The Columbus Crew’s Eddie Gaven, Chad Marshall and Robbie Rogers were all named by U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Bob Bradley to the 30-player training camp roster that will gather Jan. 4 at U.S. Soccer’s National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

The annual camp held in January for players in their offseason is a largely domestic-based group that includes 25 players who ply their trade in the United States. Major League Soccer – and the Crew, in particular – is well represented, with 13 of 16 clubs contributing players to the Carson camp. The Black & Gold is one of only four MLS clubs to have three or more of its players named to the roster.

As we’re sure everyone knows by now, last Friday (Dec. 4), the U.S.Men’s National Team learned of its group pairings for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, to be held in South Africa beginning next June. The USA has been drawn into Group C with England, Slovenia and Algeria and will open the tournament against England on June 12 in Rustenburg.

Now that U.S. knows its World Cup plans for South Africa next June, its time to begin making your own travel arrangements for the biggest sporting event in the world! The Crew is proud to announce a special offer for Crew fans looking to make the trip to South Africa, thanks to Cartan Tours, the exclusive World Cup travel partner of the Black & Gold. Read more…

FIFA announced today that the U.S. Men’s National Team has been placed in Pot 2 for this Friday’s FIFA World Cup Final Draw, alongside fellow CONCACAF qualifiers Mexico and Honduras, as well as the Asia and Oceania qualifiers.

Claddagh Irish Pub (585 S. Front St.), the Crew’s away game viewing headquarters, will be hosting a viewing party for the FIFA World Cup Final Draw, which will be held this Friday, Dec. 4, in Cape Town, South Africa, and will air live at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and live at 11 a.m. ET on Univision.

The party, which runs from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., will feature Crew players and Columbus-area natives Danny O’Rourke and Eric Brunner, along with complimentary appetizers, drink specials, player autographs, the unveiling of the World Cup match ball and much more. Read more…

Good morning Crew fans, we’ve got a few news and notes we’d like to pass on before this Saturday’s Independence Day match against DC United.

First off, we’d like to offer our congratulationsto Argentine maestro Guillermo Barros Schelotto who was announced yesterday as the MLS Player of the Month for June. Schelotto has continued to power the Crew attack this season as his 10 goals and three assists have earned him a hand in 13 of the Crew’s 21 goals this season. Congratulations Guille!

Next, we want to be sure to let all you U.S. Soccer fans out there know that the U.S. vs. Grenada match will be televised live in Crew Stadium’s Stadium Club at 9 p.m. ET following the Crew’s match vs. DC United Saturday night. As a result, the Stadium Club will extend its regular postgame hours to accomodate those wishing to stay and watch the Red, White and Blue take on Grenada.

And finally… do you have a Bluetooth-enabled phone? Well if you do, be sure to have your phone’s Bluetooth signal turned on when you enter Crew Stadium Saturday. Those with Bluetooth enabled will receive a special ticket offer message as they enter the stadium which can only be redeemed during Saturday’s match, so be sure to take advantage!

Good morning all,

The great folks over at U.S. Soccer Communications always seem to come up with great content to supplement coverage of the U.S. Men’s National Team and they have come through yet again with an interesting piece that takes fans behind the scenes of CONCACAF’s most heated rivalry, USA vs. Mexico. You can check it out below and be sure to head over to U.S. Soccer’s YouTube channel for more USMNT video.

U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Bob Bradley has named a roster of 20 players — including Frankie Hejduk and Robbie Rogers of the MLS Cup-champion Crew — that will train in advance of the Feb. 11 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Mexico at Crew Stadium. Kickoff for the USA’s most anticipated match of the final round is set for 7 p.m. ET, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN2, ESPN2 HD and Univision.

Hejduk, now in his fourth qualifying cycle, has eight career appearances and two goals against Mexico, while Rogers hopes to pick up his second international cap in as many games.

The match on Wednesday will mark the third straight time that Crew Stadium has hosted the home leg of the final round World Cup qualifying series between the United States and Mexico. A small selection of tickets are still available.

Crew fans, remember, a very limited amount of USA vs. Mexico tickets are still available when you become a Crew Soccer Nation Member. Call 614-447-4168 to reserve your seats today! Tickets are going fast so don’t miss out on this opportunity to come see the USA take on Mexico on Feb. 11 and check out the Crew defend its MLS Cup championship throughout the 2009 season!

Crew captain and U.S. MNT stalwart Frankie Hejduk will be at Claddagh Irish Pub (585 S. Front St.) for a USA vs. Sweden viewing party this Saturday, Jan. 24. Frankie will be signing autographs and engaging in a meet-and-greet starting around 7:30 p.m. and he’ll then be sticking around to watch the USA take on Sweden in an international friendly. Be sure to stop in and say hi to Frankie on Saturday, then check out the Red, White and Blue as it plays its first match of 2009.

We’ve got a few quick-hitters to bring you today, the majority of which feature Crew players at U.S. Men’s National Team training camp in Carson, CA. Many of you may have already seen some of this great content, but we thought we’d recap it here on the Standard just in case you missed it.

Also after the jump, we’ve got a few pics of the some of the guys at the 1460 The Fan’s FanFest on Monday at the Hilton Polaris. Check it all out after the jump.

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Crew Stadium looks ready for La Guerra Fria II, are you? We’ve got just over a month left till the U.S. Men’s National Team takes on Mexico in the opening match of final-round qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and ticket information - including an exclusive Crew Soccer Nation presale opportunity - is now available for the U.S.’s most anticipated match on home soil this year. Read on after the jump…

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