It’s international season in soccer, with most national teams either playing friendlies or playing for something more, such as Olympics qualifying or World Cup qualifiers. The San Jose Earthquakes have six players who have been called up for international duty.
Earthquakes Players Called to International Duty
USMNT
Chris Wondolowski is one of five forwards called to international duty. Wondo is no stranger to the international scene with ten goals in 31 appearances, including being the co-winner of the 2013 CONCACAF Golden Boot with five run-of-play goals in three tournament games. Wondolowski has come on strong to begin the 2016 season, with three run-of-play goals in three games for San Jose.
Wondo’s teammate David Bingham began his national team service earlier this year with his first cap against Canada, earning a 1-0 victory. Bingham has given up three run-of-play goals in three games with San Jose in 2016. He is one of four ‘keepers called up by head coach Jürgen Klinsmann. This will be the first time both Wondo and Bingham will be at international camp together as teammates. For more on Bingham, please consider reading a previous article about the young ‘keeper from the Bay Area.
The United States is currently tied for first place with Trinidad & Tobago in CONCACAF Group C World Cup Qualifying.
The USMNT plays at Guatemala on Friday at 7:00pm PDT with a follow-up game in Columbus, OH on Tuesday, March 29th at 4:00pm PDT.
U.S. U-23s
The United States U-23 team is playing a home-and-away Olympics qualifier against Columbia. Sophomore MLS defensive midfielder Fatai Alashe, who was a candidate for 2015 AT&T Rookie of the Year, will be available for U-23 head coach Andi Herzog. Alashe was recovering from hernia surgery and began the season on the injury list, but returned to action last week in the Quakes’ 2-1 victory over Portland. The winner of the series will earn the final CONCACAF spot in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Expect Alashe’s international duty to also include a trip to Rio this summer, should the U-23s qualify this weekend.
The U-23 team plays at 2:00pm PDT on Friday with a follow-up game on Tuesday, March 29th at 6:30pm PDT.
Panama
The Quakes have two Panamanian players who will face Haiti on Friday at 4:00pm PDT. 25-year-old defensive midfielder Anibal Godoy signed with the Earthquakes last season. Godoy has one assist in three games this season to complement his two goals last season in 13 total appearances.
Godoy’s international teammate Alberto Quintero was loaned to San Jose in the off-season from Mexican club Lobos BUAP. Like Godoy, Quintero has started all three regular season games for the Earthquakes this season and has notched an assist.
Jamaica
Off-season designated player signing Simon Dawkins should see action versus Costa Rica on Friday. Dawkins was born and grew up in London, but is still eligible to play for his family’s native Jamaica. Dawkins began his career with the Reggae Boyz in 2014. He has three goals in 19 appearances.
Dawkins, Godoy, and Quintero will be playing in Group B World Cup Qualifying. Both Panama and Jamaica are tied for second with three points, behind Costa Rica.
Other Notable International Earthquakes
The Earthquakes have other players who could have been selected for international duty if not for injuries. Midfielder Cordell Cato plays for Trinidad & Tobago, but has been sidelined with a hamstring injury.
U.S. U-23 member Marc Pelosi could have also seen action this weekend, but recently had surgery on his knee for tendonitis, and is out for the next 3-4 months.
