Jonesboro's Clark makes U.S. World Cup roster

By Doug Roberson

May 26, 2010

Ricardo Clark, a native of Jonesboro, was one of 23 players named to the U.S. soccer team that will compete in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Though a mainstay on the U.S. team the past few years, this will be Clark's first chance to appear in the World Cup, which starts June 11. The U.S. team will open against England on June 12 in Rustenburg.

When he didn't appear in a warm-up game on Tuesday against the Czech Republic that featured several fringe players, it appeared that Clark, a defensive midfielder, was a lock to make the team. However, he said he didn't relax until he got the news at 2 a.m. Wednesday morning.

"You're always a little nervous until things actually happen and it becomes official, but it worked out my way," said Clark, whose first call went to his wife, Martha, at 3 a.m.

Clark, 27, said the selection fulfills dreams that he had growing up as a boy playing in the backyard of his home in Jonesboro. Then, playing with his brother and father, he imagined himself one day wearing the canary yellow of Brazil, which dominated the international scene in the 1970s.

He starred at St. Pius and then played at Furman before going on to MLS. He played six years domestically for three teams. When his contract expired in January, he signed a six-month deal with Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany that included a three-year option. He was injured for most his time with the team, but showed enough in the last three games that Eintracht picked up the option.

Clark, one of 17 players on the roster who compete outside the United States, said the team's roster has a nice balance.

"It's a good mix of experience and youth, players that have been in previous World Cups and other players that are fresh," he said.

Clark has made 26 appearances for the United States, including a strong showing in last summer's Confederations Cup that featured a 2-0 victory against Spain and a 3-2 loss to Brazil in the finals.

The team was announced Wednesday afternoon by coach Bob Bradley, the day after the team was beaten 4-2 by the Czechs. Clark said fans of the U.S. team shouldn't be concerned by Tuesday's disappointing performance.

"I don’t think so because the coach had to look at some players at make some decisions," Clark said. "I don’t think we were at full strength. Because coach was doing that, we had to switch up the lineup and give players a chance. In the long run, it was the best thing because it makes the team stronger."

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