SECAUCUS, NJ – New York Red Bulls midfielders Rafa Márquez and Dane Richards, goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul, and defender Roy Miller have been called up to their national teams for the next set of FIFA International dates from Sept. 3-7 and will be unavailable for the Red Bulls’ match at Real Salt Lake on Sept. 4.
Márquez was called up for Mexico’s upcoming friendlies on Sept. 4 against Ecuador in Guadalajara, Mexico and on Sept. 7 versus Colombia in Monterrey, Mexico. Márquez has represented Mexico 95 times, and captained the team at the 2002, 2006, and 2010 FIFA World Cups. Márquez signed with the Red Bulls as a Designated Player on Aug. 2, and scored his first goal for the club on Aug. 21 in a 4-1 victory over Toronto FC.
Richards has been called in to the Jamaica National Team for its upcoming friendlies on Sept. 5 against Costa Rica in Kingston, Jamaica and on Sept. 7 versus Peru in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Richards has appeared 17 times for Jamaica, and has scored one goal, which he notched in his last appearance for the "Reggae Boyz" against Trinidad and Tobago on Aug. 11. Richards has appeared in 19 matches this season for the Red Bulls, registering one goal and three assists.
Coundoul, who has three caps for the Senegal National Team, has been called up for Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Democratic Republic of the Congo on Sept. 5 in Lubumbashi, D.R. He last featured for Senegal in a friendly against Cape Verde Islands on Aug. 11. Coundoul, who leads Major League Soccer in saves this season, was acquired by New York on June 29, 2009.
Miller was called in for Costa Rica’s upcoming friendlies on Sept. 3 at Panama in Panama City, Panama and Sept. 5 at Jamaica in Kingston, Jamaica. Miller has 15 caps for Costa Rica. The defender was signed by the Red Bulls on Jan. 8, and has played in 19 matches this season for New York, registering one assist.
Red Bulls midfielder Joel Lindpere was also called up by the Estonian National Team but declined the invitation.
"I have decided to respectfully decline call-ups by the Estonian National Team for the rest of the year to focus on the remainder of the MLS season," he said. "I feel that it is important to help the Red Bulls firstly, qualify for the playoffs and secondly, compete for the MLS Cup championship."
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