This is an important exercise for Sweden, which is preparing for the Euro 2008 in June. They are drawn into a difficult group with past champion Greece, Spain, and Russia.
Personally, I like friendlies because you get to see a lot of players and watch the team develop. I don't have a clue who will start. We have a mostly domestic-based crowd in training camp, with the exception of a few Scandanavia-based players who have a break in league play. Lots of youngsters. If you want local connections, focus on the new likely starting GK for DC United, Zach Wells. Also, you have Jeremiah White, who was written up in the WP this week as a kid with DC roots who went to the far reaches of Europe to develop. He's getting his first national team look this month.
Goalkeepers (4): Steve Cronin (Los Angeles Galaxy), Brad Guzan
(Chivas USA), Will Hesmer (Columbus Crew), Zach Wells (D.C. United)
Defenders (9): Dan Califf (Aalborg BK), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas
City Wizards), Ramiro Corrales (SK Brann), Todd Dunivant (Toronto FC), Clarence
Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Drew Moor (FC Dallas), Michael Parkhurst (New
England Revolution), Eddie Robinson (Houston Dynamo), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)
Midfielders (7): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Ricardo
Clark (Houston Dynamo), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC),
Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Justin Mapp (Chicago Fire), Pat Noonan (New England
Revolution)
Forwards (6): Josmer Altidore (New York Red Bulls), Landon
Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Eddie Johnson (Kansas Cit y Wizards), Chris Rolfe
(Chicago Fire), Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution), Jeremiah White (AGF
Aarhus)
U.S. beats Sweden 2-0. Rebound goal by Eddie Robinson (in his first cap). PK by Donovan after Altidore was taken down in the box on a clear infraction.
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