Goalkeeper Kasey Keller is making his fourth World Cup appearance, joining Claudio Reyna as the only Americans to play in four World Cups
CHICAGO, Ill. (Reuters/ussoccer.com) --- Former Portland Pilots Kasey Keller and Steve Cherundolo (pictured) were two of the 23 players selected to represent the United States in the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany next month, announced U.S. head coach Bruce Arena on Tuesday. Forward Conor Casey, another former Pilot, was named as one of 13 alternates.
The U.S. will head to Germany to compete in its fifth consecutive World Cup finals. Eleven players have played in at least one World Cup match, while 12 players represented the U.S. in the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan.
Keller, one of the top goalkeepers in the Bundesliga with Borussia Moenchengladbach over the past two seasons, is making his fourth appearance for the U.S. in the World Cup. Keller and veteran midfielder Claudio Reyna, who will also be in Germany, are the only two Americans to play in four World Cups. Keller has kept 44 clean sheets in 91 games behind a U.S. defence which conceded only six goals in qualifying. He is also the USA’s all-time leader for goalkeepers in wins (51), shutouts (44) and World Cup qualifying appearances (31).
Cherundolo, a defender, goes to his second straight World Cup after being unable to participate in games during the 2002 cup because of an injury suffered the day before the USA’s first match against Portugal.
"‘The naming of this 23-man roster is the end of a long and arduous process," Arena said of the four-year long process. "I’m comfortable in saying that over the past 59 games, I’ve been able to observe and evaluate a pool of very talented players."
Arena named 13 reserves who could be called up in case of injuries up until the team’s opening Group E match on June 12 against the Czech Republic. The U.S. will also face Italy on June 17 and Ghana on June 22.
In addition to three goalkeepers, Arena selected eight defenders and midfielders along with four strikers. Twelve members of the squad are with European clubs and 11 are from Major League Soccer teams.
The U.S. made a surprising run to the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals before losing to eventual runners-up Germany.
The squad starts training camp on May 10 in Cary, North Carolina. The U.S. have scheduled warmup matches against Morocco on May 23, Venezuela on May 26 and Latvia on May 28.
The squad departs for Germany on June 1 and will be based in Hamburg.
U.S. Roster by Position
Goalkeepers: Marcus Hahnemann (Reading), Tim Howard (Manchester United), Kasey Keller (Borussia Moenchengladbach)
Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Cory Gibbs (ADO Den Haag), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Eddie Lewis (Leeds United), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege), Eddie Pope (Real Salt Lake)
Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (PSV Eindhoven), Bobby Convey (Reading), Clint Dempsey (New England Revolution), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), John O’Brien (Chivas USA), Ben Olsen (D.C. United), Claudio Reyna (Manchester City)
Forwards: Eddie Johnson (Kansas City Wizards), Brian McBride (Fulham), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Josh Wolff (Kansas City Wizards).
Reserves
Goalkeepers: Tony Meola (New York Red Bulls), Matt Reis (New England Revolution)
Defenders: Chris Albright (Los Angeles Galaxy), Gregg Berhalter (Energie Cottbus), Todd Dunivant (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Midfielders: Chris Armas (Chicago Fire), Chris Klein (Real Salt Lake), Pat Noonan (New England Revolution), Steve Ralston (New England Revolution), Kerry Zavagnin (Kansas City Wizards)
Forwards: Conor Casey (FSV Mainz), Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire), Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution)
