Fifteen players from 10 different MLS teams are among the 22 players named to the U.S. men's national team's 2007 Copa America roster on Friday. With the other seven slots filled by European-based players, the U.S. team, coached by Bob Bradley, will look to dethrone 2004 champion Brazil in this year's South American national team championship that runs from June 26-July 15 in nine cities across Venezuela.
Chivas USA, who sit in third place in the Western Conference with 17 points, contribute the largerst MLS contingent with three, each having no more than three years experience in the league. Jonathan Bornstein, the MLS rookie of the year in 2006, will be joined by 2005 first round SuperDraft pick Brad Guzan and Sacha Kljestan.
Three other MLS teams - the Colorado Rapids, Kansas City Wizards and D.C. United - will each send a pair to the tournament. Representing the Rapids on the U.S. team will be midfielder Kyle Beckerman, who is in seventh season in MLS, and forward Herculez Gomez, who is making his first international appearance.
D.C. will send reigning MLS defender of the year Bobby Boswell along with midfielder Ben Olsen, who has six goals in 34 international appearances. Forward Eddie Johnson, who is tied for the MLS lead in goals with nine, and eight-year MLS veteran defender Jimmy Conrad will represent the Wizards, providing experience at the front and back.
Taylor Twellman will supply additional support at the front as the New England Revolution forward has seven goals in 10 games this season and six goals in 24 international appearances.
Ricardo Clark and Eddie Gaven will patrol the midfield and are the sole representatives from Houston Dynamo and the Columbus Crew, respectively. Rounding out the U.S.-based group is midfielder Justin Mapp of the Chicago Fire, defender Drew Moor of FC Dallas and defender Marvell Wynne of Toronto FC. For Moor and Wynne, it is their first international appearances with the U.S. senior team.
The European players on the roster are highlighted by 'keeper Kasey Keller, who has 100 international appearances, more than double anyone else on the U.S. team. Defender Dan Califf has one goal in 14 appearances, while the rest of the group includes Charlie Davies, Jay DeMerit, Benny Feilhaber and Lee Nguyen.
Along with Mexico, a special invitee to the tournament, the U.S. will open the 2007 Copa America on June 28 against 2004 runner-up Argentina. The Americans will follow that match four days later when they take on Paraguay, concluding play in the group stage on July 5 against Colombia.
Ben Masur is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subjecto the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
ROSTER BY POSITION
Goalkeepers (2) - Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Kasey Keller (Borussia Moenchengladbach)
Defenders (8) - Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Bobby Boswell (D.C. United), Dan Califf (Aalborg BK), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards, Jay DeMerit (Watford FC), Drew Moor (FC Dallas), Heath Pearce (FC Nordsjælland), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)
Midfielders (8) - Kyle Beckerman (Colorado Rapids), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Benny Feilhaber (Hamburger SV), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Justin Mapp (Chicago Fire), Lee Nguyen (PSV Eindhoven), Ben Olsen (D.C.United)
Forwards (4) - Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Hercules Gomez (Colorado Rapids), Eddie Johnson (Kansas City Wizards), Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution)
Head Coach: Bob Bradley
