National teams have come calling for FIFA’s next international fixture dates between Sept. 3 and 7, and MLS will be well represented – especially in CONCACAF.
Rafa Márquez will likely wear the captain’s armband for Mexico as El Tri take on Ecuador at Chivas’ new Estadio Omnilife on Sept. 4, then meet Colombia at Tigres UANL’s Estadio Universitario three days later.
Canada coach Stephen Hart summoned five MLS players for his side’s friendlies against Peru on Sept. 4 in Toronto and against Honduras on Sept. 7 in Montreal. Toronto FC’s Dwayne De Rosario, Julian de Guzman and Nana Attakora; D.C. United’s Dejan Jakovic; and Real Salt Lake’s Will Johnson all will don the red kits.
Honduras, meanwhile, recalled World Cup veteran and Kansas City Wizards midfielder Roger Espinoza. Los Catrachos will face El Salvador at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on the 4th before heading North of the Border.
El Salvador, under interim manager José Luis Rugamas, will feature San Jose attacker Arturo Alvarez, Chivas USA midfielder Osael Romero and Chicago defender Deris Umanzor. Los Cuscatlecos will take on Chicago’s Marco Pappa and neighbors Guatemala at Washington’s RFK Stadium on Sept. 7.
Jamaica, meanwhile, will have six MLSers on their roster when the Reggae Boyz face Costa Rica in Kingston on Sept. 5 and then Peru two days later in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Manager Theodore Whitmore summoned ‘keeper Donovan Ricketts (LA Galaxy), defender Shavar Thomas (Kansas City), midfielder Lovel Palmer (Houston), winger Dane Richards (New York) and strikers Ryan Johnson (San Jose) and Omar Cummings (Colorado).
The Ticos side Jamaica will face first also features a pair of MLS players called by interim Costa Rica coach Ronald González: striker Alvaro Saborio (Real Salt Lake) and defender Roy Miller (New York).
Over in Europe, New York Red Bulls sensation Joel Lindpere was called by Estonia for an important match as the Blue Shirts open Euro 2012 qualifying on Sept. 3 against Italy, then for a friendly against Uzbekistan four days later. According to the Red Bulls, Lindpere hasn’t decided whether to accept the call-up – he declined Estonia’s last summons earlier this month.
Montenegro, meanwhile, called D.C. United Designated Player Branko Boskovic for their Euro qualifying efforts, which begin Sept. 3 against Wales and then on the 7th against Bulgaria.
In South America, Venezuela called Columbus forward Emilio Renteria for their friendlies against Ecuador and Colombia.
In Africa, 2012 Cup of Nations qualifying also gets underway. Sierra Leone called Kansas City striker Kei Kamara for their match against Egypt in Cairo on Sept. 5, and Senegal called Red Bulls ‘keeper Bouna Coundoul for their qualifier against Congo DR.
