Adu named in USA squad for Gold Cup
Reuters - Monday 23 May 2011, 20:52
MIAMI - United States coach Bob Bradley surprisingly recalled forward
Freddy Adu to his 23-man squad for next month's CONCACAF Gold Cup and the June 4 friendly
against world champions Spain.
Adu has not played for the national team since 2009 and is currently playing for Caykur
Rizespor in the Turkish second division after a series of disappointing loan spells.
The Gold Cup features 12 teams from North and Central America and the Caribbean and the
winning team qualifies for FIFA's Confederations Cup in 2013.
The tournament also offers a chance for players looking to break into the national team
before qualifying begins for the 2014 World Cup and Adu now has a chance to stake his claim.
Bradley said he was simply keen to see how the 21-year-old had developed since he was last
in the national team set-up almost two years ago.
"It's not that we have seen anything specific with his new club... its a package," Bradley
said.
"He is a player that certainly we all know and who, at different times, has shown some
special soccer abilities (although) he hasn't always been able to make them count at different
levels in different situations.
"We respect that he made the move to (Turkey) to go to a smaller club to show he was
willing to do whatever to keep going - we are looking forward to see how he is handling
things."
Adu, who signed a contract with D.C United in Major League Soccer at the age of 14, was
hyped as the biggest talent in U.S. soccer but his career went gone off the rails in Europe
with failed spells at Benfica and Monaco.
There is no place in the team for Sporting Kansas City striker Teal Bunbury in a squad but
New York Red Bulls' 18-year-old striker Juan Agudelo was selected after scoring twice in his
four appearances for the national side so far.
The U.S. face Spain in Boston on June 4 and then open their Gold Cup Group C campaign
against Canada in Detroit on June 7.
Bradley's team then face Panama in Tampa and Guadeloupe in Kansas City.
Eleven of the squad have a Gold Cup title to their name and Landon Donovan has three Gold
Cup winners medals.
The last time the United States played Spain was in the 2009 Conferations Cup when
Bradley's team pulled off a surprise victory and ten of the current squad featured in that
game.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando
(Real Salt Lake).
Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Saint-Etienne), Jonathan Bornstein (UANL Tigres), Steve
Cherundolo (Hannover), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Eric Lichaj (Leeds), Oguchi Onyewu (Twente),
Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United).
Midfielders: Freddy Adu (Rizespor), Michael Bradley (Aston Villa), Clint Dempsey (Fulham),
Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Maurice Edu (Glasgow Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (New
England Revolution), Jermaine Jones (Blackburn Rovers), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Robbie
Rogers (Columbus Crew).
Forwards: Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Jozy Altidore (Bursaspor), Chris Wondolowski
(San Jose Earthquakes).