Sunday, February 3, 2008

Donovan Officially Named, Cronin to Join Galaxy for First Day of Preseason Training

U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Bob Bradley named the 22 players on Sunday afternoon that will travel to Houston to prepare for the upcoming showdown with Mexico at Reliant Stadium in Houston. Galaxy Forward Landon Donovan, as expected, was named to the roster, while goalkeeper Steve Cronin will join his club teammates on Monday for the first day of preseason training.

The U.S.-Mexico match will be part of a two-and-half-hour broadcast window on both ESPN2 and Univision beginning at 8 p.m. CT. Fans will also be able to listen to the match on 75 affiliates of the Fútbol de Primera Radio Network, and can follow live online via ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker. More than 53,000 tickets have been sold for the second-ever meeting between the teams at Reliant Stadium. On May 8, 2003, nearly 70,000 fans packed the house to witness a fiercely contested 0-0 draw. The U.S. is currently riding an 8-0-1 unbeaten run on home soil against Mexico.

Donovan is the leading capwinner on the squad, the 25-year-old having earned 97appearances. With his goal against Sweden last month, he claimed the top spot on the USA’s all-time scoring list with 35 career goals. Donovan has been a particular nemesis to El Tri, having scored four times in his career against Mexico, highlighted by the goal in 2-0 win in the Round of 16 of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He scored in both meetings last year, notching the game-tying goal in the Gold Cup final.

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION -
GOALKEEPERS (2): Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Tim Howard (Everton FC)
DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham FC), Ramiro Corrales (SK Brann), Drew Moor (FC Dallas), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock), Eddie Robinson (Houston Dynamo)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Freddy Adu (SL Benfica), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Bobby Convey (Reading FC), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Benny Feilhaber (Derby County), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Eddie Lewis (Derby County)
FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (New York Red Bulls), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Pat Noonan (Aalesund FK)

2 comments:

charlesj27 said...

Once again, Bob Bradley & Peter Nowak know how to pick 'em! What a super-charged line-up. Awesome! I'm glad that Bob & Peter pushed the US-based guys hard, continuously... We cannot be soft in our approach - we must think, eat, sleep, live "serious business" heading into our momentous objective. 2010 - South Africa... Get there or bust!

Brad G.- Many of us were rooting for you to make it into Aston Villa... actually, at the summer transfer window coming in June... I am hoping you'll get the repeat chance you deserve! You are an awesome goal-stopping force! Amen!

Defenders: Carlos, Ramiro, Oguchi, Michael, & Eddie... Man-o'Man! Talk about "The Mighty Shielders"... It'll be so good to see you guys play in the US again! All of you guys that are playing now in Europe are getting game time that many of the US-based players here wish for & dream of. Represent, my brotha's!!!

Midfielders: Freddy, Michael, Ricardo, Brad, Benny, and Stuart... YES!!! YYYEEESSS!!! I've watched you guys play out there in Mid-Pitch... Phenomenal... All of you give 125% out of yourselves - every damn time! May the "Wings of Nike" cradle & bless your feet for all days! You guys are the absolute crucial pieces to our forwards getting access in front of net. Know your angles, formations, back-and-forths, plus interferences... Confuse the crap out of your opponents. Make 'em dizzy, yo!!!

Forwards: Jozy, Clint, Landon, and Pat... the "1000 Daggers"... Amen, Halelluya! Positional Placements, One-on-Ones, Evasion, and, definitely, Crosses and Set-Pieces... You guys are the "Reapers of Chance" against the opponents' goal-keepers... Keep the threat level high... Make 'em panic... 1 to 2 seconds... that's all it takes to make net! You guys know that better than anyone. Clint, I hope you get a chance to rest and prepare yourself, properly - the past matches I've watched of you - you look so damn tired! You need some serious sleep, plus daily massages, and some sauna time! Pat, my sincere hope is that in the near future MLS gets to name you in their Halls of Fame - because, you are the steady trooper... the tireless marine... I wish you happiness, fortune, and plenty-of-goal poaching in Norway!

This is the US National Team, men... here - you guys must play absolutely together - seamless - as a powerful unit.

As you've heard it, only in America... "SHAKE & BAKE, BABY!"

Anonymous said...

the television and radio channels really don't help us if we don't know the DATE and TIME of the match.