Real Salt Lake: RSL players are staying home this year

Twenty-two MLS players missed league matches last week while away on various international duties. Not one of them was from Real Salt Lake.

In fact, the only time missed this year because of national-team commitment was a few weeks back, when rookie Jean Alexandre was called up by the Haiti National Team for a friendly with Jamaica.

On the one hand, it's not a bad thing, with RSL avoiding key absences at various points during the season. On the other hand, it also means the club lacks the marquee type of players national teams are after.

RSL coach Jason Kreis isn't buying it.

"I look at it as a good thing, completely. National teams, you're talking about other coaches opinions, and frankly, I don't care," said Kreis. "I only care about my coaches' opinions of players."

It's easy to understand Kreis' frustration with the process when you consider he was often overlooked by the U.S. National Team during his heyday with the Dallas Burn, appearing in 14 matches and scoring one goal.

It's not as if Real Salt Lake players are completely off the international radar.

Chris Wingert was invited to U.S. National Team camp in January and played the final 11 minutes in a friendly against Sweden. Kyle Beckerman is only a few years removed from his involvement with the U.S., whereas Chris Seitz was the backup keeper for the U.S. Olympic Team in China last summer, and Robbie Findley was an alternate.

Then there's Alexandre and Will Johnson (Canada), each of whom will likely be called up by their respective national teams later this summer for the CONCACAF Gold Cup from July 3-26. Unless Canada or Haiti advance to the quarterfinals, however, Alexandre and Johnson would only miss RSL's July 3 home match against San Jose and the exhibition match against Club America on July 11.

Realistically, these are minimal absences and nothing like what other teams deal with.

"When we can keep our core together, that's the best for the nucleus of the team," said RSL keeper Nick Rimando.

RSL's opponent this weekend, the L.A. Galaxy, deals with Landon Donovan absences several times a year.

He was one of seven MLS players who missed league games last week due to World Cup qualifying matches on Wednesday and Saturday. Now, he's one of six MLS players who will be on the U.S. squad heading to South Africa this week for the Confederations Cup.

Houston's Ricardo Clark is another player in South Africa, meaning he'll miss the Real Salt Lake at Houston match in two weeks.

E-mail: jedward@desnews.com