February 4, 2010 NO BULL No Red Bulls on U.S. training roster
Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton, a former MetroStar and Red Bull, will attend U.S. National Team training camp. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
In what should come as no surprise to Red Bulls supporters by now, no player from the MLS club was called in to train with the U.S. National Team to earn a spot for the U.S.-El Salvador match in Tampa, Fla. Feb. 24.
U.S. national coach Bob Bradley, a former MetroStars coach, is bringing in 23 players to camp at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Feb. 10. The group is comprised entirely of domestic-based players.
There are several former MetroStars/Red Bulls on the camp roster, including goalkeeper Zach Thornton (Chivas USA), defender Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC) and midfielders Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo) and Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew).
"These are important opportunities for these players as we continue to formulate our plans for the roster for the World Cup," Bradley said in a statement. "This camp and the game against El Salvador provide a chance for the coaching staff to get one more long look at this group. El Salvador demonstrated during World Cup qualifying that they are a difficult team to beat, so we expect a good match. We had great fan support in our last visit to Raymond James Stadium, and we are looking forward to getting back to Tampa."
The group features 23 players from MLS, many of whom were a part of the training camp which opened 2010 last month. Twenty-one players return from that roster, including 10 of the starting 11 from the Jan. 23 match against Honduras. The match against El Salvador will be one of the last games before the World Cup roster is named in May and gives the group a chance to make an impression on Bradley's coaching staff with an eye towards South Africa.
The U.S. roster:
Goalkeepers (3): Troy Perkins (D.C. United), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), Zach Thornton (Chivas USA)
Defenders (7): Kevin Alston (New England Revolution), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles Galaxy), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Michael Orozco (Philadelphia Union), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)
Midfielders (9): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Dax McCarty (FC Dallas), Chris Pontius (D.C. United), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)
Forwards (4): Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake)
