The advent of MLS has given U.S. national team coach Steve Sampson the opportunity to see a host of new players on a regular basis, and the first player to benefit is Tampa Bay midfielder Martin Vasquez, who is on a list of 20 players he intends to call up for the United States-Scotland game May 26 in New Britain, Conn.
“He’s comfortable on the ball,” says Sampson. “He’s defensively solid, a very versatile player.”
Vasquez, 32, played the last decade in Mexico with Universidad de Guadalajara, Puebla, Veracruz and Atlas. Vasquez, who was born in Mexico but raised in the Los Angeles area, attended Cal State Los Angeles. He played in the WSL, MISL and AISA before moving back to Mexico. He played 10 games for Mexico, but never in a FIFA competition.
Other MLS players with little national team experience that Sampson called up are Vasquez’s Mutiny teammates, Steve Pittman and Roy Lassiter, and Columbus Crew striker Brian McBride.
Sampson stated he would call up Kansas City Wiz midfielder Preki if he gets his citizenship papers in time. Preki was born and raised in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, before coming to the United States to play indoor soccer.
Sampson, who has just returned from Nicaragua, where he watched Guatemala beat the host country 1-0 in World Cup ’98 qualifying, said he would not name the squad for U.S. Cup ’96 before June 1.
U.S. roster
Goalkeepers — Brad Friedel (Galatasaray, Turkey), Juergen Sommer (QPR, England).
Defenders — Jeff Agoos (D.C. United), Marcelo Balboa (Colorado Rapids), Mike Burns (New England Revolution), Paul Caligiuri (St. Pauli, Germany), Thomas Dooley (Schalke, Germany), Alexi Lalas (New England Revolution), Steve Pittman (Tampa Bay Mutiny).
Midfielders — John Harkes (D.C. United), Claudio Reyna (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Mike Sorber (Kansas City Wiz), Tab Ramos (MetroStars), Martin Vasquez (Tampa Bay Mutiny).
Strikers — Cobi Jones (Los Angeles Galaxy), Jovan Kirovski (Manchester United, England), Roy Lassiter (Tampa Bay Mutiny), Brian McBride (Columbus Crew), Ernie Stewart (Willem II, Netherlands), Eric Wynalda (San Jose Clash).