Men's Olympic Qualifying Roster Named
Coach Peter Nowak named his 20-man Olympic qualifying roster this afternoon, omitting Rolling Hills Estates' midfielder Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), Galaxy defender Mike Randolph, goalkeeper Tally Hall, Derby County midfielder Bennie Feilhaber and FC Dallas' Arturo Alvarez, who were all in the 24-player pre-Olympic qualifying training camp.
Lots of locals on the roster though: Fontana's Maurice Edu, Chivas USA's Sacha Kljestan and UCLA products Patrick Ianni, Kamani Hill, Marvell Wynne, Chad Barrett and Sal Zizzo as well as former Galaxy player Robbie Findley.
As expected, West Ham United's Jonathan Spector was also drafted in.
Here's the roster and the (edited) U.S. Soccer press release: goalkeepers Dominic Cervi (unattached), Chris Seitz (Real Salt Lake); Hunter Freeman (New York Red Bulls), Kamani Hill (Vfl Wolfsburg), Patrick Ianni (Houston Dynamo), Michael Orozco (San Luis), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United), Nathan Sturgis (Real Salt Lake), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC); midfielders Freddy Adu (SL Benfica), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Dax McCarty (FC Dallas) Sal Zizzo (Hannover 96); forwards Jozy Altidore (New York Red Bulls), Chad Barrett (Chicago Fire), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake).
The roster features 10 players who have earned full international caps with the senior team led by Jonathan Spector, who has 11 caps.
The U.S. plays Cuba Tuesday, Panama Thursday and Honduras Saturday. All games are at 4 p.m. live on Fox Soccer Channel.
Canada, Guatemala, Haiti and Mexico play Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at Home Depot Center in Carson.
The top two teams qualify for the Olympics.
About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook.
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