US returns 14 World Cup players for Brazil friendly

Landon Donovan and Tim Howard were among 14 World Cup players named Wednesday to the 18-man United States roster for next Tuesday’s football friendly here against Brazil.

More than 55,000 tickets have already been sold for the Americans meeting with the five-time World Cup champion at the new home of American football’s New York Giants and New York Jets.

“This game is a great opportunity to showcase many players from the World Cup team who earned the respect and appreciation of fans across the country,” US coach Bob Bradley said.

“Our goal continues to be to compete and succeed against the best teams in the world. With an extremely talented group of players, Brazil will be another difficult test.”

The US lineup, with a dozen players from European-based squads, will gather on Sunday and train on Monday before taking thre field the following night.

Donovan, the Los Angeles Galaxy forward who scored three goals in South Africa to help spark the Americans into the round of 16 before they were ousted by Ghana for the second World Cup in a row.

Howard, the goalkeeper for Everton of the English Premiership, achieved only the second shutout in 22 US World Cup matches in a 1-0 triumph over Algeria in which Donovan’s stoppage-time goal gave the US a Group A crown.

US captain Carlos Bocanegra, midfielder Michael Bradley and defender Steve Cherundolo are also back after playing every minute for the Americans in Sout Africa.

Brazil last played the Americans in the final of the 2009 Confederations Cup, the US squad seizing a 2-0 half-time lead before the South Americans rallied for a 3-2 triumph.

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton)

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Saint-Etienne), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)

Midfielders: Alejandro Bedoya (Orebro), Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Jermaine Jones (Schalke), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht)

Forwards: Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Herculez Gomez (Pachuca)