WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Soccer announced Tuesday its men's national team January training camp roster. D.C. United had five selections, as Bobby Boswell, Brian Carroll, Josh Gros, Bryan Namoff and Troy Perkins were all named. The training camp will run from January 3-21 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, as 29 total players were chosen to participate - all but one (Heath Pearce) from Major League Soccer. The U.S. Men will face Denmark in a friendly on January 20 at the Home Depot Center, before a February 7 friendly with Mexico at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona.
Boswell was named the 2006 MLS Defender of the Year after an impressive second season with the Black-and-Red. At the center of the defense, the 23-year old anchored one of the best defenses in the League, as the Black-and-Red allowed only 38 goals in 2006, second fewest in MLS. He started each of the 30 games he saw time in and also chipped in a goal and an assist. In August, Boswell was named to his first MLS All-Star team. In two years, he has started 56 of the 57 games in which he played and scored four goals and two assists.
A mainstay in the midfield for United, Carroll was first on the team in minutes played (2,779) in 2006. On September 23, due to yellow card accumulation, the 25-year old's streak of 90 consecutive games played ended - it was the second longest streak in MLS history (Kevin Hartman - 93). The Springfield, Va. native also tied his career high with three assists.
Gros continued his rapid development in 2006, starting each of the 29 games in which he played. The 24-year old set a career-high with five assists and also chalked up three goals on his way to his first MLS All-Star game. The adaptable midfielder provided the game-winning goal against Houston on April 15 and the game-winning assist against Kansas City on June 24.
An important member of United's defensive backline, Namoff started 25 of the 26 games he saw time in. Primarily used at right back, Namoff contributed an assist in United's game against New England on October 7. His 2,241 minutes played are the second most in his six-year career (2,384 in 2004). The 27-year old has played over 9,000 minutes behind the D.C. badge over his six seasons in MLS.
Perkins enjoyed a breakout year in 2006, quickly establishing himself as one of the finest goalkeepers in the League. Starting all but two matches of the 2006 season, the 25-year old was tied for the second-most minutes on the pitch (2,700). He led all MLS keepers in wins (15) and was among League leaders in goals-against-average (1.13) and shutouts (eight). Three of the season's longest shutout streaks belong to Perkins, as he held opposing teams scoreless for 338, 247 and 243 minutes during the year. Perkins received his first ever Player of the Week award for his performances against Chicago and Kansas City in Week 13, coming up with seven saves between the two games. His solid performances led him to be selected to his first MLS All-Star team, where he helped keep a clean sheet against England's Chelsea FC.
The full roster is as follows:
Goalkeepers (4) - Joe Cannon (Los Angeles Galaxy), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Troy Perkins (D.C. United), Matt Reis (New England Revolution)
Defenders (9) - Chris Albright (Los Angeles Galaxy), Bobby Boswell (D.C. United), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Bryan Namoff (D.C. United), Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution), Heath Pearce (FC Nordsjælland), Dasan Robinson (Chicago Fire) Eddie Robinson (Houston Dynamo)
Midfielders (11) - Kyle Beckerman (Colorado Rapids), Brian Carroll (D.C. United), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Pat Noonan (New England Revolution), Clint Dempsey (New England Revolution), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Joshua Gros (D.C. United), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Justin Mapp (Chicago Fire), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), Brian Mullan (Houston Dynamo)
Forwards (6) - Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas), Nate Jaqua (Los Angeles Galaxy), Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire), Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution)
