Real Salt Lake speedster Robbie Findley was named to the 30-man preliminary US roster for the World Cup on Tuesday, but he didn’t hear the news from head coach Bob Bradley.
“Andy [Williams] came into the locker room and was naming everybody that made the roster,” Findley said. “I was sitting there kind of waiting to hear my name. I guess he thought I knew, which I didn’t. Kyle [Beckerman] asked if I made it, and he said: ‘Yes.’”
Findley will report to the team’s camp in Princeton, N.J., following Real Salt Lake’s matchup against the Houston Dynamo on Thursday night. The camp opens on Saturday for all players, with the final 23-man roster set to be announced on June 1.
Findley is one of six forwards invited to the camp, along with likely competition from fellow MLS stars Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy) and Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo). Mexican First Division scoring champ Herculez Gomez (Puebla) is also in the mix, as Eddie Johnson (Aris) and expected starter Jozy Altidore.
“One thing I have is the pace, it’s one of the big thing’s that’s given me this opportunity,” Findley said. “I don’t really like to think too far ahead, just take it day-by-day, and see what happens.”
RSL coach Jason Kreis feels that Findley will have to pull out all the stops over the next couple of weeks to make the 23-man roster.
“I think he’s going to have to step up and do something at that level,” Kreis said. “He’s gonna need to prove that he belongs. It looks good for him, and looks good for us. I’m really pleased for him. It’s great that he’s come so far so quickly.”
