U.S. national team manager Bruce Arena named his 23-man FIFA World Cup squad Tuesday, and 19 of the players selected have MLS experience. Eleven current MLS players are due to make the trip to Germany next month, while eight members of the team cut their teeth in the U.S. top flight.
"The naming of this 23-man roster is the end of a long and arduous process that has carried the U.S. National Team throughout the CONCACAF region and the world over the last 3 1/2 years," said Arena in making the announcement. "I'm comfortable in saying that over these 59 games, I've been able to observe and evaluate a pool of very talented players. It is unfortunate that I am not able to bring all these players to Germany. I am extremely grateful for the effort and professionalism that all our players exhibited throughout the process.
"Today, a new journey begins as we start final preparations for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. As usual, we will not make any bold statements or predictions. However, I can assure everyone that the team that steps on the field on June 12 against the Czech Republic will be a team that all Americans will be proud of. We look forward to preparing for an exciting and demanding challenge, and we appreciate the support of all Americans."
Three of the four forwards on Arena's squad ply their trade in the United States' top league. Kansas City Wizards strike partners Eddie Johnson and Josh Wolff join Houston Dynamo forward Brian Ching and former Columbus Crew targetman Brian McBride on the front line. Both Johnson and Ching will make their World Cup debut, while Wolff has been named to his second World Cup squad and McBride has been named to his third.
Ching may be the most surprising inclusion on the roster. During a series of friendlies this winter and spring, New England Revolution forward Taylor Twellman seemed to have won himself the fourth and final spot up top for the U.S., but Ching has lit up the scoreboard in MLS play for the past month and has been particularly impressive in the air. Twellman was named an alternate for the squad.
In the midfield, 2002 World Cup veterans Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids) and John O'Brien (Chivas USA) join World Cup newcomers Clint Dempsey (New England Revolution) and Ben Olsen (D.C. United). In addition, former MLS players Bobby Convey (Reading FC, England) and DaMarcus Beasley (PSV Eindhoven, Holland) will be on hand, as will U.S. captain Claudio Reyna (Manchester City, England).
"This is definitely the pinnacle of my career," said Mastroeni. "The first time around was amazing, but it keeps on getting better. We have a tough group, but I think we have the talent to come out of the first round. In the World Cup there are no small opponents, and every game will be the most important one. It is simply a privilege to be able to play for my country and all American and Rapids soccer fans."
O'Brien and, to a lesser extent, Reyna, may prove to be question marks due to recent injuries. O'Brien has played just six minutes in MLS since joining Chivas USA at the beginning of the season and sat out the club's most recent match with a strained hamstring. Reyna, meanwhile, just recently returned to action for his club after separating a shoulder a month ago. Olsen, the only player on the roster not to appear in a qualifying match for the current World Cup cycle, made a late push in the national team's 2006 friendlies and the start of the MLS season to earn his place.
Three MLS defenders will be in Germany in a month's time. Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew) and Eddie Pope (Real Salt Lake) have each been named to their third World Cup roster, while Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards) has been selected for his first. Three former MLS defenders are also in the group: Eddie Lewis (Leeds United, England), Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham FC, England) and Cory Gibbs (ADO Den Haag, Holland). Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege, Belgium) and Steve Cherundolo (Hanover 96, Germany) round out the rearguard.
There have been rumblings in the past two weeks that Los Angeles Galaxy defender Chris Albright had done enough to make the squad this winter, but the forward-turned-defender was named an alternate instead, as was veteran central defender Gregg Berhalter (Energie Cottbus, Germany), who played two matches at the 2002 World Cup. Conrad, who has made a rapid rise into the national team picture in just the past year, effectively replaces Berhalter on the roster.
In the nets for the U.S. will be Kasey Keller (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany), a veteran of three World Cups. He'll be backed up by former MLS 'keepers Tim Howard (Manchester United, England) and Marcus Hahnemann (Reading FC, England).
The list of 13 alternates for the World Cup is chock full of MLS players, with 11 selected. Tony Meola (New York Red Bulls), a veteran of three World Cups, and Matt Reis (New England Revolution) are the alternate goalkeepers.
Albright and Galaxy teammate Todd Dunivant join Berhalter as defenders on the alternate roster, while Twellman, Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire) and Conor Casey (FSV Mainz) are the forwards.
The list of alternates is completed by an all-MLS midfield: Chris Armas (Chicago Fire), Chris Klein (Real Salt Lake), Pat Noonan (New England Revolution), Steve Ralston (New England Revolution) and Kerry Zavagnin (Kansas City Wizards).
The U.S. squad will report to training camp in Cary, N.C. on May 10 and will prepare for the World Cup with a three-game "Send-off Series." The side will face Morocco on May 23, Venezuela on May 26 and Latvia on May 28. The team will fly to Germany on June 1 and open the group stage against the Czech Republic on June 12. The U.S. will then play Italy on June 17 and Ghana on June 22.
Jason Halpin is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
