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<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-STYLE: italic">From the <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST1 /><ST1:PERSONNAME w:st="on"><ST1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st="on">U.S.</ST1:COUNTRY-REGION> <ST1:PLACENAME w:st="on">Soccer</ST1:PLACENAME> <ST1:PLACENAME w:st="on">Communications</ST1:PLACENAME></ST1:PERSONNAME> <ST1:PLACETYPE w:st="on">Center</ST1:PLACETYPE>:<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O /><O:P></O:P></SPAN><P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><O:P></O:P></SPAN><P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">U-20 Men’s National Team <O:P></O:P></SPAN><P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Notes from <ST1:CITY w:st="on">Sunrise</ST1:CITY>, <ST1:STATE w:st="on"><ST1:PLACE w:st="on">Fla.</ST1:PLACE></ST1:STATE> <O:P></O:P></SPAN><P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Jan. 11, 2007 </SPAN><O:P></O:P><P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><O:P></O:P></SPAN><P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-STYLE: italic">PREPPING FOR <ST1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st="on">PANAMA</ST1:COUNTRY-REGION>:</SPAN> Eighteen of the 20 players on the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team roster trickled into <ST1:CITY w:st="on">Sunrise</ST1:CITY>, <ST1:STATE w:st="on">Fla.</ST1:STATE>, throughout the day on Wednesday (Jan. 10) and got settled in before participating in their first training session, three days ahead of the team’s early morning excursion to <ST1:PLACE w:st="on"><ST1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st="on">Panama</ST1:COUNTRY-REGION></ST1:PLACE> for the CONCACAF U-20 Final Round Qualifying Tournament. Head coach Thomas Rongen ran the 70-minute session and was pleased with the intensity and quality on Day One. The two players not with the team are Johann Smith and Preston Zimmerman, both of whom will join up with the team on Saturday, Jan. 13, in <ST1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st="on"><ST1:PLACE w:st="on">Panama</ST1:PLACE></ST1:COUNTRY-REGION>. <O:P></O:P><P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><O:P></O:P></SPAN><P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-STYLE: italic">PROFESSIONAL HELP:</SPAN> With six MLS players, four more to be drafted on Friday and three players plying their trade overseas, there are more professional players on the 2007 U.S. Under-20 qualifying roster than on any past qualifying roster at this age group. Freddy Adu (Real Salt Lake), Josmer Altidore (N.Y. Red Bulls), Quavas Kirk (L.A. Galaxy), Nathan Sturgis (L.A. Galaxy), Danny Szetela (Columbus Crew) and Tim Ward (Columbus Crew) all have at least one year of experience in the league, while Bryan Arguez, Amaechi Igwe, Chris Seitz and Anthony Wallace all recently signed with the league and will be available for the MLS SuperDraft, which will take place on Friday, Jan. 12, in Indianapolis, Ind. Rounding out the professionals are three players representing three different countries in Europe – Robbie Rogers (SC Heerenveen - Holland), Johann Smith (FC Bolton - England) and Preston Zimmerman (Hamburg SV - Germany). Below is a list of the number of professional players on the qualifying roster since 1999. <O:P></O:P><P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><O:P></O:P></SPAN><P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Professionals on U-20 Qualifying Roster <O:P></O:P></SPAN><P class=MsoNormal><U><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Year No.of Pros&nb
