CARSON, Calif. (Wednesday, August 28, 2013) – LA Galaxy captain Robbie Keane and goalkeeper Jaime Penedo have each been called up by their respective national teams for a pair of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers early next month. Keane is scheduled to join up with Ireland for a pair of games against Sweden and Austria while Penedo will represent Panama in games against Jamaica and Honduras. Both players are scheduled to depart following LA’s game on Saturday night against the San Jose Earthquakes.
Ireland’s all-time leader in goals and appearances with 127 caps and 59 goals for his country, Keane was included on manager Giovanni Trapattoni’s 29-man provisional roster and is looking to lead Ireland back to the World Cup for the first time since 2002. They are currently tied with Austria and Sweden, the two teams that they will face in their upcoming games, for second place in Group C with a 3-1-2 record for 11 points. Ireland will host Sweden in Dublin on Friday, Sept. 6 before travelling to Vienna to face Austria on Tuesday, Sept. 10. Ireland will close out the group in October with games away to Germany and home to Kazakhstan.
Penedo, who recently helped Panama reach the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup where he was selected as the tournament’s top goalkeeper, has been capped 89 times by Panama since debuting in 2003. One of 23 players called up by head coach Julio Dely Valdes, he has played in four of Panama’s six games in the current round of World Cup Qualifying as Panama are looking to qualify for the World Cup for the first time ever. Panama host Jamaica in Panama City on Friday, Sept. 6 before hitting the road to take on Honduras on Tuesday, Sept. 10. They are currently in fifth place in the CONCACAF standings with a 1-2-3 record for six points. They will complete their World Cup Qualifying schedule next month with games away to Mexico and at home against the United States.
Keane, Penedo and the rest of the Galaxy will be back at home on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 7:30 p.m. when they host the San Jose Earthquakes at StubHub Center. That match will kickoff at 7:30 p.m. with the first 10,000 fans to enter the stadium receiving a Robbie Keane bobblehead, courtesy of The Flame Broiler. Tickets for this game, which is presented by The Flame Broiler, are on sale now by calling 877-3GALAXY (342-5299) or visiting www.lagalaxy.com/tickets.
