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Post by shadowboxer on May 31, 2003 17:11:21 GMT -5
Donovan, Mathis Lead U.S. Confederations Cup Roster May 30, 3:57 PM (ET) Email this Story
By RONALD BLUM NEW YORK (AP) - Forwards Landon Donovan and Clint Mathis lead the U.S. roster for next month's FIFA Confederations Cup in France.
Several top U.S. players will miss the tournament, including goalkeepers Brad Friedel and Kasey Keller; midfielders John O'Brien and Claudio Reyna; and forward Brian McBride.
At the eight-nation Confederations Cup, the Americans play World Cup semifinalist Turkey (June 19), World Cup champion Brazil (June 21) and African champion Cameroon (June 23).
In its last Confederations Cup appearance, the United States finished third in 1999 in Mexico.
U.S. coach Bruce Arena picked 10 of the 23 players who were on his World Cup roster last year.
Before heading to the Confederations Cup, the United States plays an exhibition game against New Zealand on June 8 at Richmond, Va.
Reyna, the U.S. captain is recovering from surgery last Nov. 18 to repair a torn knee ligament and hopes to return to the national team in July for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean.
Keller just had minor elbow surgery, Friedel and O'Brien are being given breaks following their club seasons and McBride's wife is due to give birth next month.
Also selected were midfielder Chris Armas, who missed the World Cup after tearing a knee ligament on May 12 last year, and defender Greg Vanney, slated to get Armas' World Cup roster spot until he partially tore a knee ligament four says later.
"We have selected a group of players that combines experience and youth," Arena said. "For many of these players, it will be their first experience in a competition of this caliber, so the games can only benefit our group as we progress toward World Cup qualifying in 2004."
In addition to Donovan and Mathis, other players who were at the World Cup include defenders Eddie Pope, Gregg Berhalter, Steve Cherundolo and Frankie Hejduk; and midfielders DaMarcus Beasley, Eddie Lewis, Pablo Mastroenni and Earnie Stewart.
Stewart, 34, is the oldest player on the team and forward Bobby Convey, who turned 20 on Tuesday, is the youngest. The only player with no appearances for the national team is goalkeeper Joe Cannon.
The other two goalkeepers are relatively inexperienced: Tim Howard has six international appearances and Marcus Hahnemann has three.
Arena's roster has an average age of 24.4, down from 28.7 from the initial U.S. World Cup roster last year. Sixteen of the players are on teams in Major League Soccer, including three each from Chicago, Columbus and the MetroStars.
The full roster:
Goalkeepers-Joe Cannon (Lens, France), Tim Howard (MetroStars), Marcus Hahnemann (Reading, England)
Defenders-Gregg Berhalter (Energie Cottbus, Germany), Carlos Bocanegra (Chicago), Dan Califf (Los Angeles), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96, Germany), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus), Eddie Pope (MetroStars), Greg Vanney (Bastia, France)
Midfielders-Chris Armas (Chicago), DaMarcus Beasley (Chicago), Bobby Convey (DC United), Jovan Kirovski (Birmingham City, England), Chris Klein (Kansas City), Eddie Lewis (Preston North End, England), Kyle Martino (Columbus), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado), Earnie Stewart (DC United)
Forwards-Jeff Cunningham (Columbus), Landon Donovan (San Jose), Clint Mathis (MetroStars), Taylor Twellman (New England)
Alternates-Nick Garcia (Kansas City), Cory Gibbs (FC St. Pauli, Germany), Richard Mulrooney (San Jose), Steve Ralston (New England)
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Post by daysleeper on May 31, 2003 21:22:18 GMT -5
thanks for the news! i never knew the concaf and confederations cup were taking place this summer!
i just hope claudio reyna is ok for sunderland next season!! if he is - we'll have the best midfielder in the entire division - simple as that!
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