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New blood Arena forecasts changes in U.S. national teamPosted: Sunday October 20, 2002 4:28 PM
FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) -- Most of the players who led the United States to the World Cup quarterfinals probably won't play in the 2006 tournament. Some changes should show up next year in two international competitions, national team coach Bruce Arena said Sunday. "If you want to be there in 2006, there's got to be some turnover on this roster," Arena said before the MLS Cup between Los Angeles and New England. He is negotiating a new contract. His current one expires at the end of the year. "I'm hopeful something gets done in the next couple of weeks," he said. "I'd like to see a contract take me through the next World Cup." He led the United States to the quarterfinals in South Korea and Japan this summer, the team's best showing at a World Cup since it made the semifinals in 1930. The average age of this year's U.S. squad team was about 28. Arena expects to have an average age of 24 or 25 on the U.S. team that will play El Salvador in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 17. He plans to use the Confederations Cup next June in France and the Gold Cup next July in the United States to give younger players experience and allow him to evaluate them. Winning will be secondary. "It makes sense to look at as many players as we can," he said. "I don't think [winning] is important to me" at those tournaments. Among the young players he's interested in are goalkeepers Adin Brown of New England, Nick Rimando of D.C. United, and Tim Howard of the MetroStars. He also mentioned Bobby Convey and Santino Quaranta of D.C. United, Taylor Twellman of New England, and Kyle Martino of Columbus. He said there's no reason to think Brad Friedel and Kasey Keller, the U.S. goalkeepers in this year's World Cup, won't be back, but he needs to develop others during qualifying games for the 2006 tournament in Germany. Arena said he's not interested in coaching the U.S. Olympic team, because its schedule might conflict with that of the national team. And he praised the U.S. Soccer Federation for sticking with him. "The federation supported me in tough times," he said. "As I
look at these past four years, I can't complain."
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