Playing to win

Different feeling but same goal for U.S. at Confed Cup

LYON, France (AP) -- U.S. midfielder Chris Armas knows the Confederations Cup doesn't feel the same as the World Cup.

"When you came into that camp for the World Cup, you knew it was the World Cup, and there was a certain excitement for all the players -- their lifelong dreams were about to become a reality, for me at least," he said.

"The 40-something games that you played with the national team leading up to the World Cup had one goal in mind -- the World Cup. There was the preparation with tickets, getting the huge bag of Nike gear for you and your family. There was a significant feeling,"

That doesn't exist at this tournament. But there also is a lot that hasn't changed.

"As far as what you're doing soccer-wise, it's much of the same," Armas said. "You get ready, and you do what you're going to do to win the game."

The U.S. team, at this tournament because it is champion of North and Central America and the Caribbean, opens Thursday in Saint-Etienne, France, 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," U.S. coach Bruce Arena said Monday in the lobby of the team's hotel. "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 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.

 

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