US Roster Set for Qualifiers

Dempsey, Donovan Among 22 Selected by Bradley

March 20, 2009

CHICAGO — Former Rev Clint Dempsey is one of 22 players that will train with the U.S. Men’s National Team in preparation for World Cup qualifiers against El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago.

The U.S. first travels to face El Salvador at Estadio Cuscatlán on March 28 and four days later, hosts Trinidad & Tobago at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn.

The U.S. is tied for first place in the final round hexagonal following the comprehensive 2-0 victory against Mexico on Feb. 11 in Columbus, Ohio. The team will begin assembling on March 22 in Miami, and will depart Thursday afternoon for El Salvador.

“These next two matches are very important in our efforts to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup,” said U.S. head coach Bob Bradley, who is 8-1-0 overall in qualifying action. “The games against El Salvador and Trinidad & Tobago represent a big opportunity to solidify our place in the group. We had a fantastic team effort against Mexico, and if we put in the same type of performance we are confident of being able to get results.”

All 11 players who started in the 2-0 win against Mexico return for the two-game set, and 16 of the 18 players on the roster that day will head to Miami to begin training. Landon Donovan is the leading capwinner on the roster with 106 international appearances.

The U.S., along with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, and Trinidad & Tobago, is competing in the 10-game round-robin format through Oct. 14, 2009, with the top three teams automatically advancing to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The fourth-place team will compete in a two-game playoff to be held Nov. 14/18 against the fifth-place finisher in South American qualifying.

U.S. Men’s National Team Roster vs. El Salvador and Trinidad & Tobago

GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa: 4/3 SO), Tim Howard (Everton: 8/6 SO), Marcus Hahnemann (Reading: 1/1 SO)

DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes: 17/2), Danny Califf (FC Midtjylland: 3/0), Jay DeMerit (Watford: 1/0), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew: 15/1), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege: 13/1), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock: 8/0), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United: 2/1)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Freddy Adu (AS Monaco: 5/1), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers: 22/6), Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach: 7/4), Maurice Edu (Glasgow Rangers: 3/0), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA: 7/0), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids: 12/0), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca: 2/0)

FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Xerez C.D.: 4/1), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo: 13/6), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC: 13/4), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy: 26/9), Eddie Johnson (Cardiff City: 9/8)
*numbers indicate all-time World Cup Qualifying caps/goals

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