MLS-Heavy U-23 Roster Unveiled

U.S. U-23 head coach Peter Nowak has unveiled the 22 players who have been called into camp for training ahead of a two-game tour of China. The trip to Asia will serve as preparation for the 2008 CONCACAF Men's Under-23 Championship, to be held from March 11-23 in Carson, California, Tampa and Nashville. In that tournament, the two finalists will book their tickets to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.Eighteen of the 22 players named to the squad were culled from Major League Soccer rosters. They will gather in Carson on December 1st for a week of training before departing for China on December 8th. They will face off against the Chinese U-23s at Changsha He Long Sports Centre on December 13th and again three days later at the Yue Xiu Shan Stadium in Guangzhou.

"This is an excellent opportunity to begin preparing to qualify for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing," Nowak said. "We will have the chance to get in a good week of training before playing two matches against a very good opponent. As we have seen in the past, the possibility of getting to travel and play in the host country before a tournament is especially valuable, so we are going to take full advantage of it."


Full roster by position:

Goalkeepers: Zac MacMath (Clearwater Chargers), Chris Seitz (Real Salt Lake)

Defenders: Hunter Freeman (NY Red Bulls), Patrick Ianni (Houston Dynamo), Jon Leathers (Furman University), Mike Randolph (LA Galaxy), Nathan Sturgis (Real Salt Lake), Tim Ward (Columbus Crew), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)

Midfielders: Arturo Alvarez (FC Dallas), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Michael Harrington (KC Wizards), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Dax McCarty (FC Dallas)

Forwards: Josmer Altidore (NY Red Bulls), Adam Cristman (NE Revolution), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), Sal Zizzo (Hannover 96)