With an average age of just 25, the U.S. men's national team will meet Sweden in the first game for Bob Bradley as the head coach away from U.S. soil.
The Americans will field a strong unit, with as many as thirteen players from the U.S.'s 2007 Gold Cup squad possibly in uniform. Among them are several Major League Soccer standouts, such as Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy) and Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), who was added as a late injury replacement.
Other notable players to join the team for the first game of its European swing are Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege, Belgium), Tim Howard (Everton FC), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United) and Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC). Young American Benny Feilhaber joins the team fresh off a signing with Premier League club Derby County.
Donovan will be in search of his 35th career goal with the national team, a number that would move him past Eric Wynalda and into first place as the all-time leading scorer in U.S. national team history. Donovan is already USA's all-time leader in assists with 26.
The United States will look to add to a 10-1-3 record in 2007. Previously, the U.S. and Sweden have clashed just four times, with the series split 2-2-0.
Other Major League Soccer stars playing for their national teams on Wednesday include David Beckham (England), Dwayne De Rosario (Canada), and Carlos Ruiz (Guatemala).
Full U.S. Roster
MIDFIELDERS (6): DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Bobby Convey (Reading FC), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Benny Feilhaber (Derby County), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids)
FORWARDS (5): Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Kamani Hill (VfL Wolfsburg), Sal Zizzo (Hannover 96)
GOALKEEPERS (2): Marcus Hahnemann (Reading FC), Tim Howard (Everton FC)
DEFENDERS (6): Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham FC), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)
HEAD COACH: Bob Bradley
