Donovan among stars called home for US clash with Mexico

February 9, 2009

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AFP) – US coach Bob Bradley is pulling out all the stops as America hosts arch-rivals Mexico on Wednesday to open the final phase of regional qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Bradley named a 20-man squad on Sunday packed with European-based talent, including forward Landon Donovan, midfielder DaMarcus Beasley, defender Oguchi Onyewu and goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Donovan, who has 105 caps, is the United States’ all-time scoring leader and is one goal shy of tying Brian McBride for the most career goals in World Cup qualifying (10).

He is currently on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy to Bayern Munich in Germany.

Also included are US captain Carlos Bocanegra, a defender with Rennes in France, the midfielder Jose Francisco Torres (Pachuca of Mexico) and striker Josy Altidore (Jerez, Spain).

Sacha Kljestan, who plays for Major League Soccer’s Chivas USA, is in the squad after scoring three goals in the US victory over Sweden in a friendly in Los Angeles in January.

The match is the first of the final-round which also includes Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and Trinidad and Tobago.

Three countries will advance directly to the World Cup finals, and a fourth team will play off for a berth against a team from South America.

It will be the third straight time that the Columbus Crew stadium has hosted a home match against Mexico in the final round of World Cup qualifying in the North and Central America and Caribbean region.

Tickets for the clash sold out within 90 minutes of going on sale.

USA Squad

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa/ENG), Tim Howard (Everton/ENG)

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes/FRA), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Danny Califf (FC Midtjylland/DEN), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege/BEL), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock/GER), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)

Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers/SCO), Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach/GER), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), Jose Francisco Torres (Pachuca/MEX)

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Jerez C.D/ESP), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF/SWE) Clint Dempsey (Fulham/ENG), Landon Donovan (Bayern Munich/GER).

Written by: AFP

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