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Scene of the crime U.S. eager to make better showing in France this timePosted: Tuesday June 17, 2003 1:07 AMLYON, France (AP) -- When the U.S. soccer team came to this part of France five years ago, the Americans stayed miles north of the city, in the tiny Beaujolais town of Saint-Jean D'Ardieres. Players bickered and the team left in turmoil two weeks later following an embarrassing 2-1 loss to Iran, which eliminated the United States from advancing and helped cost coach Steve Sampson his job. His replacement, Bruce Arena, has the team right downtown for the Confederations Cup, the same formula that helped lead to a successful World Cup last year in South Korea. The Americans are in a hotel next to the Perrache train station, about five minutes from the stadium, and they train just outside the city, in Limonest. "It's a fine opportunity for our team," Arena said Monday in the nearly empty hotel lobby. "I can't imagine there's a whole lot of pressure on anybody." The U.S. team, at this tournament because it is champion of North and Central America and the Caribbean, opens Thursday in Saint-Etienne against World Cup semifinalist Turkey, then plays World Cup champion Brazil and African champion Cameroon. There's only one day off between games, a punishing schedule that makes it likely nearly all of the 23 players on the U.S. roster will see action. "You just look at it in the big picture," Arena said. "Which players are going to put you in position to qualify for the World Cup? Which players are going to put you in position to be successful at the World Cup?" Just nine of the 23 players were on last year's World Cup roster. Some, such as midfielder Chris Armas and defender Greg Vanney, are coming back from injuries that forced them to miss the World Cup, where the Americans advanced to the quarterfinals -- their best showing since 1930. Armas, who likely would have been a starter at the World Cup, missed the tournament after tearing a knee ligament. He says the goal in the Confederations Cup is "playing to win," not to show he's recovered from the injury. "Like any major tournament, you have to approach it with seriousness," he said. "I've been on the national team for almost four years, I've been on a stage where I've shown what I can do. I'm looking at this as an opportunity to play at a high level and be part of a team that can do well." Like most of the eight nations, the United States is mixing veterans with youth. Among the missing are goalkeeper Brad Friedel and midfielder John O'Brien (recovering from long club seasons); goalkeeper Kasey Keller (sidelined by minor elbow surgery); defender Tony Sanneh and midfielder Claudio Reyna (recovering from injuries); and forward Brian McBride (whose wife is due to give birth). In their place are an intriguing group that includes goalkeeper Tim Howard, defender Dan Califf, midfielder Bobby Convey and forward Taylor Twellman. Arena's task is "how to find the right balance between trying to win games and trying to give players experience." "Like with the World Cup, you work with the instincts," he said. "The only difference between this and the World Cup is you don't have that much time in between games to prepare, so all of the 23 guys have to be ready," he said. "It is highly unlikely that that many players can play three games in five days. Some of these young players are going to get thrown in there whether we like it or not." The tournament opens Wednesday, when New Zealand plays Japan in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis, and France hosts Colombia in Lyon. The top two nations in each of the four-team groups advance to the semifinals. "It will be a great test for us in an environment that's not as intense as World Cup qualifying or the World Cup," Arena said. Notes: F Jeff Cunningham has been slowed by a mild left hamstring strain. ... The U.S. team will practice in Lyon's Stade Gerland on Tuesday and Saint-Etienne's Stade Geoffrey Guichard on Wednesday. |
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