Two years ago, when he headed to Egypt for the under-20 World Cup, Brek Shea could barely get a game with FC Dallas. The same was true for Jorge Flores at Chivas USA and Jared Jeffrey and Bryan Arguez with their clubs in Europe.
Fast forward to 2011, and many of the players from that U-20 team are back with the U.S. for this week's U-23 camp in Florida. Coach Caleb Porter has integrated plenty of players newer to the U.S. setup as well -- many of the newfound German-American variety -- but there is also a sense that a core team that has been playing together for years will be a part of the Olympic process.
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Brent Latham
ESPN InsiderBrent Latham is a soccer commentator who covers the youth national teams for ESPN.com. Based in Guatemala, he has attended youth World Cups from Peru to Egypt, and places in between.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
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U.S. National Soccer Team Blog
We're your regular source for all the inside info on the U.S. national team. Whether it's breakdowns of player pool developments, news and notes from the club soccer world and its impact on the American side, or game coverage, we'll bring you consistent, exclusive access and insight. Contact us with comments and tips at ESPNUSSoccerblog@gmail.com.
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Doug McIntyre
Doug McIntyre has watched or attended almost every U.S. national team game since Paul Caligiuri's "shot heard 'round the world" in 1989. He is a staff writer for ESPN The Magazine and has covered American and international soccer since 2002.
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