Four Rapids players invited to USMNT camp
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Bob Bradley announced today that Colorado Rapids midfielder Jeff Larentowicz, goalkeeper Matt Pickens, and defenders Anthony Wallace and Marvell Wynne are among the 24 players named to the training camp roster that will begin workouts January 4 at the U.S. Soccer's National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
The group will prepare for the USA’s first match of 2011, a friendly against fellow FIFA World Cup finalists Chile on January 22 at The Home Depot Center. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. MT, with broadcast information to be announced at a later date. Fans can also follow the game live via ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker or on twitter @ussoccer.
INFO: 2011 COLORADO RAPIDS SEASON TICKETS
The annual camp held in January for players in their offseason is a largely domestic-based group that includes 20 players who ply their trade in the United States, and the coaching staff is taking full advantage of the opportunity to assess new talent. With an average age of just above 23 years old, half of the players can earn their first cap for the full team, including Pickens, Larentowicz, and Wallace.
This marks the second consecutive year Larentowicz has been called into the National Team’s January training camp. However, he was unable to attend last year’s camp due to his recovery from knee surgery.
Pickens will be attending his fourth January camp with the National Team after receiving call-ins in 2007, 2008, 2009. He also participated in training camp with the squad in November 2008 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
Wallace, a member of the United States’ U-17, U-18, U-20 and U-23 teams, is receiving his first invite to the senior squad for the January camp. The 21-year-old was a member of the U.S.’s FIFA U-20 World Cup team in 2007 and 2009 CONCACAF U-20 Championship club and was named to the U.S. U-20 roster for the 2009 U-20 World Cup in Egypt but had to miss the tournament due to an injury.
Wynne has earned three caps with the U.S. Men’s National Team and will be attending his third straight January training camp. He was a member of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup squad which made it all the way to the final in South Africa. Wynne earned his first cap against Argentina on June 28 as a member of the 2007 Copa America roster and also played every minute in all three games in the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
U.S. Men's National Team Training Camp Roster
The Home Deport Center - Carson, Calif.
Jan. 4-22, 2011
GOALKEEPERS (4): Dominic Cervi (Celtic), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Matt Pickens (Colorado Rapids), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (9): A.J. DeLaGarza (Los Angeles Galaxy), Sean Franklin (Los Angeles Galaxy), Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles Galaxy), Ugo Ihemelu (FC Dallas), Zach Loyd (FC Dallas), Ryan Miller (Halmstads BK), Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls), Anthony Wallace (Colorado Rapids), Marvell Wynne (Colorado Rapids)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Eric Alexander (FC Dallas), Alejandro Bedoya (Örebro), Sam Cronin (San Jose Earthquakes), Mikkel Diskerud (Stabaek), Jeff Larentowicz (Colorado Rapids), Dax McCarty (D.C. United), Brek Shea (FC Dallas)
FORWARDS (4): Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Justin Braun (Chivas USA), Teal Bunbury (Sporting Kansas City), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
RELATED:
WALLACE RECEIVES HIS FIRST USMNT INVITE
VERSATILE WYNNE RETURNS TO USMNT SCENE