SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake has announced that GK Nick Rimando, FW Joao Plata and DF Carlos Salcedo have all received call-ups to their respective national teams next month. Rimando is the only MLS player named to U.S. Manager Jurgen Klinsmann’s 22-man roster for an international friendly against the Czech Republic on Sept. 3. Plata received his second-ever call-up to the Ecuadorian National Team for a pair of friendlies against Bolivia on Sept. 5 and Brazil on Sept. 9. Salcedo was again included in Mexico’s U-21 camp, which serves as a preparatory squad for Mexico’s 2016 Olympic efforts.
Rimando will join the U.S. squad in Prague, Czech Republic next week after Real Salt Lake’s MLS match at San Jose Earthquakes this Saturday. The Sept. 3 friendly between the U.S. and Czech Republic will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network and kick at 12:15 p.m. MT. Rimando will not remain with the USMNT for its four-day international training camp scheduled after the friendly and will return to Real Salt Lake ahead of its match with FC Dallas on Sept. 6 at Rio Tinto Stadium. Rimando is not scheduled to miss any Claret-and-Cobalt action.
“This gives us a huge opportunity to see Brad Guzan and Nick Rimando going forward and fighting for the No. 1 spot,” said Klinsmann in wake of the announcement that U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard was taking a one year sabbatical from international play.
Rimando was most recently with the U.S. Men’s National Team this past summer for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. The veteran MLS goalkeeper did not feature in any U.S. World Cup matches. Rimando has 14 career caps with the U.S senior team and two starts for the USMNT this year, playing the full 90 in the team’s win over Korea Republic and draw with Mexico. The 35-year-old ‘keeper had six appearances with the USMNT in 2013, posting a perfect 6-0-0 record, registering two shutouts, allowing just four goals and helping lead the team to its CONCACAF Gold Cup crown.
Real Salt Lake’s 2014 leading goal scorer Joao Plata has been named to the senior Ecuadorian National Team for just the second time in his career. Plata will join Ecuador for a pair of friendlies to be played in the U.S. as it prepares for the 2015 Copa América in Chile. Ecuador will face Bolivia on Sept. 5 in Miami's Sun Life Stadium and will then take on Brazil at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sept. 9. Plata has made one prior appearance for Ecuador while with previous club Toronto FC, featuring in a friendly on June 1, 2011 at BMO Field. Plata is set to miss Real Salt Lake’s home contest with FC Dallas on Sept. 6 but will return to the club ahead of its match at Seattle Sounders FC on Sept. 12.
Real Salt Lake Homegrown Player Carlos Salcedo will join the Mexican U-21’s for the third time this year. Salcedo received his first call-up to the U-21’s this past April and joined the squad for its most recent July camp, where the center back started and played a full 90 minutes in its matches against USL Pro’s Richmond Kickers and NASL’s San Antonio Scorpions. Salcedo will miss RSL’s matchup with FC Dallas on Sept. 6 but will return to Utah ahead of the Claret-and-Cobalt’s Sept. 12 road date against Seattle.
Real Salt Lake returns to MLS action this Saturday, when it heads to California to take on San Jose Earthquakes at 8:30 p.m. MT at Buck Shaw Stadium. Saturday’s match will be broadcast on CW30, ESPN 700 AM and 102.3 La Gran D FM.
