Chris Wondolowski's outstanding play in MLS during 2010 has earned him a call-up to the U.S. men's national team January training camp, along with teammate Sam Cronin. Photo: Kelley L. Cox, isiphotos.com
MLS scoring champion Chris Wondolowski and midfielder Sam Cronin have been invited to join the US National Team when it opens training camp January 4, as Bob Bradley looks to broaden his pool of talent ahead of this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup.
24 players were invited to camp, including 20 from MLS, as Bradley prepares for a couple of upcoming friendlies: January 22 against Chile at the Home Depot Center and February 9 when the USMNT travels to Egypt.
If or when he sees action, it will be Wondo’s first cap, and hopefully not his last. Cronin, who made a couple appearances back with the USMNT in 2009, was a surprise addition to a roster than lacks Houston’s Geoff Cameron.
For Wondo, it’s an opportunity to earn some well deserved recognition after banging home 18 goals this past season. His ability to not only hit a ball first time (Ryan Johnson, take notes) but to do so with a sense of purpose sets him apart from most MLS forwards, yet if you asked sports fans around the Bay Area “who led MLS in scoring in 2010?” very few would come back with the correct answer.
Here’s the list of training camp invitees. Who do you think should be the starting 11 against Chile?
Goalkeepers
Dominic Cervi (Glasgow Celtic on loan to Dundee/Scotland)
Sean Johnson (Chicago/M.L.S.), Matt Pickens (Colorado/M.L.S.)
Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake/M.L.S.)
Defenders
A. J. DeLaGarza (Los Angeles/M.L.S.)
Sean Franklin (Los Angeles/M.L.S.)
Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles/M.L.S.)
Ugo Ihemelu (F.C. Dallas/M.L.S.)
Zach Loyd (F.C. Dallas/M.L.S.)
Ryan Miller (Halmstads BK/Sweden)
Tim Ream (Red Bulls/M.L.S.)
Anthony Wallace (Colorado/M.L.S.)
Marvell Wynne (Colorado/M.L.S.)
Midfielders
Eric Alexander (F.C. Dallas/M.L.S.)
Alejandro Bedoya (Örebro/Sweden)
Sam Cronin (San Jose/M.L.S.)
Mikkel Diskerud (Stabaek/Norway)
Jeff Larentowicz (Colorado/M.L.S.)
Dax McCarty (D.C. United/M.L.S.)
Brek Shea (F.C. Dallas/M.L.S.)
Forwards
Juan Agudelo (Red Bulls/M.L.S.)
Justin Braun (Chivas USA/M.L.S.)
Teal Bunbury (Sporting Kansas City/M.L.S.)
Chris Wondolowski (San Jose/M.L.S.)