COLUMBUS, Ohio - Crew defender Frankie Hejduk had been named to U.S. Men's National Team head coach Bob Bradley's 23-man roster that will seek to defend its CONCACAF Gold Cup title in the 2007 edition of the tournament that takes place from June 6-24 in six cities across the U.S. The call-up is significant, as it is Hejduk's first since suffering a season-ending ACL tear last April that was diagnosed a day after he was named to the 2006 U.S. World Cup squad, which ended his quest to play in three successive World Cups.
The U.S. kicks off action on June 7 vs. Guatemala at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, and will also play its second group match there on Saturday, June 9, vs. Trinidad & Tobago at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT. The group stage will end for the U.S. on June 12 vs. El Salvador at 7 p.m. ET after a cross country trip to Foxborough, Mass. All three U.S. group matches will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel and Telefutura. Fans can also follow all the USA's matches live on ussoccer.com's MatchTracker.
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The European-based players will begin arriving into the Los Angeles area on May 27 to start training, with the MLS contingent reporting to the Gold Cup camp on June 3.
"As I have said, winning the Gold Cup is our most important priority this year, and I believe we have assembled a team capable of doing that," Bradley said. "We have a very good blend of talent, youth and experience. This is a great opportunity to continue to secure our place as one of the top teams in the region, as well as obtain valuable experience as we progress towards World Cup qualifying in 2008."
The Gold Cup is the championship of the Confederation of North and Central American and Caribbean nations (CONCACAF). The U.S. claimed the regional crown in 2005 by topping Panama in penalty kicks following 120 minutes of scoreless soccer at Giants Stadium. Conversions by Santino Quaranta, Landon Donovan and Brad Davis, as well as a key save from Kasey Keller, clinched the trophy for the U.S. Hejduk is one of is one of six players on the roster with two Gold Cup medals, a list that also includes DaMarcus Beasley, Carlos Bocanegra, Landon Donovan and Kasey Keller.
One of the most recognizable and dynamic players in Major League Soccer and a longtime U.S. National Team standout, the 32-year-old Hejduk has earned 72 caps (appearances) for the red, white and blue. He has the distinction of being the only U.S. National Team player to see action in both the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups and the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games.
Hejduk has been with the Crew since the 2003 season and, in 72 games with the club, has scored five goals and assisted on five others. He is a four-time MLS All-Star who has appeared in a total of 122 games (10 goals, 14 assists) in an MLS career that began with the Tampa Bay Mutiny from 1996-98, following a three-year collegiate career at UCLA, where he played for Schmid. Between his two MLS stints, he played professionally overseas for Bayer Leverkusen of the German Bundesliga (1998-2002) and St. Gallen of the Swiss First Division (2002).
The U.S. is gearing up for a busy summer, beginning with a tune-up match against China on June 2 at Spartan Stadium in San Jose (tickets). Following the Gold Cup, the U.S. will participate in the 2007 Copa America, the regional championship of South America. The 12-team tournament will run from June 26 to July 15 in nine cities across Venezuela. For the United States, the appearance will mark their third entrance into CONMEBOL's signature event, and the first since a third place finish in 1995. The United States will play its first match on European soil in 2007 when they travel to face 11-time World Cup finalists Sweden on Wed., Aug. 22 at Ullevi Stadium in Goteborg, Sweden.
Founded by American sports pioneer Lamar Hunt, the Columbus Crew is Ohio's Major League Soccer club, anchoring a diverse sports and entertainment enterprise. One of the league's Charter Members and the U.S. Open Cup champion in 2002, it recently opened its 12th season overall and ninth in first-of-its-kind Columbus Crew Stadium.
ROSTER BY POSITION
Goalkeepers (3) - Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Tim Howard (Everton FC), Kasey Keller (Borussia Moenchengladbach)
Defenders (8) -Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham FC), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution), Frank Simek (Sheffield Wednesday), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)
Midfielders (8) - DaMarcus Beasley (PSV Eindhoven), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Benny Feilhaber (Hamburger SV), Justin Mapp (Chicago Fire), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), Steve Ralston (New England Revolution)
Forwards (4) - Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Eddie Johnson (Kansas City Wizards),Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution)
