Cherundolo, Parkhurst leave Gold Cup squad

Steve Cherundolo and Michael Parkhurst have left the U.S. national team that is contending in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The two defenders are set to link up with their club teams to participate preseason training.

Cherundolo captained the team in the first two games. In the last game of the group stages, with a more youthful lineup prefered with advancement already assured, the right back ceded his starting role to Marvell Wynne. He will now join Hannover in the German Bundesliga.

Parkhurst started the second and third group stage matches, starting in central defense. In his absence, Chad Marshall is expected to return to the lineup and could be partnered with either Jimmy Conrad or Clarence Goodson. Parkhurst will join FC Nordsjaelland ahead of its Danish SAS Ligaien campaign opener against Aalborg on July 26.

Freddy Adu also left the U.S. squad last week to rejoin Benfica of the Portuguese league.

Without those players, head coach Bob Bradley and the rest of the U.S. team will face Panama in the Gold Cup quarterfinals on Saturday.