HARRISON, N.J. – New York Red Bulls defenders Tim Ream (United States) and Rafa Marquez (Mexico), forward Juan Agudelo (United States), and goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul (Senegal) have been called up for national team duty in order to participate in international friendlies on August 10. All four players are expected to return and be available for selection in time for when the Red Bulls take on the Chicago Fire on August 13 at Red Bull Arena at 7:30 PM ET.
Agudelo and Ream will face off against Marquez, when the United States takes on Mexico in a Gold Cup final rematch at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. Kickoff is set for 9:00 PM ET, with ESPN2, ESPN3 and Univision broadcasting the game live. The last time the two teams met, Mexico ousted the U.S., 4-2, to claim the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup title in front of 93,000 fans at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA on June 25.
Fresh off MLS All-Star stints, Agudelo and Ream return to the U.S. National Team having begun to accumulate international experience. Ream has earned six appearances for the national team, including five starts in defense. The St. Louis, MO native started at center back for the U.S. during their first two Gold Cup matches against Canada and Panama. He has started in 17 games for the Red Bulls this season.
The 18-year-old Agudelo has made 10 appearances for the U.S., during which he has two goals and two assists. During the Gold Cup, Agudelo participated in five out of the U.S.’s six Gold Cup matchups, with the one exception coming against Guadeloupe on June 14. Agudelo has recorded five goals and one assist in 17 appearances for New York this season.
Coundoul and the Senegalese National Team will be taking on Morocco in Dakar, Senegal. His last appearance for Senegal came on June 4, when he held Cameroon scoreless in a 0-0 draw and earned recognition as Man of the Match in his sixth cap. Coundoul has played in nine games in 2011 for New York, tallying three shutouts.
Marquez, who was also named to the MLS All-Star roster but did not participate, has been a mainstay on the Mexican National Team. Marquez has made 107 appearances and scored 12 goals for the squad. He is only the eighth Mexican to ever exceed 100 national caps. Marquez started every game for Mexico during the Gold Cup, but was forced to leave the final versus the U.S. due to injury. He has made 10 starts for New York this season.
