Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Current & former CATZ athletes make US Men’s National Soccer Team

Qualifying roster named—Names include CATZ Athletes

CATZ Athletes are in bold

Courtesy of US Soccer Communications

CHICAGO, IL (August 10, 2005) USSF - U.S. Men’s National Team Manager Bruce Arena has selected 20 players to prepare for the crucial World Cup qualifier against Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday, Aug. 17 in East Hartford, Conn. 

The U.S. sits in second place in the final round hexagonal with a 4-1-0 record, while Trinidad is desperate for a victory with only four points from five matches.  While the U.S. team cannot qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup with a win on Aug. 17, the picture will certainly become a lot clearer after the evening’s matches are completed.

“I’m confident the roster we’ve selected will help us secure three points in what figures to be a critical game in our World Cup qualifying effort,” said U.S. Manager Bruce Arena, who holds a 17-5-7 lifetime record in qualifying. 

U.S. captain Claudio Reyna returns to the fold after missing the last two World Cup qualifiers.  The 32-year-old midfielder has made only one appearance for the USA in 2005, getting 90 minutes in the Mexico qualifier in March. Also rejoining the ranks is midfielder Eddie Lewis, whose 54th minute goal proved the game-winner in the USA’s 2-1 victory against Trinidad in the opening match of final round qualifying on Feb. 9 in Port-of-Spain.  Manchester United goalkeeper Tim Howard makes his first appearance of the year in a U.S. camp, having recovered from a shoulder injury that he rested in the off-season.   

Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan continues to set the pace for U.S. scoring in World Cup qualifying, tallying seven goals and eight assists.  The only player to appear in all 13 of the USA’s matches in 2006 qualifying, he has recorded at least one point in 12 of 13 games on the road to Germany.  Fulham forward Brian McBride is one step away from history. His nine career goals in qualifying are tied for the most in U.S history along with Earnie Stewart.  McBride is second all-time on the U.S. scoring charts, his 28 goals now six shy of the mark set by Eric Wynalda.  Meantime, PSV Eindhoven midfielder DaMarcus Beasley continues to demonstrate his valuable presence, tallying three goals and four assists in 2005, already good for a career-best in a single year with the full team.

Backstopping the U.S. will be heralded goalkeeper Kasey Keller, fresh off of captaining the U.S. team to their third Gold Cup championship last month. The 15-year veteran has made 29 appearances in World Cup qualifying, the most of any goalkeeper in U.S. history and just one behind all-time leaders Cobi Jones, Eddie Pope and Stewart. He has 16 shutouts in qualifying action to add to his career total of 42, also a team record.

The U.S. roster will boast the two top scorers in Major League Soccer: Colorado Rapids forward Jeff Cunningham brings his 11 league goals into the U.S. mix for the first time this year, while Revolution forward Taylor Twellman sits tied for second on the MLS scoring charts with nine goals.

ROSTER BY POSITION
Goalkeepers (3) - Kevin Hartman (Los Angeles Galaxy), Tim Howard (Manchester United), Kasey Keller (Borussia Moenchengladbach)

Defenders (5) - Chris Albright (Los Angeles Galaxy), Gregg Berhalter (Energie Cottbus), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Greg Vanney (FC Dallas)

Midfielders (8) - Chris Armas (Chicago Fire), DaMarcus Beasley (PSV Eindhoven), Bobby Convey (Reading FC), Eddie Lewis (Leeds United), John O’Brien (ADO Den Haag), Santino Quaranta (D.C. United), Steve Ralston (New England Revolution), Claudio Reyna (Manchester City)

Forwards (4) - Jeff Cunningham (Colorado Rapids), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Brian McBride (Fulham FC), Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution)

Courtesy of US Soccer Communications