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In the hunt U.S., four more World Cup teams seek Gold Cup victoryPosted: Thursday January 17, 2002 4:25 PM
PASADENA, California (Reuters) -- Teams bound for the World Cup finals, others in the process of rebuilding and some who have hardly played recently should help make the Gold Cup a lively affair over the next two weeks. The 12-team, biennial competition, which begins on Friday and runs until Feb. 2, features a diverse selection of sides coming into the tournament with vastly different aspirations. Group matches and quarterfinals will be played at the Orange Bowl in Miami and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, which will also be the venue for the semifinals and final. The five teams heading for the World Cup -- the United States, South Korea, Ecuador, Mexico and Costa Rica -- should dominate, although Mexico and the U.S. have brought understrength squads. While there is incentive to do well in the sixth Gold Cup -- the winner gains a berth to the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup if it goes ahead -- most entrants are using it to assess talent largely untested on the international stage, with many bringing predominately reserve squads. "We think every time we play it's important," said U.S. coach Bruce Arena, who has five to seven World Cup squad places to decide. "We're looking at team concepts and more important, some individual performances," he added. "This tournament is critical to some of our players if they wish to remain in the hunt for a World Cup spot." World Cup rehearsal The U.S. will take part in one of the Gold Cup's most anticipated games when they kick off on Saturday against South Korea at the Rose Bowl. The two countries were also drawn in the same World Cup group, with a meeting set for June 10 in Taegu, Korea. The U.S. meet Cuba on January 21 in a group B match-up that traditionally sparks more political curiosity than athletic interest. The Koreans, one of two invitees to the tournament along with Ecuador, have brought a strong squad, which is essentially the one that defeated a reserve American side in a friendly last month in Sogwipo, South Korea. "It's strange certainly that we're playing Korea for the second time in six weeks," Arena said. "Obviously from the makeup of our team, they're not going to see the real USA team, but on the other hand we get a good feel for what they're about." The U.S., winners of the inaugural Gold Cup in 1991 and twice runners-up, have a squad of domestic players with the exceptions of Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Kasey Keller and midfielders Frankie Hejduk (Bayer Leverkusen) and Eddie Lewis (Fulham), who rarely make the first team at their European clubs. Among the young MLS players in camp, Arena said he is most impressed with goalkeeper Tim Howard, defenders Danny Califf and Carlos Bocanegra, and midfielders Bobby Convey, DaMarcus Beasley and Brian West. "We've had a pretty good showing from a few young players whom I would not anticipate being a part of our [World Cup] roster," Arena said. "If they get an opportunity in the Gold Cup and show well, I think they get put right back in " But the status of Clint Mathis, one of the team's most dynamic players, is uncertain for the Gold Cup. The midfielder is training with the Americans for the first time since tearing knee ligaments in June. Mathis, who plays for the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, was the MLS' leading scorer when injured. "I'm not sure whether he'll make our 18-man roster," Arena said. Group A, which is also based at the Rose Bowl, is led by the region's perennial power, Mexico, along with El Salvador and Guatemala, who have only played three times in the last six months. The Mexicans, winners of three Gold Cups between 1993 and 1998, have also brought a depleted squad. But Coach Javier Aguirre, who led the Tri-Colores to a convincing change of fortune after a nightmare start to World Cup qualification, has made it clear that no player has been guaranteed a spot in the squad for the trip to South Korea and Japan. Costa Rica, who used a 2-1 victory over Cameroon in a friendly on Jan. 12 as their only warm-up for the tournament -- their first game in nearly three months -- head group C in Miami where they meet Trinidad and Tobago and Martinique. Few changes Ticos coach Alexandre Guimares is expected to make few changes to the team he fielded throughout qualification, with the only notable addition being recalled midfielder Max Sanchez, who has not played for the team in nearly 10 years. The main absentees are forwards Paulo Wanchope (Manchester City) and Ronald Gomez (OFI Crete). Trinidad and Tobago, led by West Ham United goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, are in the process of rebuilding after a failed World Cup qualification campaign. Technical director Rene Simoes intends to use the Gold Cup to blood new players in a side that has recently been unimpressive, including being held to a 1-1 draw in a friendly against Grenada. Among those expected to play are striker Stern John (Nottingham Forest), goalkeeper Clayton Ince (Crewe Alexandra) and defender Marvin Andrews (Livingston). Canada, the defending champions, are paired with Ecuador and Haiti in group D, which is also based in Miami. Ecuador, who have qualified for their first World Cup, bring a veteran squad led by midfielder Alex Aguinaga and forward Nicolas Asencio. GROUP A: MEXICO, GUATEMALA, EL SALVADOR (Los Angeles) Mexico has clearly signaled that it has no intention of taking this tournament seriously by sending a weak, young. Most of the players are getting a first look, while key standouts include defender Sidney Balderis, forward Jeszs Olalde (both with Tigres) and Tomas Campos, who was a key figure in Cruz Azul's Copa Libertadores run. All figure in coach Nelson Aguirre's plans to rebuild his team, which limped into the World Cup after a poor Hexagonal. El Salvador failed to select Raul Diaz Arce after the striker had another miserable MLS season. Nonetheless, the team coached by Carlos Humberto Recinos will look to Adonay Martinez (second in El Salvador's Liga Mayor with 17 goals for Alianza FC) and Santos Cabrera for offense. San Jose's Ronald Cerritos also will see time up top. Guatemala's team is not gangbusters, either, though it does have some talent. Denis Chen (CSD Municipal) is a strong wingback who has come up through Guatemala's age-group program -- Fredy Garcia (CSD Comunicaciones) is possibly the country's best midfielder; and striker Dwight Pezzarossi (Chile's Club Palestino). GROUP B: USA, KOREA REPUBLIC, CUBA (Los Angeles) The U.S. will get another good look at the South Korean team it will face in the World Cup, matching MLS-based players such as Josh Wolff (Chicago) and Clint Mathis (New York) against a side the Americans has lost four straight games to. Keeper Kasey Keller (Tottenham Hotspur) is one of the few European-based players to make the trip. He joins this team after falling out of the starting job at Hotspur following a miserable day against Chelsea in the League Cup last week. South Korea is an emerging team but still lacks the finishing power of a truly complete team. That said, the matchup against the U.S. will be an interesting test for Arena's men as the Koreans have never lost to the Americans in each of their three previous meetings. "It is a little strange that we're going to end up playing Korea twice in the past six weeks," said coach Bruce Arena. "But we get a good feel for what they're about as they have brought their entire team here. They are very fit and tenacious, and they defend very well. I don't think they're a real good team going forward but they can be dangerous on counters and set pieces." Cuba, of course, presents historic overtones for the Americans, who have maintained an international blockade against the island nation since Fidel Castro seized power. The U.S. last played them in 1998 Gold Cup, winning 3-0. Cuba's top players include Lazaro Dalcourt (Cuba's Pinar del Rio), who is considered one of the best Cuban players ever. At 30 he has switched from midfield to defense. Striker Ariel Betancourt (Villa Clara) led the Cuban league with a record 20 goals in 2000-01 -- 19 of which gave his team the lead or victory. GROUP C: COSTA RICA, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, MARTINIQUE (Miami) Alexandre Guimaraes brings a strong team to Gold Cup as the Ticos attempt to get some tuning up done prior to the World Cup. European-based Paolo Cesar Wanchope (Manchester City) and Ronald Gomez (OFI Crete) won't be in the mix, but Erick Lonnis, Rolando Fonseca and Hernan Medford -- all of whom were instrumental in the Ticos' qualification -- will. Rene Simoes, the "Professor" who took Jamaica to the 1998 World Cup, failed to repeat his magic act in T&T, but that wasn't all his fault since the team just isn't very good. Bottom feeders in the Hexagonal, T&T relies on Ansil Elcock (recently waived by the MLS Columbus Crew), Brent Rahim (PFC Levski Sofia) and former MLS striker Stern John (Nottingham Forest). They have talent, but they rarely have the discipline to use it. This is a team on which no one defends and everyone showboats. Martinique is a weak side with few players of note despite having several nationals playing in France. Ludovic Clement (France's Chateauroux FC) is one of the few. A standout with the French side since he was 16, he is the heart of the team and takes all of the free kicks. Fabrice Reupernh (France's Stade de Renms FC) is the key central midfielder. Martinique lacks real depth at forward. GROUP D: CANADA, ECUADOR, HAITI (Miami) Canada was the surprise champion in 2000 and brings a new-look, youth-centered team to defend. Players to watch include MLS Cup MVP Dwayne DeRosario (San Jose). The Canadians have only brought two forwards and Kevin McKenna, based in Scotland with Edinburgh's Hearts. Notably absent is Paul Peschisolido, who had been a mainstay on coach Holger Osieck's team. Ecuador, of course, qualified for its first-ever World Cup this year with a surprising performance. They have an able keeper in Jose Cevallos (Barcelona) and solid attack in Ivan Hurtado (Mexico's La Piedad). Their star is Augustin Delgado (tentatively to Southampton, England), who is one of the most feared attackers in South America. He may not travel for this tourney. In a nutshell, Haiti is a poor team. Captain Pierre Richard
Bruny plays for T&T's Joe Public, famous primarily for being a
bar side, and Gilbert Jean-Baptiste is with the A-League's
Charleston Battery. Striker Wagneau Eloi (France's AS Monaco)
has played in the French first division for nine years. Mysteriously,
this is his first call-up.
© 2003 SportsTicker Enterprises, LP
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