Arena Calls 30 Into Camp
United States national team Coach Bruce Arena on Tuesday called 30 players into camp at the Home Depot Center, including the Galaxy’s Kevin Hartman, Danny Califf and Chris Albright.
The camp, which opens Jan. 4, will prepare the U.S. for its first match of 2004, against Denmark on Jan. 18, also at the Galaxy’s home stadium on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills.
Only three foreign-based players were invited: former San Jose Earthquake defender Wade Barrett, now playing for AGF Aarhus in Denmark; defender Cory Gibbs of St. Pauli in Germany, and midfielder Robbie Russell of FC Sogndal in Norway.
The other 27 players are from Major League Soccer teams.
Ten of those called up have never played for the U.S. In addition to Russell, they are goalkeeper Jonny Walker (New York/New Jersey MetroStars); defenders Jim Curtin and Orlando Perez (both Chicago Fire), Carey Talley (Kansas City Wizards) and Ritchie Kotschau (Colorado Rapids); midfielders Brian Mullan (San Jose) and Kerry Zavagnin (Kansas City), and forwards Pat Noonan (New England Revolution) and John Wolyniec (New York/New Jersey).
Zamorano’s Farewell
A crowd of 50,000 turned out in Santiago, Chile, on Monday night to pay tribute to Ivan “Bam Bam” Zamorano, the former Chilean World Cup team striker who played for such illustrious clubs as Colo Colo, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Club America.
Zamorano, 36, retired in July and the match was his farewell appearance. It featured such stars as Brazil’s Ronaldo, Colombia’s Carlos Valderrama, Paraguay’s Jose Luis Chilavert and Argentina’s Andres D’Alessandro.
“It’s over,” Zamorano said. “I’m a very lucky man. Football has given me everything and I’m very satisfied.”
Said World Cup winner Ronaldo, who flew 15 hours from Spain to take part: “He has dedicated his life to football and it was very emotional to see everyone applauding him. I hope my farewell will be as good as this.”
Drug Pair Banned
Egyptian defender Amir Azmy and German goalkeeper Alexander Walke, both of whom failed drug tests during this month’s FIFA World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates, have received lengthy suspensions.
Azmy, 20, who plays for Zamalek, tested positive for nandrolone. He was banned for 14 months and fined $11,900. Walke, 20, who plays for Werder Bremen, tested positive for a marijuana derivative. He was banned for seven months and fined $7,950.
“In each case, the suspension covers all types of matches including domestic, international, friendly and official fixtures,” FIFA said in handing down the punishments.
Derlei Injured
Portuguese champion FC Porto, which also won the UEFA Cup and the European Super Cup last season, has lost striker Derlei for the rest of the season after he ruptured ligaments in his right knee during a 2-1 league victory over Alverca.
Porto plays Manchester United in the next round of the European Champions League and the loss of one of its top forwards will severely hurt its chances of advancing.
Quick Passes
Forward Luciano Figueroa, 22, who was acquired in the summer by Birmingham City of the English Premier League for $4.37 million from Argentina’s Rosario Central, was traded to Cruz Azul of the Mexican league for an undisclosed fee.... Oscar Ruggeri, the rugged defender who helped Argentina win the 1986 World Cup and later coached San Lorenzo in Argentina and Mexico’s Chivas of Guadalajara, has been hired as coach of second division Elche in Spain for the rest of the season.
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Times wire services contributed to this report.
