Fraser finds spot again on U.S. team
Eleven years later, defender getting another chance to play
Posted: Friday February 19, 1999 03:11 PM
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Robin Fraser anchored the Galaxy's defense last season and was a candidate for 1998 MLS Defender of the Year. Stephen Dunn/Allsport |
MIAMI (AP) -- Like some of his more well-known contemporaries --
John Harkes, Eric Wynalda and Tab Ramos -- Robin Fraser can remember
the days under U.S. national team coach Lothar Osiander 11 years
ago.
Unlike his contemporaries, he can remember being cut by Osiander
and each of his three successors: Bob Gansler, Bora Milutinovic and
Steve Sampson. And also unlike those other players, Fraser seems to
already have found a home with the latest to ascend to the throne --
Bruce Arena.
In Arena's post-World Cup rebuilding of the U.S. national team,
the former D.C. United coach has promised to build with younger
talent and from U.S. Major League Soccer.
Although 32, Fraser has been one of MLS' steadiest defenders in
its three-year existence with the Los Angeles Galaxy and has
impressed since getting the call earlier this year.
He has started two of three matches under Arena, including the
3-0 victory over Germany on Feb. 6. He will play Sunday against
Chile at Lockhart Stadium in nearby Fort Lauderdale.
"I was bitter for a long time, and became apathetic by the 1998
World Cup," said Fraser, a native of Jamaica who moved to Miami
with his family when he was 10. "To be honest, I figured my
national team days were over."
Fraser will probably only play the second half Sunday, as former
U.S. captain Thomas Dooley, who announced his retirement from the
national team after th World Cup, will be an honorary starter in
his final game wearing the American colors.
"I invited Robin to play because he has proven he is one of the
best defenders in the country," said Arena, who also said it isn't
out of the question that Fraser could still be a factor come the
2002 World Cup.
Fraser anchored the Galaxy's defense last season -- the stingiest
in MLS -- and was a candidate for 1998 MLS Defender of the Year. He
started 29 games for the Galaxy after missing the 1997 playoffs
with a foot injury.
"This is the first time I'm excited about the national team in
a long time," Fraser said. "I feel rejuvenated. Physically, I
feel better than I have in five or six years."
Arena, who has not called back much of the core of the U.S.
World Cup side (Harkes, Wynalda, Ramos, etc.), will test several
new faces in Sunday's game. Five players on his roster have no caps
at all, including defenders Leo Cullen of Miami and Rich Kotschau
of Chicago, and Colorado midfielder Ross Paule.
Eleven others have four caps or less, including Chris Armas,
Eddie Lewis and C.J. Brown, who, like Fraser, have been impressive
in their new jerseys since Arena's take over.
Arena has promised to use 1999 to scout talent and his roster
for Chile is a much changed one from the team that beat Germany.
With the Bundesliga restarting from its winter break this weekend,
Claudio Reyna, Jovan Kirovski and Tony Sanneh have returned to
their German clubs.
Kevin Hartman, Tom Presthus and Zach Thornton will replace Tony
Meola in goal.
Similarly, Chile is in preparation for the Copa America and,
while it has brought 10 members from its World Cup side, it is
without its major star, Marcelo Salas of Italy's Lazio.
With European leagues in full swing, all of Nelson Acosta's
squad is South American based.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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