Kansas City Wizards Midfielder Davy Arnaud, Defender Jimmy Conrad Called to U.S. National Team

Arnaud, Conrad Join Midfielder Roger Espinoza of Honduras as Wizards Participating in CONCACAF Gold Cup; Wizards to Host Watch Party Sunday at Hooters for U.S. National Team Game Versus Brazil in Confederations Cup Final

(June 25, 2009) – Kansas City Wizards midfielder Davy Arnaud and defender Jimmy Conrad have been named to the United States National Team for the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup. The U.S. kicks off the Gold Cup Saturday, July 4 against Grenada at 8 p.m. CT. All of the U.S. matches in the CONCACAF Gold Cup will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel and the Univision networks, with all three group games airing on TeleFutura. For more information about the tournament, visit www.goldcup.org.

The Gold Cup squad will retain four players from the U.S. Confederations Cup roster that upset World No. 1 Spain Wednesday by a 2-0 score line. The U.S. Men play Brazil for the Confederations Cup championship Sunday at 1:30 p.m. CT live on ESPN. Budweiser and the Wizards will host a watch party for the match Sunday at Hooter’s in The Legends, directly across from CommunityAmerica Ballpark. The Wizards will then face Santos Laguna in the final SuperLiga group-stage match at 5:30 p.m. CT at CAB. A Wizards win will secure a berth in the SuperLiga semifinals.

The U.S. Gold Cup team will face Roger Espinoza’s Honduras on Wednesday, July 8 at RFK Stadium at 8 p.m. CT. Group play wraps up Saturday, July 11 as part of a tripleheader at Gillette Stadium. That day, the Wizards will face the New England Revolution at 3 p.m. CT in MLS play. The U.S. will then play Haiti at 6 p.m. CT, with Honduras facing Grenada at 8 p.m. CT.

With the selection by U.S. Head Coach Bob Bradley, Conrad rejoins the U.S. National Team for the first time since January of 2008. His 24 career appearances rank 3rd on the Gold Cup squad, and he is one of three players on the Gold Cup roster that was part of the 2006 World Cup team. Conrad’s lone international goal was the game-winner in a 2-0 victory over archrival Mexico Feb. 7, 2007. Conrad has been a stalwart in the back for Kansas City so far this season, helping lead a young defense to the best goals against average in the MLS Eastern Conference (1.21). Conrad has yet to miss a minute of play through 14 MLS games (1260 minutes).

Arnaud has appeared twice previously for the U.S. National Team. He earned his first cap in 2007 during a friendly against world power Brazil, the United States’ opponent Sunday in the Confederations Cup final. Arnaud’s second cap came Nov. 11, 2008 in a World Cup Qualifier against Guatemala. Arnaud ranks 2nd on the Wizards with five goals thus far in 2009. Arnaud has been an extremely versatile player, starting at least one match at forward, right midfield, central midfield and left midfield for Kansas City. He has scored goals from forward, right midfield and central midfield. Arnaud and Conrad will join the United States Monday in Seattle to begin Gold Cup preparations.

The U.S. is seeking to become the second team to win three consecutive Gold Cups, having claimed the crown in 2005 and 2007. Mexico won three consecutive titles from 1993 to 1998 and also won in 2003. The United States has won four times since the tournament began in 1991, including three of the last four events. The U.S. has never lost a match in group play, holding a 21-0-1 lifetime record.

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION - Detailed roster at ussoccer.com

GOALKEEPERS (3): Jon Busch (Chicago Fire), Troy Perkins (IK Start), Luis Robles (FC Kaiserslautern)

DEFENDERS (7): Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Jay Heaps (New England Revolution), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Michael Parkhurst (FC Nordsjaellands), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Davy Arnaud (Kansas City Wizards), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Colin Clark (Colorado Rapids), Sam Cronin (Toronto FC), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Logan Pause (Chicago Fire), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)

FORWARDS (5): Freddy Adu (AS Monaco), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Santino Quaranta (D.C. United)

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