WASHINGTON, D.C. - D.C. United midfielder Freddy Adu has been named to the initial roster of 22 players that will participate in the team's final training camp at U.S. Soccer's National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., before the U.S. Under-20 MNT attempts to qualify for their fifth consecutive FIFA World Youth Championship.
The players arrived at camp yesterday and Head Coach Sigi Schmid will select his final 18-player roster days before the U.S. competes in Group A of the CONCACAF Under-20 Qualifying Tournament, which will also be held at The Home Depot Center, from Jan 12-16, 2005. The U.S. is in Group A along with Costa Rica, Panama and Trinidad & Tobago. The U.S. will open against Trinidad & Tobago on Wednesday, Jan. 12 at 8 p.m. PT before facing Panama on Friday, Jan. 14 at 8 p.m. PT. The U-20s wrap up the tournament against Costa Rica on Sunday, Jan. 16 at 2:30 p.m. PT. Fans can follow all three games on ussoccer.com's MatchTracker, presented by Philips Electronics. The top two finishers in Carson will advance to the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, which will be held in Holland from June 10-July 2.
At 15 years of age, Adu is one of the most experienced international players on the team, having been a part of the U.S. Under-20 MNT that enjoyed a remarkable run at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates, finishing in fifth place. In the past two years with the U-20s, Adu, who has played in midfield and as a forward, has appeared in nine international matches with two goals and one assist.
In 2004, Adu was one of only two members of D.C. United to see time in every match during the regular season. He was named to the Eastern Conference All-Star team as a Commissioner's Pick and was a finalist for Rookie of the Year. The youngest player ever to appear in a MLS match, Adu earned 13 points (5 goals, 3assists) on the campaign, adding an assist in the playoffs for the MLS Cup Champions.
