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MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake Has Four Players Called in for International Friendlies

March 22, 2015 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SANDY, Utah (Sunday, March 22, 2015) - Real Salt Lake has announced that GK Nick Rimando (U.S.A.), MF Luis Gil (U.S.A. U-23), FW Alvaro Saborio (Costa Rica) and DF Elias Vasquez (Guatemala) have been called up by their respective countries for international friendlies during the upcoming FIFA International dates. All four will miss Sunday's match at Rio Tinto Stadium against Toronto FC, then return the following week ahead of RSL's road contest against the San Jose Earthquakes on April 5.

Rimando reported to the U.S. National Team in Denmark and will prepare with the 23-man roster for friendlies against Denmark (March 25) and Switzerland (March 31) as Jurgen Klinsmann readies his team for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

He has 18 career caps with the U.S senior team and has posted a record of 11-1-2 with four shutouts. The 35-year-old 'keeper had two appearances in 2015's January camp against Chile and Panama. With RSL, he surpassed the all-time MLS shutout record in 2014 and now has 116 career clean sheets.

Gil will join the U.S. U-23 National Team that begins work toward the Olympic qualifying tournament later this year. While in Europe, they will face the Bosnia and Herzegovina U-23s (March 27) and Denmark U-23s (March 31).

He has two caps with the U.S. senior team and has appeared for the U.S. at the U-20 and U-17 World Cups. With RSL, he has 10 goals and eight assists in 112 career appearances.

Saborio will join the Costa Rica National Team in Costa Rica for a friendly against Paraguay on March 26 before meeting Panama in Panama on March 31.

He has 96 career caps and 34 goals, leading in both categories among the players called in for this camp. He is Real Salt Lake's all-time leading scorer with 61 goals in 115 MLS appearances, including the equalizer in a 3-3 draw with the Philadelphia Union last week in RSL's home opener for the 2015 season.

Vasquez will stay in the U.S. with the Guatemala National Team, facing Canada in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on March 27 and El Salvador in Carson, Calif., on March 31.

He has 25 career caps with Guatemala, including four in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying. He joined RSL in preseason this year and is seeking his first MLS appearance.

The foursome are expected to return and be available for Real Salt Lake's nationally-televised match at Avaya Stadium against the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday, April 5.

The following are quotes from Nick Rimando and Luis Gil on their call-ups.

Nick Rimando

On how it feels to get the call-up:

"It's always a great feeling and honor to get the call from your national team and to have friendlies in two countries I've never been to or played against is exciting. I take a lot of passion in representing the US especially after the World Cup, we're in this transitional period with lots of new players coming in and young players being developed and to be a part of this stage is exciting."

On his expectations for the two-week camp:

"Whenever you go to camp the focus is always to improve from the last time we were together, if that's defensively, offensively, jelling more as team or just seeing more personalities come out. Obviously the goal is to put a lot of hard work in and reward ourselves with a result against our opponent. We have two very tough games against Switzerland and Denmark so I expect the next two weeks to be challenging that we all will take in for the opportunity to move this team in the right direction."

On how matches against European teams differ from matches against the CONCACAF opponents that the U.S. meets regularly:

"You always want to play the best teams out there to see where you're at or where you need to be. If you look at our schedule this year it's very challenging and I know the team takes this as a great opportunity. In Europe there's just a different feel to soccer, the weather, the culture, the fans, but for me I see the difference being how physical the game is in Europe and the surface you play on is very slick and at a high tempo, I expect these games to be a great test for our team. It's always good to step outside your region and play different brands of soccer if it's in Europe, South America, Asia, or Africa, it's another opportunity to gain experience."

Luis Gil

On what he has picked up from the full national team that he can bring to the U-23s:

"I learn a lot when I go with the Men's National Team. With Real Salt Lake I learn, too. Going with the U-23s, I'm going to try and take a lot of intensity to the team. Every time I do go with the Men's National Team, everything is faster-paced and more intense and it brings the level up a little bit. I feel like that's what I have to bring to the U-23s."

On facing teams in Europe

"We've got to adapt to where they're from. It'll be a big task. European teams are very talented and it will be some tough competition."

On what he hopes to get out of the camp:

"This will be a camp to adjust to our style. We have a new coach and we'll have players coming from different playing styles. It's something we'll have to adapt to and get used to and understand how each other plays."

What he looks forward to most:

"It's going to be fun. Putting that jersey on is a great feeling. To be with old teammates that you've played with throughout the years will be good."

On how players with RSL help him on the international level:

"With Kyle and Sabo and Rimando going to their national teams consistently, that's a big thing for me. Those are guys that I look at a lot during training and I try and pick their brains and learn from their leadership. They do bring that back to Salt Lake, so I try and take their mindsight and bring it in to the U-23s."

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