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Improved US seeks World Cup redemption
A US squad split almost evenly between European-based players and homegrown Major League Soccer talent will aim for the second round, matching the 1994 US showing and backing up their big talk of improvement since the embarassment in France. "We learn from our experiences and hopefully we will be able to learn from the team that went to France and move on to better things," US defender Eddie Pope said. "Hopefully some of the shock value wears off. Hopefully we won't be as bright eyed as last time." US coach Bruce Arena is 29-15 with 13 drawn since taking over the program six months after the Cup disaster. "We're going to make believe it never happened," Arena said. "It's a clean slate in 2002. They're going to be better than we saw in 1998. It's a better team from top to bottom in experience. Hopefully it will position itself to move forward." About half of the 1998 roster returns with aid from such World Cup finals debutantes as forward Clint Mathis and midfielder Landon Donovan. "Our team spirit is better. I think that makes all the difference from 1998 to now," Pope said. "That was a big issue for us. We had a team that was capable of doing some things but overall our chemistry wasn't there. That's such a major part." Veteran English Premiership goalkeepers Brad Friedel, outstanding this season at Blackburn, and Kasey Keller, who has taken a key role at Tottenham, will vie for starting honors. "It's like splitting hairs between Friedel and Keller," said Arena, who vows to start "the goalkeeper who gives us the best chance to win". The average age of the US team is 28.7 years and average experience is 51.7 caps, both modern high marks for a US World Cup roster. "We are still a developing country in terms of soccer," Arena said. "Our players start at an older age. Hopefully previous experience will be a factor. It's a reason they're part of this. We think they'll help us get through a difficult stretch." The US team won the North American Gold Cup and has evolved from a defence-minded lot to a testy side on both sides of the ball. Finishing is not the problem it was in France. "This team has proven it can score goals," US forward Josh Wolff said. "It's just a matter of whether or not we can get a result when we have the chance. If we can fight our way through the first round and get to the second, we have players who can change games and win games. From there, anything can happen." Blocking the US path is a group that includes Portugal, Poland and co-host South Korea. Arena is pointing to the June 5 opener against Portugal as vital so foes cannot simply play for draws to advance. "It's the crucial game," Arena said. "We're not going to sit back and let Portugal bring the game to us, let them beat us up. "Portugal is going to be a great challenge but we can counter-attack and create chances as well," said midfielder DaMarcus Beasley, the youngest US player. He will turn 20 only a week before the Cup opener on May 31. Squad: Goalkeepers Defenders Midfielders Forwards |
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