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Inside Soccer
A retooled defense is spearheading the U.S.'s strong run in World Cup qualifying By Ian Thomsen
"We're not blessed with great attacking players," says coach Bruce Arena, who was hired after the U.S. was outscored 5-1 in three losses in the 1998 World Cup. "We have to be solid in the back." The team's most glaring need when Arena arrived was at right back. After toying with the notion of playing only three defenders, Arena believes his back four has been made whole by the ascension of Steve Cherundolo, 22, who played in only his fifth national team match last Saturday. "The first time I put Steve in at right back," Arena says, "it was as if he'd been playing the position for 15 years." The 5'6" Cherundolo may be undersized, but he has overcome greater obstacles. While training in Germany with the under-20 team in the summer of '99, he drew the attention of Hannover 96 and signed with the second-division club that winter. Five days before he left for Germany his father, Richard, died of cancer. "My family told me to go because they understood it was the kind of chance not everybody gets," says Cherundolo, who was raised in San Diego. "The first six months were hard. Every day I wanted to come home. But things happen for a reason, and it's your job to figure out what that reason is." Cherundolo showed his versatility at Hannover, playing both flanks in defense and midfield. He was arguably the best player on the U.S. under-23 team that qualified for the 2000 Olympics, but he missed the trip to Sydney when he tore his left ACL during an April 2000 practice. As a result of his hard work during rehab, Cherundolo is faster now than he was before the injury. Cherundolo is learning by studying the strengths of his fellow defenders. Carlos Llamosa is the team's most accomplished man marker, and Jeff Agoos, who joins Llamosa in central defense, is the unit's leader. Left back David Régis is the best at going forward into the attack. Pushing them for playing time is Eddie Pope, a World Cup '98 starter who is near full strength after knee and foot injuries over the last two years. Like a good NFL cornerback, Cherundolo can track the ball without letting his man sneak behind him to receive a pass. Arena believes Cherundolo will continue to improve his positioning while defending against crossing passes into the box, where he is vulnerable to taller attackers. "In five years he could be our most complete back," says assistant coach Dave Sarachan. Cherundolo takes nothing for granted -- not even his starting position for the final six qualifying matches. "I'm not quite there yet," he says. "I like to put pressure on myself." Issue date: June 25, 2001
For more Inside Soccer see this week's issue of Sports Illustrated, on newsstands Wednesday, June 20. Click here to subscribe to SI.
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