The USA meets Costa Rica in a World Cup qualifier today. They will be without Maurice Edu who sustained a knee injury in the final match of the Rangers season against Hearts. Ricardo Clark will get a call up.
He is undergoing further evaluation at Glasgow. The results will determine his summer appearances for the national team. Naturally, Walter Smith would like to protect his player from further injury to ensure a timely return to next season’s start.
Bob Bradley will also be without the services of Edu’s defending counterpart, right back Frankie Hejduk.
The USA has never won at Saprissa Stadium in seven encounters. They have a 0-6-1 record. Both the US and Costa Rica are level with a 9-1-1 record. Chicago Fire standout Gonzalo Segares starts for the Ticos. Veteran Walter Centeno anchors the midfield while Sion FC striker Alvaro Saborio will be their go to player for goals.
The national call ups will deplete clubs of players needed for MLS matches renewing calls for rescheduling the season. The US has seven players from the MLS roster: Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy).
Coverage for Wednesday night’s contest begins at 7:30 p.m. MT on ESPN2, ESPN360.com and Galavision.