Sporting Kansas City hit jackpot with five named to USA Men’s National Team
Jun 7, 2013; Kingston, Jamaica; United States player Graham Zusi carries the ball past Jamaica player Adrian Mariappa during their World Cup Qualifying match Friday, June 7, 2013. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
The roster of players set to report at USA Men’s National Team camp this month has a massive MLS flavor to it, but the biggest contributor to the cause is Sporting Kansas City. Five Sporting Kansas City players were called up to camp for the Nats in Matt Besler, Benny Feilhaber, Chance Myers, Seth Sinovic and Graham Zusi.
“This is a great and deserving honor,” Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes told reporters. “These players earned this opportunity through hard work and dedication. It is not only a testament to their individual success, but the success that Sporting Kansas City has had as a team. It’s great to see our club and players be rewarded with these selections.”
Camp will take place between Jan. 6-12 in Carson, Calif. and Jan. 13-25 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. 23 of the 26 players will be on the flight to Brazil, with the three remaining players staying home.
U.S. MNT ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (4): Tally Hall (Houston Dynamo), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (10): Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City) , Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Michael Harrington (Portland Timbers), Chris Klute (Colorado Rapids), Chance Myers (Sporting Kansas City), Shane O’Neill (Colorado Rapids), Seth Sinovic (Sporting Kansas City), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Eric Alexander (New York Red Bulls), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City), Luis Gil (Real Salt Lake), Dax McCarty (New York Red Bulls), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (4) : Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Eddie Johnson (D.C. United), Mike Magee (Chicago Fire), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
“It’s a testament to how successful we’ve been as a team this year,” Sinovic told MLSsoccer.com’s Steve Brisendine. “Team success usually brings on individual success, and in this case it’s no different.
“I think it’s awesome to have the opportunity not only to train and potentially play for the national team, but to be Kansas City guys and represent Kansas City and Kansas City youth soccer, where we came from. I think it’s huge. It’s a testament to Kansas City. It’s a testament to our club and the work we’ve put in over the years.”
“Jurgen obviously saw something in me this year with Kansas City and is giving me another opportunity,” said Feilhaber. “It’s nice to be in this situation, and obviously there’s only six months to go until the World Cup, so there’s still a lot to play for. I’m excited. He’s talked to me before and told me how much he believes in my game, so it’s not so much proving anything as being consistent week in, week out and showing it. I think that’s something I did better this year.”
Feilhaber was born in Rio de Janeiro, and to play in the country he was born would be something special.
“It would be tough to describe right now,” Feilhaber said of the opportunity. “I think if it were to happen, I’d be able to describe the feeling a bit more.”
The camp concludes with a friendly against South Korea on Feb. 1.