The New York Red Bulls announced today that Roy Miller (Costa Rica), Rafa Marquez (Mexico), Joel Lindpere (Estonia) and Dane Richards (Jamaica) have all been called up by their respective national teams for upcoming friendly matches at the end of May. Miller, Marquez and Richards will spend additional time away as their teams will begin qualification in the CONCACAF region for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
All four Red Bulls will depart on May 24 following New York's match against Chivas USA on May 23 at Red Bull Arena at 7 p.m. ET (TV: MSG+, Univision Deportes; Radio: WLIB 1190 AM).
Miller will join his native Costa Rica for a home-and-home pair of friendlies with CONCACAF rivals Guatemala on May 25 (San Jose, Costa Rica) and June 1 (Guatemala City, Guatemala). Costa Rica will begin play in Group B of CONCACAF's World Cup Qualifying group stage on June 8 when they host El Salvador. The Ticos then continue on June 12 when they visit Guyana in Georgetown. The defender has received 27 caps for the Ticos in his international career. Miller is off to a hot start for New York this season, propelling a potent attack with four assists in nine games.
Marquez won't have to travel far as Mexico takes on Wales at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, on May 27, before playing a second friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Chicago on May 31. Mexico's final tune-up for World Cup qualifying sees them face off against five-time World Cup winners Brazil in a friendly on June 3 in Arlington, TX. El Tri then begins the Group Stage of World Cup Qualifying on June 8 when they host Guyana and continues four days later in a road tilt against El Salvador. Marquez, a longtime fixture on the Mexican National Team, has recorded 110 caps for El Tri over his career. Marquez has recorded two assists in five games so far this season with the Red Bulls.
Lindpere and Estonia will enjoy a tough test against upcoming UEFA Euro 2012 participants Croatia and tournament co-host Ukraine. Estonia takes on Croatia May 25 in Rijeka, Croatia before facing Ukraine May 28 in Kufstein, Ukraine. Estonia will also host Finland in Tartu, Estonia on June 1 and visit France on June 5. Lindpere has appeared 77 times for his country since first making his debut for his country when he was 18. The midfielder is in fine form, scoring twice in the past four matches for the Red Bulls.
Richards joins Jamaica for their upcoming pair of friendlies with Panama on May 27 in Kingston, Jamaica and June 1 in Panama City. The home-and-home will help prepare The Reggae Boyz for the Group Stage of CONCACAF's qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which will begin on June 8 against Guatemala in Kingston. On June 12, Richards and Jamaica play their second Group Stage game, visiting Antigua and Barbuda. The speedy midfielder is looking to earn his 36th cap for Jamaica, and has scored seven goals on the international stage. This season, Richards has played in 12 games, starting all, and has registered one goal and one assist.