Fresh off an Olympic campaign, Marvell Wynne could earn his second senior United States national team cap as the speedy Toronto FC defender was named to Bob Bradley's 20-man roster for upcoming World Cup qualifiers at Cuba and at home for Trinidad and Tobago.
Wynne, a former MLS SuperDraft No. 1 pick, earned his first cap against Argentina in the 2007 Copa America. He joins fellow Olympians Maurice Edu, Brad Guzan, Michael Bradley and Sacha Kljestan of Chivas USA on the squad, which was announced Thursday.
It's a big week for Edu, who recently completed a transfer from Toronto FC to Glasgow Rangers and could play in the Old Firm derby Sunday against Celtic. Fellow Rangers teammate DaMarcus Beasley is also on Bradley's side, joining Houston Dynamo ball-winner Ricardo Clark and Eddie Lewis of the Los Angeles Galaxy in the midfield.
Guzan, the former Chivas USA goalkeeper who now plies his trade at Aston Villa in the English Premiership, joins Tim Howard from Everton as Bradley's selections at goalkeeper.
Frankie Hejduk of the Columbus Crew is part of a veteran backline that includes European-based players Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Danny Califf (FC Midtjylland), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege) and Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock).
The one surprise selection among the defenders is Michael Orozco, the 22-year-old native of California who plays for San Luis F.C. in Mexico's FMF Primera Division. Orozco, who was named to the Best XI of the 2008 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying All-Tournament Team, could earn his first full national team cap. He's played for the U.S. under-23 squad seven times, including all three games in the Olympics.
Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan and Bring Ching of the Houston Dynamo are the MLS-based forwards, joining Fulham's Clint Dempsey and Eddie Johnson of Cardiff City.
On a second-half goal by Bocanegra, the United States is coming off a hard-fought 1-0 victory in Guatemala, the team's first-ever World Cup qualifying win there. They are tied atop Group 1 with Trinidad and Tobago, which defeated Cuba 3-1 in Havana.
The U.S. will make a historic trip to Havana Sept. 6 for its next match, before hosting the Soca Warriors at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill., four days later.
Cherundolo is unavailable for the match at Cuba because he was sent off against Guatemala for his second bookable offense and will serve the one-game suspension and Pablo Mastroeni, who started against Guatemala, is nursing a hamstring injury, and Jay DeMerit of Watford were the two changes from Bradley's roster against Guatemala.
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
