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Scratched from the lineup
Defender Brian Dunseth is the captain of the U.S. men's Olympic soccer team, which heads Down Under hoping to do what no other men's team has ever done: make it out of the first round alive. Dunseth, 23, left Cal. St. Fullerton early to join Major League Soccer and the New England Revolution, where he has now played four seasons. Check in with Dunseth on CNNSI.com throughout the Olympics.
As the first game approaches, what's the atmosphere surrounding the team? What's the excitement level? The atmosphere within the team is really good. We are excited, confident and ready to begin. The training sessions have been short and sharp, with the boys from the West Coast taking top prizes in the competitions that we have. How does it feel playing on the first day of Olympic competition, two days ahead of the Opening Ceremonies? I think everyone feels good knowing that we're the first game and that we can show our stuff. How is the team preparing for the Czech Republic in particular? We've spent the last couple of days going over game films, tactics and other preparations for the game against the Czechs. Nothing over the top, but enough to be well prepared. What's the one thing that's made you realize more than anything else that you're actually in Australia? The one thing that has stood out about Australia so far, besides the birds, is the security in the hotel. There's a metal detector to get through the front door, as well as a scanning machine for all of the bags, and you have to have the appropriate ID to get anywhere near our rooms. Even Craig Blazer, our coordinator, couldn't get back to his room because he'd left his ID in his room, and someone had to go get it for him. Any more practical joking? There hasn't been any more jokes lately, but I'm not leaving until I get some people back... Any other news? I'm not going to be able to start tonight due to this adductor/groin problem that I've been having. It's a situation that in the position I play, you have to be at 100 percent due to all the cutting, stopping and turning that goes with marking a player. I don't want to put the team in a situation that if I hurt it anymore more and needed a substitution, we'd not only waste a valuable sub, but I could also be out of the tournament. The pain is something that you could deal with, but this is more physical than it is mental. I'll be available on the bench, but along with the coaching staff and trainers, we're aiming for Saturday's game against Cameroon.
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