International Games Round-Up Part 2

A full slate of games yesterday resulted in not a lot of playing time for Rapids.

Dillon Serna, Eric Miller - U.S. U-23s.
Neither Miller or Serna played for the U-23s in their 2-1 loss to Colombia yesterday.  The loss eliminates the U.S. from the Olympics.

Marco Pappa - Guatemala
Pappa came in at halftime and looked pretty good, though the team was overmatched by the U.S.  Guatemala now sits third in the group and needs to beat T&T to have a shot at advancing.

Mekeil Williams - Trinidad & Tobago
Williams got the start and played the full 90 minutes in a 5-0 route over St. Vincent.  T&T leads the group with the U.S. close behind.

Shkelzen Gashi - Albania
Gashi got the start for Albania in their 2-0 win over Luxembourg.  Reports are he almost had a goal if it weren't for a big save.

Michael Azira - Uganda
Azira was an unused sub in Uganda's 0-0 draw with Burkina Faso in their African Cup of Nations qualifier.

So Serna and Azira were the only Rapids not to play while with their national teams.  Miller, Gashi, Williams, and Pappa all got 90 minutes (Pappa's split over 2 games).  Doyle got 20 or so minutes before being injured.

International Games Round-Up Part 1

So after a scary Friday here's a recap of the 7 Rapids who were in action (or not) over the weekend.  Six of the seven will have a chance to b e in action again tomorrow before heading back to Denver for Saturday's game against Toronto.

Dillon Serna, Eric Miller - U.S. U-23s.
Miller got the start and played the full 90 for the U.S. in the Olympic qualifier.  Serna did not make the gameday 18.  The U.S. got an important road goal in the 1-1 draw.

USA vs Colombia - Tuesday Mar 29th, 7:30pm - ESPN2

Marco Pappa - Guatemala
Pappa was a late scratch from the starting XI against the U.S. but did sub in at halftime and made a couple of Americans look bad.  A huge 2-0 win for Guatemala puts them in good shape going into Columbus tomorrow night.

Tim Howard did not have a stellar night for the U.S.  It was already decided before the game that Guzan would get the start tomorrow night.

Guatemala @ USA - Tuesday Mar 29th, 5pm - ESPN2

Mekeil Williams - Trinidad & Tobago
Williams, surprisingly (at least to me) was an unused sub against St. Vincent.  T&T had to work harder than expected but did get the win and now leads the group.

T&T vs. St. Vincent - Tuesday Mar 29th, 6pm (No U.S. TV)

Kevin Doyle - Ireland
Doyle got the surprise start for Ireland and, well, we all know how that went.  If you want to see a very graphic image of the injury go here.  He, obviously, will not be available tomorrow.

Shkelzen Gashi - Albania
Gashi did not make the gameday eighteen due to a calf injury.  His status for tomorrow's game or Saturday's is unknown.

Albania @ Luxembourg - Tuesday Mar. 29th, 12:15pm (No U.S. TV)

Michael Azira - Uganda
Azira was an unused sub in Uganda's 1-0 loss to Burkina Faso in their African Cup of Nations qualifier.  He'll have another chance to get his first cap tomorrow.

Uganda v.s Burkina Faso - Tuesday Mar. 29th, 10am (No U.S. TV)

Busy International Break For Rapids

For the first time maybe ever there are 7 Rapids in action over this international break.  That doesn't even include Tim Howard (who is not yet a Rapid) or Jermaine Jones (who can't play for the Nats while suspended for referee abuse).  Not only that but with the increased coverage international fixtures get many of their games can be seen now in the u.S.  So here's a list of games they'll play and what TV/stream (if any) there is for them.

(All times MDT)

Dillon Serna,  Eric Miller - U.S. U-23s
The U-23s play a head-to-head against Colombia for the final Olympic spot in Rio.  I would expect both players to at least get some playing time.

USA @ Colombia - Friday Mar 25th, 3pm - Fox Sports 1

USA vs Colombia - Tuesday Mar 29th, 7:30pm - ESPN2

Marco Pappa - Guatemala
Guatemala plays a home and home against the U.S. in World Cup Qualifying.  I would expect Pappa to start both games.  We'll also likely see Tim Howard in at least one of the games but Jurgen Klinsmann is playing his cards close to the vest on that one.

Guatemala vs USA - Friday Mar 25th, 8pm - beIn Sport

Guatemala @ USA - Tuesday Mar 29th, 5pm - ESPN2

Mekeil Williams - Trindad & Tobago
T&T also has a pair of World Cup Qualifiers against St. Vincent & the Grenadines, these are the other two teams in the U.S.'s group.  Williams should start both matches.

T&T @ St. Vincent - Friday Mar. 29th. 1:30pm - beIn Sport

T&T vs. St. Vincent - Tuesday Mar 29th, 6pm (No U.S. TV)

Kevin Doyle - Ireland
Ireland is playing a pair of warm-up friendlies for Euro 2016 in June.  Doyle has been in the eighteen for the last few friendlies but has mostly ridden the bench, I expect that to continue.

Ireland vs. Switzerland - Friday Mar. 29th. 1:45pm (No U.S. TV)

Ireland vs. Slovakia - Tuesday Mar 29th, 12:45pm (No U.S. TV)

Shkelzen Gashi - Albania
Albania is also playing a pair of warm-up friendlies for Euro 2016.  I'd expect Gashi to feature in both games.

Albania @ Austria - Saturday Mar. 26th, 10:30am - ESPN3/WatchESPN

Albania @ Luxembourg - Tuesday Mar. 29th, 12:15pm (No U.S. TV)

Micheal Azira - Uganda
Uganda has a pair of African Cup of NAtions qualifiers against Burkina Faso.  This is Azira's first ever call-up so his expected playing time is unknown.

Uganda @ Burkina Faso - Saturday Mar. 26th, 12pm - (No U.S. TV)

Uganda v.s Burkina Faso - Tuesday Mar. 29th, 10am (No U.S. TV)

So half the games will be available somewhere on U.S. TV/streams and we can see everyone but Doyle and Azira at least once.

Howard Announced Tomorrow?

So say former U.S. National Team player Heath Pearce on Twitter:

Been told that @TimHowardGK signing will be announced tomorrow. If true, @ColoradoRapids getting a great leader. #WelcomeBack

 This is the Rapids only appearance on ESPN this year so it makes some sense.  Along with the TransAmerica renewal signs point to it being likely but we'll see.

Also today Dillon Serna and Eric Miller (along with Boulder's Shane O'Neill) were called up for the U.S. U-23's Olympic Qualifying games with Colombia on March 23rd and 29th.  So that's 5 players now heading out on Nats duty after tomorrow's game (Doyle, Pappa, Azira, Miller, Serna).

Callup and Suspension

Some surprise news today as Michael Azira got his first ever callup for Uganda.  They play Burkina Faso in back to back World Cup Qualifiers during this international break.  Add him to the list with Kevin Doyle and Pappa.

A less enjoyable surprise also was revealed today.  Gashi is suspended for Sunday's game in DC.  As you can see from the video in the link he's suspended because he entered the field to celebrate Pappa's goal at the end of Saturday's match.  The suspension is technically correct but its a weak call from the MLS Disciplinary Committee.  "No harm no foul" seems to apply here.  I don't remember any of the subs from the U.S. who piled on Donovan at the end of the Algeria game in 2010 being suspended.

Again the DisCo has set a standard and we have to see if they live up to it.  My guess is they won't, but that's typical.  The only thing consistent about the DisCo is their inconsistency.

Loans & International Call Ups

A little bit of mid-week roster news:

• Appiah and Calvert have been loaned to Charlotte.  This was fairly predictable.  Calvert spent most of last year with the Independence while Appiah as a draft pick will be more likely to get time there than in Colorado.  We'll see if anyone else makes the trip to the East Coast.  ?Unless their loans are full-season loans with no recall clauses they still count against the 28 man roster cap.  As reserve players they already don't count against the salary cap so no change there.
• Kevin Doyle was called up for Ireland, Marco Pappa for Guatemala.  They'll both leave after the DC game.  With (most of) the league taking the following weekend off due to the FIFA dates they won't miss any Rapids games.  We'll wish Doyle great success and no injuries in Ireland's friendlies against Switzerland and Slovakia.  We'll wish Pappa no injuries and no success as Guatemala will be playing the U.S. in back-to-back World Cup Qualifiers during the window.
• Oddly enough Gashi was not called up for Albania for their pre-Euro friendlies against Austria and Luxembourg.  I don't know if this was due to his illness and fitness level, just giving him a chance to adjust to his new team, not needing to see what he has pre-Euros, or not needing him any more..

Updated Player Salaries and National Team Callups

The final set of player salaries were released today:

Alvarez Carlos	70,000.00	70,000.00
Badji Dominique	50,000.00	50,000.00
Berner John	60,000.00	60,000.00
Burch Marc	110,000.00	110,000.00
Burling Bobby	132,500.00	140,000.00
Calvert Caleb	65,000.00	72,500.00
Cronin Sam	202,500.00	200,000.00
Doyle Kevin	1,125,000.00	1,170,000.00
Eloundou Charles	60,000.00	65,000.00
Figueroa Maynor	99,996.00	99,996.00
Greenspan Joseph	50,000.04	50,000.04
Hairston Marlon	80,000.00	103,000.00
Harrington M	130,000.00	130,000.00
Irwin Clint	85,000.00	97,000.00
LaBrocca Nick	160,000.00	180,000.00
MacMath Zac	130,000.00	130,000.00
Moor Drew	258,500.00	270,500.00
Pittinari Lucas	190,000.00	210,000.00
Powers Dillon	245,000.00	275,000.00
Ramirez Juan	75,000.00	75,000.00
Riley James	77,500.00	83,750.00
Sanchez Vicente	210,000.00	286,666.67
Sarvas Marcelo	360,000.00	425,000.00
Serna Dillon	60,000.00	73,000.00
Sjoberg Axel	60,000.00	75,000.00
Solignac Luis	65,004.00	65,004.00
St. Ledger Sean	124,992.00	147,492.00
Torres Gabriel	262,000.00	274,500.00
Watts Jared	60,000.00	60,000.00

The first number is the base salary, the second is the 2015 guaranteed compensation.  The salary cap number is usually somewhere in between.  The two new names are Figueroa at $100K, which is a steal, and St. Ledger at $147,500 which is no surprise since we picked up his OCSC contract.

Also in the last few days a number of Rapids have been called up for their National Teams

Dillon Serna will be part of the U.S. U-23 Olympic Qualifying squad.  He may not be available in Houston on Saturday I'm not sure, but after that he'll miss everything through at least the FSL game on October 4th and most  likely through the home finale on Oct 10th.  So likely the last time to see Serna at home this season is when the 3rd group game of the qualifying tournament is played at the Dick on Oct. 6th.

Kevin Doyle is on the provisional list of 40 players for Ireland's Euro qualifiers in October.  The team is scheduled to gather in Ireland on October 4th.  Hopefully if Doyle is on the final roaster he, Irish manager Martin O'Neill, and the Rapids can work something out where Doyle can stay through the critical Rocky Mountain Cup match on the 4th and them immediately fly to Ireland to join the team.  If called Doyle would then rejoin the team for the final two road games in KC and Portland.

Gabriel Torres has been called up for Panama's friendlies against Trinidad & Tobaga and Mexico next month.  Again we'll have to see when the team gets together but their first game is October 8th so once again hopefully he can stay through the rivalry match on the 4th.  He'll also rejoin the team for the final two matches of the season.