Surprisingly, though, Jamaica features more MLS players, eight, than any other nation.
Shalrie Joseph Among MLSers Skipping Gold Cup Opportunity
“I think the best decision was to stay and play for the Revolution,” Joseph told MLSsoccer.com. “I’m the captain. Guys look up to me. They need me to be to there in a time we’re in desperate need. I couldn’t afford to leave them and walk away.”
Read Article >How Will The Revolution Play Without Shalrie Joseph And Benny Feilhaber?
One of the biggest complaints about MLS is that they are not on the international calendar with a schedule that runs from August to May. Instead, they play through the summer, when many international tournaments are being played. That means that it is not unusual for teams to play without some of their best players that are off playing for their country. With MLS increasing in quality and bringing in more players from throughout the region, this is becoming more of a problem and one that the league will face this june with 10 of the 12 teams in the CONCACAF Gold Cup calling up players from MLS.
Read Article >2011 Gold Cup Rosters: 32 MLS Players Named To 10 Of 12 Teams
A total of 32 MLS players were named to 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup rosters, with those players appearing on 10 of the 12 team’s rosters. Only Cuba and Panama are without MLS players.
The MLS team to have the most players called into national duty was the New York Red Bulls, who had five players called into national duty. In addition to Richards, Tim Ream (USA), Juan Agudelo (USA), Dwayne De Rosario (Canada) and Rafael Marquez (Mexico) were also named to Gold Cup rosters. Sporting Kansas City and Real Salt Lake each had four players called up.
Read Article >Canada Leans Heavily On MLS For Gold Cup Roster
Portland Timbers’ Steve Purdy Named To El Salvador’s Gold Cup Roster
Although born in California, Purdy is eligible to play for El Salvador because his mother is Salvadoran. This is the first time he has been called into international duty.
El Salvador has historically been one of the weaker Central American countries, having failed to advance out of the first round of the last three Gold Cups and just twice in the past 10 tournaments. They last advanced to the quarterfinals in 2002 and 2003. Their best ever finish was runner-up in the first-ever Gold Cup in 1963 and in 1981. Since then, they have never finished any better than fifth, in 1989.
Read Article >
