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Depth test Inexperienced roster named for Jamaica friendly
Posted: Tuesday August 31, 1999 07:56 PM
ATLANTA (CNN/SI) -- U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena on Monday named an inexperienced 18-man roster for a Sept. 8 friendly against regional foe Jamaica in Kingston. The roster features several top young MLS players and includes four members of the U.S. U-23 national team, which in April will compete in CONCACAF Qualifying for the right to play in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. The 18 players named to the roster have combined for just 13 goals in international play. The national team call-ups drew the ire of at least one MLS coach. D.C. United's Thomas Rongen refused to release midfielder Ben Olsen, according to the Washington Post. That refusal, in turn, drew ire from Arena, formerly the coach at United. "The timing of it was pretty poor," Arena told the Post. "Whatever. We'll move on. I just think Ben needs more international games because he's been playing in some pretty bad [MLS] games lately. It would have been a nice opportunity for him." Rongen was equally blunt. "This game [against Jamaica] doesn't make any sense whatsoever," he told the paper. "It's meaningless and I don't understand it." United released three other players for the match, but Rongen said Olsen was withheld due to fatigue, as well as shin and groin injuries. The USA-Jamaica match in Kingston will be part of a doubleheader featuring the two nations' under-17 teams in the preliminary match. The U.S. and Jamaican U-17s are scheduled to kick off at 5:30 p.m. ET, with the senior teams playing at 7:30 p.m. ET. "Rebuilding the national team is a long-term process," said Arena. "And in order to ensure success down the road, our younger, talented players need to be exposed to the international game. The Jamaica game will give me the opportunity to look at some new faces, as well as bring back some players with previous national team experience." Forward Brian McBride, 27, and defender Eddie Pope, 25, are the most experienced members of the squad, with 34 and 28 appearances, respectively. After Eddie Lewis, who has earned 12 of his 13 appearances in the last 10 months, the remaining 15 players all have fewer than eight appearances total. Eight players will be looking for their first national team appearance. Joining the team for the first time since Bruce Arena took over as head coach are defenders Greg Vanney, Steve Cherundolo, Jay Heaps and Chad McCarty, midfielders Henry Gutierrez, Billy Walsh and Steve Ralston, and forward Jason Kreis. Cherundolo, who starts for Hannover 96 in the German second division, is the only member of the squad who is not affiliated with an MLS club. The U.S. U-23 national team contingent includes Cherundolo and McCarty, as well as midfielder Chris Albright and forward Josh Wolff. Albright, 20, who recently signed a Project-40 contract with MLS and U.S. Soccer, has already appeared for both the U-20 and U-23 National Teams this year. The roster also includes several MLS statistical leaders. The most notable is Dallas Burn forward Jason Kreis, who with 14 goals and 12 assists is currently tied for the league scoring lead. The U.S. goal will be guarded by Zach Thornton and Kevin Hartman, the MLS leader with a 0.84 goals against average for the L.A. Galaxy. "Playing Jamaica in Kingston will be a tremendous challenge," added Arena. This experience will only help to build our team towards qualification next year."
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