Red Bull New York announced today that defenders Rafa Marquez (Mexico), Roy Miller (Costa Rica) and Tim Ream (United States), midfielder Dane Richards (Jamaica), forward Juan Agudelo (United States) and goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul (Senegal) have been called up to their respective national teams for international matches taking place in late March during international FIFA dates. As a result, all six players will miss the Red Bulls’ March 26 encounter against the Columbus Crew at Crew Stadium at 4:00 PM ET.
Marquez will be looking to earn his 98th and 99th caps for his country when Mexico takes on Paraguay in Oakland, CA on March 26 and Venezuela in San Diego, CA on March 29. The former FC Barcelona and AS Monaco star and National Team captain joined the Red Bulls on Aug. 2, 2010 as a Designated Player and featured in 10 matches for New York last season, scoring one goal and one assist. Marquez will be starting his first full season in MLS.
Miller and Costa Rica will face Argentina in San Jose, Costa Rica on March 29. The defender has earned 20 caps for his country and just finished his first year for the Red Bulls, making 25 appearances and recording two assists. Miller joined the Red Bulls from Norwegian side, Rosenborg.
MLS Rookie of the Year finalist and 2010 Red Bulls Defender of the Year Ream was called to the U.S. side for their March 26 clash against Argentina at New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ and March 29 game against Paraguay at LP Field in Nashville, TN. After a stellar rookie season, the Saint Louis University product, who played in every minute of every one of New York’s 30 regular season matches, earned his first two caps this past offseason for the senior team, making starts against South Africa and Chile.
Agudelo will also join the U.S. squad in their two friendlies. The Red Bulls Academy product earned his first two caps for the senior team this past offseason. Against South Africa on Nov. 17, 2010, Agudelo scored the game-winning goal for the U.S. in the 85th minute in his senior team debut and became the youngest American player to score a goal for the senior national team at 17-years old. Last season, Agudelo made club history by becoming the first Red Bulls Academy player to feature for the first team. He appeared in two MLS regular season matches to go along with two MLS Cup playoff games.
Richards and the Jamaican National Team will take on Venezuela on March 25 in Montego Bay, Jamaica and El Salvador on March 27 in San Salvador, El Salvador. Richards has 26 caps and recently led Jamaica to the 2010 Digicel Caribbean Cub championship, winning a share of the Golden Boot with three goals. The former Clemson University standout is entering his fourth season as a Red Bull. Last year, Richards had a career-high five goals to go along with three assists in 25 games.
Coundoul was named to the Senegal National Team for its upcoming match in the African Cup of Nations against Cameroon on March 26 in Dakar. Coundoul enters his third season with the Red Bulls, having been capped five times for Senegal. This past season, Coundoul started 27 games for the Red Bulls, posting a 14-8-5 record during the regular season to go along with a 1.04 goals against average. Coundoul also set the regular season franchise record for shutouts during the 2010 season by recording 11 clean sheets.
