SECAUCUS, NJ - Red Bulls Jozy Altidore has been invited to the U.S. Men's National Team's first training camp of 2008, which will begin Jan. 3 at U.S. Soccer's National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Altidore is among the 26 players called into camp by head coach Bob Bradley in advance of the team's first international competition of 2008, which will be played against Sweden on Jan. 19 in Carson.
Altidore, 18, recently returned from participating on the U.S. U-23 National Team that played a pair of friendlies against the Chinese U-23 National Team on Dec. 13 and 16 in Changsha and Guangzhou, respectively. Earlier this year, Altidore earned his first cap for the senior U.S. Men's National Team, when he was a second-half substitute in a 1-0 win over South Africa on Nov. 17. In his first full season with the Red Bulls, Altidore followed up a 2006 campaign that saw him find the back of the net in four of New York's last nine games, with nine goals and four assists. His nine goals placed him second on the Red Bulls and eighth in Major League Soccer. He featured in 22 games (15 starts) and was in the Starting 11 for both of the Red Bulls' playoff matches against the New England Revolution.
Altidore has also featured at the U.S. U-17 and U-20 levels. In the summer of 2007, Altidore partook in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada, playing a key role in the team's run to the quarterfinals. Altidore was the fourth-leading scorer in the tournament, netting four goals in five matches, including a pair to defeat Brazil, 2-1, in the group stage.
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)
Head Coach: Bob Bradley
The Red Bulls home opener is scheduled for Saturday, April 5 against the Columbus Crew at Giants Stadium. For ticket information, contact the Red Bulls at 1.877.RBSOCCER.
