Real Salt Lake's Beckerman to play for U.S. National Team

Kyle Beckerman was one of 23 players called up to the U.S. National Team on Thursday for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which will be held in the United States July 3-26.

The Real Salt Lake midfielder joins teammates Will Johnson (Canada), Andy Williams (Jamaica) and Jean Alexandre (Haiti), who have also been called up to their respective national teams.

"We're happy for Kyle, we think he's very deserving of it and has been for a very long time," said RSL coach Jason Kreis. "Unfortunately it does play a pretty significant effect on our team."

Johnson and Alexandre are already with their national teams, while Beckerman and Williams will also be leaving RSL after Saturday's home match against Toronto FC.

All four will miss the July 3 home match against San Jose, and some could miss league matches at Columbus on July 18 and at home against FC Dallas on July 24 depending on how deep their respective national teams advance in the Gold Cup.

Beckerman admits it's tough to leave his club team right now with RSL slowly finding its groove, but it's also an opportunity he's looking forward to.

"I'm excited. It's a chance to get a trophy in July, which is pretty cool, represent the country and see if I can get myself in a better position with the team," said Beckerman. "I hadn't got called in for a while now, I'd pretty much given up."

In his career Beckerman has made three appearances with the U.S. National Team, all coming in 2007 in the Copa America in South America.

Of the 23 players on the U.S. roster for the Gold Cup only four are currently participating in the Confederations Cup in South Africa, with coach Bob Bradley obviously preferring to go with his "B" team players for the Gold Cup.

—James Edward