Kansas City Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad and forward Eddie Johnson have been called to Bob Bradley's first United States National Team camp of 2008, beginning Thursday at U.S. Soccer's National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The camp culminates in the United States' first competition of 2008, a friendly against Sweden Saturday, Jan. 19 at The Home Depot Center.
Both Conrad and Johnson were regulars for the full national team in 2007, seeing action in six and 11 games, respectively. Conrad, the Kansas City Wizards captain, served as U.S. captain in the squad's first match of 2007 and scored the game-winning goal Feb. 7 against archrival Mexico. Johnson scored the lone goal against world power Argentina June 28 in Copa America competition after scoring in a 2-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in the run up to the United States' CONCACAF Gold Cup victory.
Johnson ranks second among camp attendees in both career appearances and goals scored with 31 and 11, respectively. He trails only Landon Donovan in both categories. Conrad ranks fourth among attendees in appearances with 23. Johnson is tied for 13th place in U.S. history in goals scored with Wizards Technical Director Peter Vermes. Vermes scored his 11 goals in 67 career appearances with the National Team from 1988-1998.
The Sweden match is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT and will be shown live on Fox Soccer Channel. After the Sweden match, the U.S. will host regional rivals Mexico on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at Reliant Stadium in Houston. More than 30,000 tickets have been sold for the match that will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and Univision. Along with a series of friendlies, the United States will begin 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 between June 11-14, with the second leg to be played between June 18-21 on the road.
ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS(4) - Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Will Hesmer (Columbus Crew), Matt Pickens (Chicago Fire), Zach Wells (D.C. United)
DEFENDERS (9) - Dan Califf (Aalborg BK), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Ramiro Corrales (SK Brann), Todd Dunivant (Toronto FC), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Drew Moor (FC Dallas), Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution), Eddie Robinson (Houston Dynamo), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)
MIDFIELDERS (7) - Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Brian Davis (Houston Dynamo), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Justin Mapp (Chicago Fire), Pat Noonan (New England Revolution)
FORWARDS (6) - Josmer Altidore (New York Red Bulls), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Eddie Johnson (Kansas City Wizards), Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire), Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution), Jeremiah White (AGF Aarhus)
