New England Soccer Today

Ex-Rev Larentowicz on U.S. roster for January training camp

Ex-Rev and Brown University product Jeff Larentowicz and Boston College graduate Alejandro Bedoya were the only players with New England ties that head coach Bob Bradley named to the U.S. Men’s National Team January training camp roster. No New England Revolution players earned the call to the 24-man squad.

The U.S. National Team will begin gathering on January 4th at U.S. Soccer’s National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.  The group will prepare for the USA’s first match of 2011, a friendly against fellow FIFA World Cup finalists Chile on January 22nd at The Home Depot Center.

The roster is made up of 20 players from Major League Soccer, two from Sweden, and one from Norway, all leagues that are currently in their offseason. Goalkeeper Dominic Cervi, who is currently on loan to Dundee United (Scottish First Division) from Glasgow Celtic of the Scottish Premier League, is the only player from a league that will be in midseason in January on the U.S. roster.

No player on the roster has made more than six previous appearances for the U.S. National Team.

“The timing is right to assess many of the younger players and to broaden the player pool as we look forward to the next three years,” said Bradley. “These extended camps give the coaching staff an opportunity to work with these players closely, and at the same time expose them to what the environment and expectations are like at the international level. We have a good feel for the veteran players in the pool, several of whom are coming off long seasons, and we certainly expect many of them to be part of the program for the important tournaments this year.”

The Revs were among just six of the sixteen non-expansion MLS teams that were not represented on the roster. MLS Cup Finalists Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas led the way with four players selected from each of their rosters, while the Supporters’ Shield winners, the Los Angeles Galaxy, contributed three players.

Larentowicz, who just won an MLS Cup in his first season with Colorado after being traded from the Revs, will be looking to make his first appearance for the U.S. The 27-year-old played four seasons at Brown University before being selected by the Revs in the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft. He earned a starting role on the Revs in 2006 and held it until he was traded prior to the 2010 season. Larentowicz also spent time on loan to the New Hampshire Phantoms of USL Premier Development League during the 2005 season. He will be looking to make an impression in a central midfield role where the U.S. has no shortage of experienced options playing in Europe.

Bedoya, who transferred to Boston College for his final two seasons in 2007 and 2008 after playing his first two years at Farleigh Dickinson University, was a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy, recognizing the top player in college soccer, both years he spent at B.C. The 23-year-old currently plays for Orebro SK in Sweden and has the most experience on the current roster, having made six appearances for the national team in 2010. Bedoya is also competing for a spot in a crowded midfield.

Last year’s January camp roster included two players on the Revolution at the time: Larentowicz and defender Kevin Alston.

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION

GOALKEEPERS (4): Dominic Cervi (Celtic), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Matt Pickens (Colorado Rapids), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS (9): A.J. DeLaGarza (Los Angeles Galaxy), Sean Franklin (Los Angeles Galaxy), Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles Galaxy), Ugo Ihemelu (FC Dallas), Zach Loyd (FC Dallas), Ryan Miller (Halmstads BK), Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls), Anthony Wallace (Colorado Rapids), Marvell Wynne (Colorado Rapids)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Eric Alexander (FC Dallas), Alejandro Bedoya (Örebro), Sam Cronin (San Jose Earthquakes), Mikkel Diskerud (Stabaek), Jeff Larentowicz (Colorado Rapids), Dax McCarty (D.C. United), Brek Shea (FC Dallas)

FORWARDS (4): Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Justin Braun (Chivas USA), Teal Bunbury (Sporting Kansas City), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

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