Forward Brian Ching and defender Michael Orozco have been added to
the 23-man roster U.S. roster for a training camp ahead of a Feb.
24 World Cup warmup against El Salvador at Tampa, Fla.
The all-Major League Soccer roster includes 21 of the 30
players, and 10 of the starting 11, invited to last month's
training camp ahead of a 3-1 exhibition loss to Honduras on Jan.
23. Players will gather Feb. 10 in Carson, Calif., and travel to
Florida on Feb. 21.
Ching, a member of the 2006 World Cup roster, decided to skip
the January camp to concentrate on individual workouts ahead of the
Houston Dynamo training. He is the veteran on the roster with 10
goals in 43 international appearances.
Orozco was acquired by the expansion Philadelphia Union on
Jan. 29 from the Mexican club San Luis.
"These are important opportunities for these players as we
continue to formulate our plans for the roster for the World Cup,"
U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. "This camp and the game against El
Salvador provide a chance for the coaching staff to get one more
long look at this group."
Three players who had been in the January camp were dropped
by Bradley: Kansas City goalkeeper Kevin Hartman (Kansas City), San
Jose defender Brandon McDonald (San Jose) and Chivas USA forward
Justin Braun.
Kansas City defender Jimmy Conrad was ejected from the
Honduras match and likely will be suspended for the El Salvador
game.
New England midfielder Jeff Larentowicz and Aalborg forward
Marcus Tracy left the January camp early because of knee injuries.
Three of the players who had been with the national team
returned to their teams in Scandinavia: IK Start defender Clarence
Goodson, Orebro midfielder Alejandro Bedoya and Aarhus midfielder
Benny Feilhaber.
Europe-based players will be called in for a March 3
exhibition at the Netherlands, the last match before Bradley
selects his 23-man World Cup roster.
The Americans plan two exhibitions in the Northeast before
heading to South Africa., They open their sixth straight World Cup
appearance against England on June 12, play Slovenia six days later
and close the first round on June 23 against Algeria.
The training camp roster:
Goalkeepers: Troy Perkins (D.C.), Nick Rimando (Salt Lake),
Zach Thornton (Chivas USA)
Defenders: Kevin Alston (New England), Jonathan Bornstein
(Chivas USA), Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles), Chad Marshall
(Columbus), Michael Orozco (Philadelphia), Heath Pearce (Dallas),
Marvell Wynne (Toronto)
Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Salt Lake), Geoff Cameron
(Houston), Brad Davis (Houston), Brad Evans (Seattle), Eddie Gaven
(Columbus), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas), Dax McCarty (Dallas), Chris
Pontius (D.C.), Robbie Rogers (Columbus)
Forwards: Conor Casey (Colorado), Brian Ching (Houston), Jeff
Cunningham (Dallas), Robbie Findley (Salt Lake)
