D.C. United were one of the few MLS teams not to lose players to CONCACAF Gold Cup callups earlier this month, but coach Tom Soehn has not been so lucky when it comes to Copa America.
The high-profile South American tournament has already taken D.C. captain Jaime Moreno away as his former Bolivia teammate Erwin "Platini" Sanchez, now the national team's coach, has welcomed him back into the fold after a seven-year absence. And now, as many as four of United's U.S. internationals could be selected by manager Bob Bradley on Thursday.
At U.S. Soccer's request, Bobby Boswell, Bryan Namoff, Ben Olsen and Troy Perkins have all received inoculations against measles, mumps, yellow fever and other ailments found in Venezuela, host nation for the 2007 Copa America, in the event that they are invited to join Bradley's squad. Invited to participate as a guest team along with fellow CONCACAF power Mexico, the United States faces stiff competition in a Group C draw that includes Argentina, Paraguay and Colombia.
"It would be an exciting opportunity," said Namoff, who made his national team debut against Denmark in January. "The chance to play against teams like Argentina and Brazil would be unbelievable."
While the veteran Olsen was a part of last year's World Cup roster, Boswell, Namoff and Perkins are all recent additions to the U.S. player pool who spent a good chunk of this past offseason in Bradley's winter training camp. In this case, the pride of wearing their country's colors has been further augmented by the allure of top-level competition in one of the world's oldest tournaments.
"I would like to be there," said Boswell, who admitted that he's done himself no favors by missing last week's victory against Chicago after receiving his first professional red card the previous weekend. "I would love to be in that mix, but I don't worry about it too much because it's not in my hands."
Their departure would present a significant challenge to Soehn and his staff as they look to build on D.C.'s recent resurgence. Copa America's first-round action overlaps with four United matches and if Bolivia - who are underdogs in Group A - or the United States overcome the odds and advance deep into the tournament, the Black-and-Red could lose several key starters for as many as six games. But Soehn offers nothing but encouraging words on the matter.
"Anybody that's called into that duty, it's not a problem on my end. I'm happy for them," he said. "I think we need to support our national teams -- that's what it's all about. We have to adjust accordingly; that's why you have deep teams. When one guy leaves, you set up the next guy to step on the field."
The loss of Namoff and Boswell would gut the United back line, but many around the team see that prospect as a timely test for the reserves who will be depended upon as the team's schedule grows more crowded in the months ahead.
"I think it's where the new guys will get an opportunity to play and it's where they have to come up and show that they can come in and do well for us," said Namoff. "So it's going to be good to see as far as just an example of how deep we're going to be. It's a true test of our whole team."
Having served as an assistant to Peter Nowak before the former United boss left to join Bradley's staff, Soehn has a good working relationship with the national team's brain trust. In his remarks after the win against Chicago, he recognized that - like it or not - his team's return to form has drawn their attention.
"I'm not going to listen to my phone," he said with a chuckle. "If they're watching our games they should be calling. I've had conversations with them already and we'll always work with the idea that we're going to lose some guys and give other guys opportunities. It's part of the business."
Charles Boehm is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
