Tim Ream called up to USMNT

[b.hayes]

http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-National-Team/2010/11/Bradley-Names-18-Man-Roster-to-Face-South-Africa-on-Nov-17-in-Cape-Town.aspx

CHICAGO (Nov. 11, 2010) — U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Bob Bradley has named an 18-man roster that will travel to face South Africa on Nov. 17 in Cape Town. Coverage of the 2010 Nelson Mandela Challenge begins at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and Galavision. Fans can also follow the match live via ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker.

"This game is a good opportunity to look at some different players and assess their place in the pool as we continue to build for the next cycle,” said Bradley. “With our immediate focus on the Gold Cup next summer, this game in many ways is just as much the start of 2011 as it is the end of a great year.”

More on the roster from MNT assistant coach Mike Sorber on Studio 90

Players out of season begin arriving into Cape Town on Saturday evening, with players with matches to play scheduled to arrive Monday.

The roster includes five players from the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where the U.S. finished in first place in Group C ahead of England, Slovenia and Algeria before going out in the Round of 16. Jonathan Bornstein started in the dramatic 1-0 victory against Algeria and the game against Ghana, while striker Robbie Findley started three of four matches. Clarence Goodson, Brad Guzan and Jonathan Spector round out the World Cup contingent. Spector started all five matches in the USA’s second-place finish at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, and Guzan earned the 3-0 shutout against Egypt that put the U.S. through to the semifinal where they would defeat No. 1-ranked Spain.

The roster is evenly split with players based in MLS and abroad. On the domestic front, the Columbus Crew contributes the most players, sending a trio of midfielders to South Africa. Robbie Rogers was part of the 30-man preliminary roster for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and also reached the final of 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The group includes MLS Defender of the Year finalist Nat Borchers and Rookie of the Year nominee Tim Ream.

Juan Agudelo and Gale Agbossoumonde are the first two alumni from U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy to participate in a training camp with the full Men’s National Team. Agudelo – who signed a Homegrown Player contract with New York Red Bulls and appeared in both of their playoff matches this year – made two appearances at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria, while Agbossoumonde, originally from Togo, captained the U-20s to the championship at the 2010 Milk Cup in Ireland.

Learn more about the Development Academy

Ream, Mikkel Diskerud and Teal Bunbury will also be getting their first opportunity with the national team. Diskerud made two appearances for the U.S. at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt, while Bunbury, who holds dual citizenship with the United States and Canada, is entering his first camp for the U.S. at any level. Goalkeeper Dominic Cervi was in camp previously but has yet to make an appearance, meaning a total of six players on the roster will be in search of their first cap.

The teams have met twice in their history, the United States collecting victories in both encounters. The USA will be competing in its second Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup, the first appearance coming three years ago to the day. In the team’s inaugural visit to South Africa, Steve Cherundolo scored the game’s only goal and Jozy Altidore made his full team debut in the 1-0 victory. In their only other meeting, the U.S. beat South Africa 4-0 on June 3, 2000, in Washington, D.C. Cobi Jones tallied twice that day, with Earnie Stewart and Claudio Reyna rounding out the scoring as Kasey Keller earned the shutout.

The Nelson Mandela Challenge, an annual one-off event typically hosted in South Africa, began in 1994 and has seen South Africa face opponents like Brazil, Argentina, Holland, Nigeria and a host of others.

Combined with the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup - in which the United States reached its first final of a major FIFA competition after defeating No.1-ranked and current FIFA World Cup Champion Spain in the semifinal - the U.S. will play its 12th game on South African soil in three years.

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION (Detailed Roster)

GOALKEEPERS (2): Dominic Cervi (Celtic), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa)

DEFENDERS (7): Gale Agbossoumonde (Estoril Praia), Nat Borchers (Real Salt Lake), Jonathan Bornstein (Tigres), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Eric Lichaj (Aston Villa), Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Alejandro Bedoya (Örebro), Brian Carroll (Columbus Crew), Mikkel Diskerud (Stabaek), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Logan Pause (Chicago Fire), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)

FORWARDS (3): Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Teal Bunbury (Kansas City Wizards), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake)

[moytoy12]

This is great news. I hope he shows well and gets the memory of that last MLS playoff game out of his head.

I like the young roster, but could do without some of the older guys in the midfield (carroll, pause). I understand why our usual guys aren't there, but do we really not have any younger guys (not named adu) that we couldn't see in the center-mid position?

[WH]

Tim Ream had a fantastic year for the Red Bulls and he would have been my choice for ROY. Not the fastest center back, but great poise and positioning, never mind distribution from the back. USMNT has some good young players to choose from for the 2014 and 2018 WCs.

Hard to believe he lasted as long as he did in the MLS draft. Nobody in the league, including the Red Bulls, thought he would be this good.

As for the rest of the callup, Bradley didnt want to ask most of the busier guys playing in Europe. The SA game takes place outside the WC qualifying window and it's a long flight for such a meaningless game. Bradley wants to give some young guys a look and offer a reward to older MLS players whose season just ended and who would normally never get a cap.

[courtside]

Well earned for Tim.