Reyna in search of good memories

Updated: Sunday June 16, 2002 02:47 a.m. ET

TAEJON, South Korea (Reuters) -- Claudio Reyna has been one of the most important players in the United States team for the past eight years, but when it comes to World Cups things have not gone so well.

The current tournament is no exception and the classy central midfielder will hope that he can turn that round against Mexico on Monday by helping his team reach the quarter-finals.

The American captain missed the first game of the tournament with a thigh injury and watched from the sidelines as his team mates produced a terrific performance to upset Portugal 3-2.

Of course he was delighted but, widely touted as the team's most influential player, he must also have feared for his chances of getting back into the side.

Coach Bruce Arena, however, had no doubt that his leading midfielder should be on the pitch against South Korea, and duly picked him to start.

Reyna responded with low-key performance as he struggled to come to terms with the fast-moving Koreans and spent most of the 1-1 draw on the defensive.

Against Poland he was far more involved, usually at the heart of most of the Americans' forward movement, but despite huge amounts of possession around the edge of the box, he consistently failed to find the killer pass in the disappointing 3-1 defeat.

So, as often before in his 90-cap career, Reyna finds himself with something of a point to prove if he is not to add 2002 to his list of personal World Cup disappointments.

HAMSTRING INJURY

In 1994, as one of the bright young hopes of the hosting U.S. team, his World Cup dream was dashed by a hamstring injury that prevented him taking part in their run to the second round.

Four years later in France he played every minute of all three first round games but could not prevent the U.S. losing them all as they ended the tournament ranked 32nd and last.

Reyna was heavily criticised afterwards and has continually had to justify himself against accusations of failing to deliver when it really matters.

Still only 28, that pressure probably has much to do with his intention to retire from the international game after this World Cup to concentrate on playing for English premier league Sunderland, who bought him from Rangers in Scotland for 4.5 million pounds six months ago.

Arena though will be sorry to lose him and always staunchly defends a man he calls "probably our best player."

"People expect miracles out of him," Arena said after criticism of the midfielder's meagre return of just eight goals in 90 games.

"He's not a goalscorer and never has been. But he gets the team forward so that others can score."

He will have to do that on Monday and it will be his passes to the likes of Clint Mathis, Landon Donovan and Brian McBride that can prize open the Mexican defence.

Reyna is happy to shoulder the responsibility and says he is unconcerned by the critics.

"I'm not going to put any pressure on myself," he said. "I've grown as a player and now I concentrate on the things I know I can do best."

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