompanied the club to Edmonton yesterday and will be available for selection in the match against the Vancouver Whitecaps before flying to France on Wednesday.
Michael Gavin has appeared in two games for the Galaxy this season, starting the season opener in Colorado. The 22-year old Arizona native has also started all four of the Galaxy's Reserve Division games this season, playing the full 360 minutes. In his first season with the Galaxy after being selected by the club in the first round of the 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft, the former University of Portland defender has been called up to the National Team just once previously in his career, participating in a camp with the U.S. Under-18 National Team in 2004.
This is the first call-up to the National Team at any level for Bryan Jordan, who made his MLS debut in last weekend's 2-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls. The 22-year old Temple City, Calif. native signed with the Galaxy in March after impressing on a preseason trial and leads the Galaxy Reserves in goals this season with three in four games. Jordan scored 15 goals during his four year college career before scoring nine in all competitions for the Portland Timbers (USL First Division) last season.
Julian Valentin rounds out the Galaxy contingent in the Under-23 squad. A National Team veteran who played at the U-17 World Championships in 2003 and the U-20 World Cup in 2007, Valentin captained Wake Forest to the College Cup championship in December 2007. He is yet to make his first team debut but has played in three Reserve Division games, playing the full 90 minutes in each.
Gavin, Jordan, Valentin and the rest of the U.S. squad will open the group play on May 21 against Turkey before playing Ivory Coast on May 23 and closing group play against Italy on May 25. If the U.S. finishes in the top two of their group, they will advance to the semifinals on May 27 and the final or third-place game on May 29, with all matches being shown on Fox Soccer Channel.
The Galaxy are back in action on Tuesday when they take on the Vancouver Whitecaps in a friendly at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. This match can be seen live on KWHY-Channel 22 beginning at 6 p.m. They return to MLS action on Sunday, May 18 when they face FC Dallas at 12 p.m. (PT) at Pizza Hut Park before returning home to face the Kansas City Wizards on Saturday, May 24. This match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are still available. For more information about this game or to purchase tickets, please visit www.lagalaxy.com or call 877-3GALAXY.
