US Brings in Youngsters for Qualifier with Cuba

US Men's National Team head coach Bob Bradley has named a roster of 23 players  that will train in advance of the FIFA World Cup Qualifying game against Cuba on Octtober 11 in Washington, DC.   Currently leading Group 1 with nine points from three matches, the Americans can clinch a place in the final round of qualifying with a victory against Cuba at RFK Stadium.  The team will begin gathering on October 5th in preparation for the match.  Following the game and the weekend MLS matches, Bradley will announce the travel roster for the qualifier against Trinidad & Tobago, which takes place October 15. 

The US team is very young with 8 players 22 or under.  A total of nine players from the 2008 Olympic Games link up with the full team, with eight of those players plying their trade overseas. Bradley, who scored the game-winning goal in the 3-0 win against Trinidad & Tobago while also earning Sierra Man of the Match honors, leads the full team in minutes played in 2008. Midfielder Sacha Kljestan scored two goals in China, while Maurice Edu, recently transferred to Glasgow Rangers of the Scottish Premier League, played all three games in the US backline. Goalkeeper Brad Guzan returns to the fold having collected consecutive shutouts against Barbados in the second round series, while Freddy Adu and Jozy Altidore wear the US colors for the first time since Beijing. Michael Orozco, one of three uncapped players on the roster, is joined by fellow Mexican Primera Division midfielder José Francisco Torres.  The Longview, Texas, native is making his first appearance in a US national team camp.

Goalkeepers (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa: 2/2 SO), Tim Howard (Everton FC: 6/5 SO), Troy Perkins (Valerenga IF: 0/0)
Defenders (8): Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes: 16/2), Danny Califf (FC Midtjylland: 2/0), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96: 17/0), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC: 1/0), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew: 13/1), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege: 11/0), Michael Orozco (San Luis: 0/0), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock: 5/0)
Midfielders (7): Freddy Adu (AS Monaco: 1/0), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers: 19/4), Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach: 5/2), Maurice Edu (Glasgow Rangers: 3/0), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA: 3/0), Danny Szetela (Brescia Calcio: 0/0), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca: 0/0)
Forwards (5): Jozy Altidore (Villarreal C.F.: 0/0), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo: 9/4), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF: 0/0) Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC: 11/4), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy: 24/8)
*numbers indicate all-time World Cup Qualifying caps/goals