Three FC Dallas players called to U.S. camp beginning January 4

by PegNews wire

The training camp marks the beginning of 2010 FIFA World Cup preparations.

Jeff Cunningham of FC Dallas

FRISCO — FC Dallas’ Jeff Cunningham, Dax McCarty, and Heath Pearce are among the 30 players U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Bob Bradley has called into January training at U.S. Soccer's National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

The group will prepare for the USA’s first match of 2010, a friendly against fellow FIFA World Cup finalists Honduras on January 23 at The Home Depot Center. The match will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel and Galavision beginning at 6 p.m. PT. Fans can also follow the game live via ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker.

Roster by position

GOALKEEPERS (4): Kevin Hartman (Kansas City), Troy Perkins (Valerenga), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), Zach Thornton (Chivas USA)

DEFENDERS (8): Kevin Alston (New England Revolution), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)

MIDFIELDERS (12): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Örebro), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Jeff Larentowicz (New England Revolution), Dax McCarty (FC Dallas), Chris Pontius (D.C. United), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)

FORWARDS (6): Justin Braun (Chivas USA), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Brandon McDonald (San Jose Earthquakes), Marcus Tracy (Aalborg)

"This is the start of six months of preparations for the World Cup, and it is important that we get started off heading in the right direction,” said Bradley, who led the U.S. to first place in CONCACAF qualifying. “We have had the chance to work with many of these players through their time with the national team, while others performed well for their clubs throughout last season and have earned this opportunity. We are continuing to evaluate the player pool as we move towards finalizing our roster for this summer.”

The annual camp held in January for players in their offseason is a largely domestic-based group that includes 25 players who ply their trade in the United States.

A total of 15 players headed to Carson earned at least one cap in 2009 with the full team. Nine players -- Pearce, Kyle Beckerman, Jimmy Conrad, Brad Evans, Benny Feilhaber, Clarence Goodson, Marshall, Troy Perkins, and Robbie Rogers -- were part of the squad that reached the finals of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The 2009 MLS Budweiser Golden Boot winner, Cunningham’s first goal in 12 tries for the full team marked the last of 43 goals scored by the U.S. in 2009. The FC Dallas attacker tallied the lone strike in the 3-1 loss on Nov. 18 to Denmark.

Feilhaber is the leading capwinner with 30 appearances, the midfielder having started in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup final against Brazil. Pearce stands second in line with 28 caps, including nine starts in the successful World Cup qualifying campaign.

Following the Honduras match, the United States will play third-ranked Netherlands on March 3 in Amsterdam, allowing the U.S. to face one of the top teams in the world prior to the start of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Kickoff at the Amsterdam ArenA is set for 8:30 p.m. local time (2:30 p.m. ET), and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and Galavision. Fans can also follow along on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker.

The U.S. Men's National Team has been drawn into Group C with England, Slovenia and Algeria for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The U.S. will open its sixth consecutive World Cup finals tournament against England on June 12 in Rustenburg, and will follow that game with matches against Slovenia on June 18 in Johannesburg and Algeria on June 23 in Tshwane/Pretoria.

Source: FC Dallas