U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley has called up 20 players — 16 from MLS and four from the EPL — for the international friendly soccer match against regional rival Mexico on Feb. 7 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (TV: ESPN2 and Univision, 9 p.m. ET; kickoff at 9:25 pm ET).
ôAfter weeks of getting to know this group and trying to develop an understanding of how we want to work together as a group every day, everyone is looking forward to the chance to finally play in one of the great rivalries in our sport,ö said U.S. head coach Bob Bradley. ôAs we look towards the tournaments this summer, this is an important opportunity to get these players experience and evaluate them at the same time.ö
The 16 MLS players have been a part of the U.S. group since the team convened on Jan. 4 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Only eight have previous experience against Mexico. Landon Donovan has faced Mexico seven times, scoring twice, including his critical goal in the USA's 2-0 World Cup victory. Pablo Mastroeni has taken the field against Mexico five times. Eight of the players called up gave two or fewer U.S. caps.
All four players traveling from England were on the 2006 World Cup roster. Clint Dempsey recently joined fellow call-up Carlos Bocanegra at Fulham. Midfielder Bobby Convey returned to action at Reading after being sidelines with a bothersome knee injury. Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard shut out Mexico in his only appearance against the Tricolores — 0-0 draw in 2003 in Houston.
U.S. ROSTER:
Goalkeepers (2) û Joe Cannon (Los Angeles Galaxy), Tim Howard (Everton/England).
Defenders (7) û Chris Albright (Los Angeles Galaxy), Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham/England), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Bobby Boswell (D.C. United), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Bryan Namoff (D.C. United), Eddie Robinson (Houston Dynamo).
Midfielders (7) û Brian Carroll (D.C. United), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Bobby Convey (Reading/England), Clint Dempsey (Fulham/England), Joshua Gros (D.C. United), Justin Mapp (Chicago Fire), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids).
Forwards (4) û Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Eddie Johnson (Kansas Cit y Wizards), Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire), Taylor Twellman
(New England Revolution).
