NICK RIMANDO NAMED TO U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER FOR FEB. 29 FRIENDLY AT ITALY
RSL Netminder One of Four Players to Represent Major League Soccer on Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s 23-Man Roster
SANDY, Utah (Thursday, February 23, 2012) – While the Major League Soccer season lingers just around the corner, veteran Real Salt Lake goalkeeperNick Rimando will be focused on national team duty across the next week after being named by U.S. Men’s National Team Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann to the USA’s roster for an upcoming away challenge against Italy.
Kickoff for the USA’s contest next Wednesday, Feb. 29 against the four-time World Cup champions at Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa is set for 12:45 p.m. MT (8:45 p.m. local time). Fans can watch the match live on live on ESPN2, ESPN3 or Galavision and follow along online via ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and official Twitter feed, @ussoccer.
"We're looking forward to having all the European-based players back in the roster and picking up where we left off with them from the Slovenia game," said Klinsmann, who is on a three-match winning streak dating back to the 3-2 victory on Nov. 15, 2011, against Slovenia. "I'm excited about getting everybody together and challenging a world-class team like former World Cup winner Italy on their home soil. I think we have put a very competitive roster together. This roster was co-developed with the U-23 team because we wanted them to have a great preparation game before they go into Olympic qualifying in March. Our roster is highly competitive and ready to give them a real fight." [Read More from Klinsmann on MNT Blog at USsoccer.com]
Despite playing only the first 45 minutes in his most recent appearance for the USMNT on Jan. 25 at Panama, Rimando earned Man of the Match honors after making several standout saves that allowed the U.S. to register a 1-0 win in Panama City. The 32-year-old Rimando, who participated in the squad’s annual January camp alongside RSL teammate Kyle Beckerman, has made six appearances for the USA during his decorated career and will join English Premier League ‘keepers Tim Howard (Everton) and Brad Guzan (Aston Villa) on Klinsmann’s 23-man roster.
Rimando is one of only four MLS-based players that will make the trip to Europe on Sunday, a contingent that also includes LA Galaxy forwards Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle and Houston Dynamo defender Geoff Cameron. Rimando is expected to be away from his RSL teammates for just one game during the squad’s ongoing participation in the FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup preseason tournament, as he will depart following Saturday’s match against the Galaxy and miss only next Wednesday’s contest against the New England Revolution. Both of those contests in Tucson will kick off at 6:00 p.m. MT and can be seen live on MLSsoccer.com.
U.S. ROSTER AT ITALY BY POSITION Detailed Roster
GOALKEEPERS (3) :Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (7) :Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Michael Parkhurst (FC Nordsjaelland), Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City)
MIDFIELDERS (6) : Michael Bradley (Chievo Verona), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Jose Torres (Pachuca), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim)
FORWARDS (5) :Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Terrence Boyd (Borussia Dortmund), Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)
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