Dallas-Mavs.com Forums - View Single Post

Mavdog · 08-29-2005, 04:45 PM

time for some payback to our friends across the Rio Grande....
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Prepares for World Cup Qualifier By RUSTY MILLER, AP Sports Writer

The U.S. national team had a light workout Monday in preparation for its World Cup qualifying match Saturday with Mexico — although team officials didn't release a roster for the game.

Coach Bruce Arena joked that he wanted to release the list of those on the team, but it was being delayed by press officers.

Asked if this was an added degree of gamesmanship, he said, "There's no point in releasing our roster when we have to get through games. We have players playing today. Once we get everyone through their games, then we're in a position to release a roster. I suspect that'll happen on Wednesday."

Even though the practice was open to the media, it was closed to the public, as are all U.S. team workouts. The match with Mexico will be played at Crew Stadium, home of the MLS' Columbus Crew.

Arena had a hand-printed roster that he checked twice while talking to reporters, making no attempt to hide it. An observer was told not to help reporters identify the players at the workout.

A mix of American veterans and several fresh faces were part of Monday's workout: Carlos Bocanegra, Brian McBride, Frankie Hejduk, Jeff Cunningham, Steve Ralston, Taylor Twellman, Greg Vanney, Pablo Mastroeni, Chad Marshall, Kasey Keller, Justin Mapp, Chris Armas, Oguchi Onyewu, Kerry Zavagnin, Claudio Reyna, Clint Dempsey, Eddie Johnson, Eddie Lewis and Matt Reis.

Johnson, Mastroeni and Bocanegra were back with the team.

Johnson (turf toe) has not played in a qualifier since March. Bocanegra injured a knee during preseason training with Fulham, and Mastroeni sprained an ankle during the CONCACAF Gold Cup last month.

DaMarcus Beasley (hamstring), who played his first game of the season in the Netherlands on Sunday, was due in later Monday.

The United States can clinch a spot among the 32 national teams in next year's World Cup in Germany with one more win in its three remaining qualifying matches. Mexico (5-0-1) leads the final round of the North and Central American and Caribbean region with 16 points, one more than the United States (5-1-0). Guatemala and Costa Rica (both 2-3-1) are at seven points, following by Trinidad and Tobago (1-4-1) with four and Panama (0-4-2) with two.

The top three teams qualify and the No. 4 nation goes to a playoff against Bahrain or Uzbekistan for another berth.

U.S. forward Brian McBride said the current team's approach is somewhat different from those in the past.

"It's about growth, definitely," he said. "We have a deeper squad. Probably the best thing and the biggest difference is that everybody really knows their job when they come in. Even though in the past we've actually changed our formation and made some modifications that we didn't do in 2002 for qualifying, it's paid off. The guys have grasped it and Bruce has put forward a plan for each game."

Arena said there was little out of the ordinary about the week leading up to the showdown with Mexico.

"This is very typical," he said. "It's nice having the first one at home. It's nice having this game in Columbus, a very important game that we know three points secures our trip to Germany. That's certainly what we want to be looking for."

Arena said clinching a World Cup berth on Saturday night would be the best he could hope for.

"Obviously, the sooner the better," he said. "But if it takes 10 games, it takes 10 games. We'll just see."

08-29-2005, 04:45 PM	#7
Mavdog Diamond Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 6,014	RE:world cup qualifing time for some payback to our friends across the Rio Grande.... ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- U.S. Prepares for World Cup Qualifier By RUSTY MILLER, AP Sports Writer The U.S. national team had a light workout Monday in preparation for its World Cup qualifying match Saturday with Mexico — although team officials didn't release a roster for the game. Coach Bruce Arena joked that he wanted to release the list of those on the team, but it was being delayed by press officers. Asked if this was an added degree of gamesmanship, he said, "There's no point in releasing our roster when we have to get through games. We have players playing today. Once we get everyone through their games, then we're in a position to release a roster. I suspect that'll happen on Wednesday." Even though the practice was open to the media, it was closed to the public, as are all U.S. team workouts. The match with Mexico will be played at Crew Stadium, home of the MLS' Columbus Crew. Arena had a hand-printed roster that he checked twice while talking to reporters, making no attempt to hide it. An observer was told not to help reporters identify the players at the workout. A mix of American veterans and several fresh faces were part of Monday's workout: Carlos Bocanegra, Brian McBride, Frankie Hejduk, Jeff Cunningham, Steve Ralston, Taylor Twellman, Greg Vanney, Pablo Mastroeni, Chad Marshall, Kasey Keller, Justin Mapp, Chris Armas, Oguchi Onyewu, Kerry Zavagnin, Claudio Reyna, Clint Dempsey, Eddie Johnson, Eddie Lewis and Matt Reis. Johnson, Mastroeni and Bocanegra were back with the team. Johnson (turf toe) has not played in a qualifier since March. Bocanegra injured a knee during preseason training with Fulham, and Mastroeni sprained an ankle during the CONCACAF Gold Cup last month. DaMarcus Beasley (hamstring), who played his first game of the season in the Netherlands on Sunday, was due in later Monday. The United States can clinch a spot among the 32 national teams in next year's World Cup in Germany with one more win in its three remaining qualifying matches. Mexico (5-0-1) leads the final round of the North and Central American and Caribbean region with 16 points, one more than the United States (5-1-0). Guatemala and Costa Rica (both 2-3-1) are at seven points, following by Trinidad and Tobago (1-4-1) with four and Panama (0-4-2) with two. The top three teams qualify and the No. 4 nation goes to a playoff against Bahrain or Uzbekistan for another berth. U.S. forward Brian McBride said the current team's approach is somewhat different from those in the past. "It's about growth, definitely," he said. "We have a deeper squad. Probably the best thing and the biggest difference is that everybody really knows their job when they come in. Even though in the past we've actually changed our formation and made some modifications that we didn't do in 2002 for qualifying, it's paid off. The guys have grasped it and Bruce has put forward a plan for each game." Arena said there was little out of the ordinary about the week leading up to the showdown with Mexico. "This is very typical," he said. "It's nice having the first one at home. It's nice having this game in Columbus, a very important game that we know three points secures our trip to Germany. That's certainly what we want to be looking for." Arena said clinching a World Cup berth on Saturday night would be the best he could hope for. "Obviously, the sooner the better," he said. "But if it takes 10 games, it takes 10 games. We'll just see."