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Controlling their destiny U.S. names 23-man roster for Jamaica qualifier
Updated: Sunday September 30, 2001 2:38 PM
ATLANTA (CNNSI.com) -- United States national team head coach Bruce Arena on Sunday named a 23-man squad that will train for the team's upcoming qualifier against Jamaica on Oct. 7 at Foxboro Stadium. After suffering three straight qualifying losses for the first time in 29 years, the U.S. has its back to the wall. A loss would virtually eliminate the team. The match will kick off at 2 p.m. ET (ABC). The U.S. gets a boost Sunday with Claudio Reyna, John O'Brien and Ante Razov returning from injuries. "We have said from the beginning that qualification was going to be a long process, and we feel confident going into this match knowing our destiny is in our own hands," said Arena. "We have enjoyed tremendous success at Foxboro Stadium in the past, and we are looking forward to getting back to the task of securing a place in the 2002 World Cup. "We think there will be a special atmosphere at the stadium Sunday, and our players will certainly be ready." Reyna, the U.S. captain and the key to the Americans' midfield play, has missed the last three qualifiers because of a suspension and a groin pull, and the United States lost all three following a 4-0-1 start. Reyna, in his first game since Aug. 22, started Sunday as Glasgow Rangers lost 2-0 to Glasgow Celtic in one of soccer's great rivalries. He played the first 67 minutes before going off with a slight limp. He moved well and missed an excellent scoring chance in the second half when he failed to connect from point-blank range. "If he's healthy, he's going to play," Arena said last week. Razov, like Reyna, missed September losses to Honduras and Costa Rica because of a groin strain but the forward has returned to the Chicago Fire. O'Brien, a midfielder, has missed much of the last year with injuries but has been playing for Ajax Amsterdam's reserve team. The U.S. team still is without Clint Mathis (knee surgery), Brian McBride (blood clot), Ben Olsen (ankle surgery) and Josh Wolff (broken foot).
"It's just been a freaky series of injuries," Arena said. "If you had asked me last year, 'Would you be happy being in position to qualify in game nine?' I would have said yes. Right now, we're where I would have predicted us to be." Four players on the roster have been in the first team for all of the U.S.'s final round qualifying matches: Jeff Agoos, Chris Armas, Tony Sanneh, and Earnie Stewart, the all-time leading scorer for the United States in World Cup qualifying play. Arena has once again called upon the goalkeeping tandem of Brad Friedel and Kasey Keller, who combined have recorded seven shutouts in the 2002 qualifying tournament. Arena has called on 13 players from MLS squads, 12 of whom are currently involved in the MLS playoff race. Chris Armas, player of the year in 2000, leads a quartet of Chicago Fire players that includes Razov, goalkeeper Zach Thornton and uncapped Carlos Bocanegra. The sophomore defender for Chicago is making his first appearance on a World Cup qualifying roster. Three players from the San Jose Earthquakes were called, including 19-year old forward Landon Donovan, the current leader on the MLS playoff scoring charts with three goals and one assist in two games. The United States holds a 4-3-1 record in final round qualifying play, their 13 points equal with Mexico in third position in the Hexagonal, though the U.S. trails on goal differential. Only the top three advance. Jamaica currently sits in fifth place, posting a 2-4-2 record, and is virtually eliminated. The U.S. has never lost to the Reggae Boyz, holding an unblemished 5-0-5 all-time record in the series. The teams battled to a scoreless draw in the first leg of the series June 16 at the National Stadium in Kingston. On 13 points, the United States controls its own qualifying destiny. Costa Rica has already secured one of the three places reserved for CONCACAF by collecting 19 points. With second-place Honduras (14 pts.) and Mexico (13 pts.) facing a head-to-head meeting on the final matchday, the U.S. can clinch a berth in the World Cup finals by earning all six points in its final two matches. In 1998, Jamaica became the first English-speaking Caribbean nation to qualify for the World Cup finals. The Reggae Boyz will be led by the coaching duo of Carl Brown and Peter Cargill, who were appointed to replace Coach Clovis de Oliveira following the team's 1-0 lost to Honduras on September 5. Jamaica boasts an array of attacking options led by Kansas City Wizards forward Onandi Lowe. Lowe has recorded six goals in 2002 qualification. MLS has contributed four other players to the Jamaican side -- midfielders Andy Williams (New England Revolution) and Christopher Dawes (Kansas City Wizards), and forwards Wolde Harris (New England Revolution) and Tyrone Marshall (Miami Fusion FC). This match marks the final international soccer event at Foxboro Stadium before the opening of the new CMGI Field. The U.S. has enjoyed success at Foxboro, boasting an unbeaten 6-0-3 lifetime record at the venue, including three World Cup qualifying victories. The U.S. last took the field here June 20, Ante Razov netting the fastest goal in U.S. World Cup qualifying history en route to a 2-0 victory against Trinidad and Tobago. The U.S. will face the same T&T squad -- which is mathematically eliminated -- in its final match of Hexagonal play Saturday, Nov. 11 at the National Stadium in Port of Spain. The match will be broadcast live on ABC at 2 p.m. ET. Roster: Goalkeepers - Brad Friedel (Blackburn, England), Kasey Keller (Tottenham Hotspur, England), Zach Thornton (Chicago) Defenders - Jeff Agoos (San Jose), Carlos Bocanegra (Chicago), Steve Cherundulo (Hannover 96, Germany), Robin Fraser (Colorado), Eddie Pope (DC United), David Regis (Metz, France), Tony Sanneh (FC Nuremberg, Germany), Greg Vanney (Los Angeles) Midfielders - Chris Armas (Chicago), Cobi Jones (Los Angeles), Manny Lagos (San Jose), John O'Brien (Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands), Preki Radosavljevic (Miami), Claudio Reyna (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Earnie Stewart (NAC Breda, Netherlands), Richie Williams (New York/New Jersey) Forwards - Landon Donovan (San Jose), Jovan Kirovski (Crystal Palace, England), Joe-Max Moore (Everton), Ante Razov (Chicago)
The Associated Press contributed to this report. |
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