Test against the best

U.S. departs for France prepared for Confederations Cup

The MetroStars' Tim Howard could be on his way to Man Utd. Chris Trotman/Getty Images

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- United States coach Bruce Arena is keeping all his cards close to his chest as his team heads to France on Wednesday for the FIFA Confederations Cup tournament.

The U.S. will face Turkey, Brazil and Cameroon over five days in a grueling test that could help solidify the growing international reputation of American soccer. The first game for the United States is against Turkey on June 19.

The Americans earned their place in this event by winning the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup. They finished third in 1999, the last time they appeared in the competition.

But Arena, who proved himself a master of team management in the 2002 World Cup, isn't making promises. As usual, he says this tournament is nothing more than a chance to "evaluate players."

"This is a great opportunity to test our team against the best in world," Arena said in a media conference call from Fairfax, Virginia, where the team is practicing. "It's a great opportunity for us to evaluate players for not only the Gold Cup but World Cup qualification which we anticipate will start in January of next year."

No pressure

Arena went on to remark that he knows little about the teams he will face in the tournament.

"We have no pressure for results. I don't feel any pressure. I look forward to the games and it'll be interesting to see how the teams play," Arena said.

Anyone who knows Arena knows that this is at best another example of a skillful boss promising little in public while off stage plotting to achieve something important. Arena hates to lose and is going to play every game to win.

He proved that in last year's World Cup. Using the philosophy of the coach he admires, Bill Parcells of the Dallas Cowboys, he prepared specific game instructions for each player and played a masterfully tactical set of games that nearly landed the U.S. in the semifinals.

The task to perform well is a bit tougher this time. Arena has selected a largely MLS-based contingent for the trip. Those playing for European teams -- such as Gregg Vanney, Joe Cannon and Gregg Berhalter -- will see more action.

The big names -- Brad Friedel, Kasey Keller, John O'Brien, Tony Sanneh and Claudio Reyna -- are either injured or resting.

Strain on MLS

This is the tournament no one wants. Top players will be absent from virtually every country's roster, including Arena's.

Two FIFA players of the year, Brazil's Ronaldo and France's Zinedine Zidane, headline a list of big names who have not been called for the competition, which Europe's biggest clubs outspokenly oppose.

"In my opinion, the timing is poor," said Arena. "It's great that we have a large group of players who are relatively fresh.

"However, this is major burden on MLS, because it is not suited to have them gone for long periods of time because rosters are small and they cannot afford to lose the players they are losing. This makes it difficult for everyone."

Arena also is losing the ill-fated Eddie Pope, yet again to injury, this time a knee fracture.

"That was a big blow to us as we were counting on him to be our veteran in the back," says Arena. Instead, he will have to rely on the raw group of Dan Califf, Carlos Bocanegra and Greg Vanney, although Frankie Hejduk and Berhalter have World Cup experience to draw upon.

The midfield and front of Arena's squad contain some familiar names, especially World Cup stars DaMarcus Beasley, Landon Donovan and Clint Mathis. That trio should form the basis of America's attack, although there also appears to be an opportunity for Jovan Kirovski to continue to show that he belongs in the attacking pool.

Arena did not select Brian McBride, who led the attack in Korea. The wife of the Columbus Crew star just gave birth to a baby girl.

Goalkeeping is also of interest, where Tim Howard, the MetroStars' ace reportedly headed to Manchester United, is expected to get some starts. Marcus Hahnemann, based in England with Reading, and Joe Cannon, who saw little action with Lens in France, also are on the roster.

The goalkeepers are a point of focus, said Arena.

"We're not confident we're going to have Friedel and Keller around in 2006 -- they'll be 35 and 36 respectively, and we're going to look at these guys," Arena said.

European clubs, especially, have harped on the scheduling, and big names Zidane, Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo will not appear because the Spanish league does not conclude until June 22.

The Brazilians are on record that coach Carlos Alberto Parreira will not be evaluated at this competition, an admission that they are sending far from their best team.

Colombia's Francisco Maturana could not include any players from top clubs America-Cali and Deportes Independiente Medellin because both are playing in the South American club championship semifinals June 18-19.

Formidable foes

Santos of Brazil is also involved in that tournament, the reason why Parreira could not call on any of its young stars.

"I don't think we're going to show up and see eight countries with exhausted players," Arena said. "You will see teams prepared to play and give a great effort."

Turkey last played the United States in a 1991, when the team played to a 1-1 tile in Istanbul. Turkey was a World Cup semifinalist last year, beating host South Korea for third place, but no roster has been announced.

"Turkey is a team that is very aggressive going forward and they are good at every position." said Arena. "They are skillful, and quick on counters with outstanding goalkeeping, so they are a good, aggressive attacking team."

Additionally, the Turks, like the Americans, will be looking to use the Confederations Cup to further bolster their growing global reputation.

The U.S. will then face Brazil on June 21. They are 1-9-0 lifetime against the Brazilians, while the last meeting was a 2-1 loss in 2001 in Pasadena, California.

The U.S. surprised Brazil with a 1-0 win in 1998 and almost upset them in the 1999 Confederations Cup in Mexico before falling 1-0.

"From the little I saw of Brazil, I know they have some new faces," said Arena. "They have some outstanding players in every position When you have Ronaldinho, Lucio, Emerson, and Dida you have four outstanding players down the middle of field. It's a very good team."

Finally, the U.S. will take on Cameroon for the first time June 23.

"Cameroon are obviously a very athletic, attack oriented team. I think they will be fun to play against, " Arena said.

Should the U.S. progress, it will face one of the teams from Group A. It will likely be France, Japan or Colombia as New Zealand is being given little chance.

"We're going to step on the field and think we can win every game." says Arena. "Teams know us now, and they know we have the ability to win games at this level."

 

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