Three Kansas City Wizards Players Called To National Teams
December 22, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
Three Kansas City Wizards players have been called to national team camps beginning in early January. Defender Jimmy Conrad and goalkeeper Kevin Hartman will join Bob Bradley's USA squad at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. starting Jan. 4, while midfielder Roger Espinoza will be the lone MLS representative at Honduras camp at the same time. Honduras will visit the USA Jan. 23 at 8 p.m. CT in a friendly between 2010 FIFA World Cup(tm) finalists broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel and Galavision.
"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."
Defender Jimmy Conrad (27 appearances) enters camp as the player with the 3rd most caps, trailing only Benny Feilhaber and Heath Pearce. Conrad's lone international goal was a game-winning header in a 2-0 victory over archrival Mexico Feb. 7, 2007. Conrad played in two matches for the U.S. during the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup, suffering a concussion during the first half of a quarterfinal tilt against Panama that forced him to miss the semifinals and final. He was on the game day roster for each of the USA's final two World Cup qualifiers, though he did not see the field in either match. Conrad is looking to make his 2nd World Cup roster after appearing twice during the 2006 competition in Germany.
Goalkeeper Kevin Hartman has appeared five times for the USA, most recently in the first two games of 2006. Hartman is 2-0-2 all-time for his country, including a 1.14 goals against average. His 1st career appearance came in 1999. Hartman posted another strong season for the Wizards in 2009, breaking the all-time MLS saves record. He is Major League Soccer's all-time leader in wins (146), shutouts (84) and saves (1,235). He has played every minute of every game for Kansas City since joining the team in 2007.
Midfielder Roger Espinoza burst onto the scene for the Honduras national team in 2009, making his first nine appearances and scoring his first two goals for his birth nation. Espinoza played an important role in helping Honduras take 3rd place in the 2009 UNCAF Nations Cup, scoring the game-winning goal in the tournament's 3rd place match. The tournament qualified Honduras for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup, where the United States eventually eliminated Honduras in the semifinals. Espinoza scored his 2nd international goal during the competition, striking in a 4-0 victory over Grenada during group play.
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 (1:30 p.m. CT), 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.
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (4): Kevin Hartman (Kansas City Wizards), 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 (=D6rebro), 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)
HONDURAS ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3): Noel Valladares (Olimpia), Ricardo Canales (Motagua), Donis Escober (Olimpia)
DEFENDERS (8): Mariano Acevedo (Marathon), Emilio Izaguirre (Motagua), Erick Norales (Marathon), Johnny Palacios (Olimpia), Mauricio Sabillón (Marathon), Carlos Palacios (Real Espana), Osman Chávez (Platense), Bonieck GarcÃa (Olimpia)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Roger Espinoza (Kansas City Wizards), Walter MartÃnez (Marathon), Jerry Palacios (Marathon), Danilo Turcios (Olimpia), Melvin Valladares (Real Espana), Amado Guevara (Motagua)
FORWARDS (2): Georgie Welcome (Motagua), Carlos Pavón (Real Espana)
The Kansas City Wizards are now accepting renewals from current season ticket holders and new season ticket deposits for the 2010 Major League Soccer season. The Wizards will begin the 2010 campaign with a home match on Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. CT against D.C. United at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Kansas City, a charter member of Major League Soccer, will play its 15th season in 2010.
Fans who renew their season tickets or purchase new season-ticket packages will retain an early priority number that will determine seat locations in Kansas City's new stadium. To renew season tickets or place a deposit for new season tickets, call the Wizards locally at 913-387-3400, toll free at 1-877-828-7222 or visit www.kcwizards.com.
Kansas City is one of 27 remaining cities in the running to be part of the USA Bid Committee's bid submission to FIFA. The USA Bid Committee is expected to include 18 cities in their bid to FIFA, naming those cities in December. To support the effort, Kansas Citians are asked to sign the petition at www.goUSAbid.com/kc and pass the petition along to their friends and family.
Major League Soccer Stories from December 22, 2009
- Crew Trio Called In To U.S. National Team Camp - Columbus Crew SC
- MLS Signs Collegiate Seniors Akpan, Loyd And Stahl - MLS
- Temporary Stadium Confirmed For PNE Site - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Three Kansas City Wizards Players Called To National Teams - Sporting Kansas City
- Sounders FC News & Notes - Seattle Sounders FC
- RSL's Kyle Beckerman, Robbie Findley & Nick Rimando Named To U.S. Men's National Team Camp Roster - Real Salt Lake
- Chivas USA's Bornstein, Braun, Kljestan And Thornton Named To U.S. National Team's January Training - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
- Rapids Conor Casey Called Into U.S. National Team Training Camp Beginning January 4 - Colorado Rapids
- Revolution Duo Headed To U.S. National Team Camp - New England Revolution
- Earthquakes Defender Brandon McDonald Named To National Team Pool For January Camp - San Jose Earthquakes
- Dynamo's Cameron, Davis Called Into January U.S. National Team Camp - Houston Dynamo FC
- D.C. United's Chris Pontius Earns First-Ever U.S Men's National Team Call-Up - D.C. United
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