Kansas City Wizards holding midfielder Kerry Zavagnin has been called in by United States National Team Head Coach Bob Bradley as a roster replacement for Colorado Rapids midfielder Pablo Mastroeni for an upcoming friendly against international power Brazil Sunday, September 9 at Soldier Field in Chicago. Zavagnin has appeared 21 times for the Red, White and Blue. An alternate for the 2006 World Cup, the 33-year-old last played for the U.S. in the 4-1 loss to Germany on March 22, 2006 in Dortmund.
"I'm really happy that Kerry has been called back to the National Team," Wizards Head Coach Curt Onalfo said. "We had a good relationship when I was an assistant with the National Team. Kerry Zavagnin has always competed at the highest level for both club and country."
Zavagnin has had an outstanding season in Major League Soccer, starting each of the Wizards 24 games thus far and playing all but 45 minutes. He has already recorded a career high three goals and added one assist while organizing the Wizards midfield on a game-by-game basis.
"Obviously, I'm thrilled to be back in U.S. National Team camp," Zavagnin said. "I will work hard in training and will be ready if called upon on Sunday."
The Wizards become the only team worldwide to have three players enter Bradley's camp for the Brazil match. Fulham FC of the English Premier League (forward Clint Dempsey and defender Carlos Bocanegra) is the only other club to have two players selected. Zavagnin joins forwards Eddie Johnson and Davy Arnaud in Chicago. All three players will return to Kansas City next week for training following the game Sunday and will be available for the Wizards next match Saturday, September 15 against the Columbus Crew at 7 p.m. at Arrowhead Stadium.
