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Goalkeepers
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Kasey Keller
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(Leicester City, England), age 28, 26 caps
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Established as first choice U.S. goalkeeper after playing in
England with Millwall and premier league Leicester City. An
agile keeper, with a keen positional sense, as seen in brilliant
performance to blank Brazil in CONCACAF Gold Cup in February.
Had six clean sheets in nine U.S. World Cup qualifying games.
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Brad Friedel
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(Liverpool, England), 26 (27 on May 18), 53 caps
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Second choice to Tony Meola in 1994 World Cup. Has played
himself back into contention after good display with Major
League Soccer's Columbus Crew. Imposing physique helps him
command area and is fast off his line. Has dislodged David James
at premier league Liverpool.
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Juergen Sommer
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(Columbus Crew), 29, 7 caps
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First American
goalkeeper to play in English top flight -- with Queens Park
Rangers -- after a spell with Luton Town. Will find it difficult
to displace Keller or Friedel, but is highly regarded by coach
Steve Sampson.
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Defenders
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Alexi Lalas
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(NY/NJ Metrostars), 27 (28 on June 1), 97 caps
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Guitar-playing central defender with straggly red hair and
goatee beard. Veteran of 1994 World Cup, had spell with Padova
in Italian Serie A where he earned the respect of some of the
best attackers in the world. Returned to U.S. for MLS.
Commanding in air and determined in the tackle, but sometimes
slow to turn and can be beaten for pace.
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Marcelo Balboa
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(Colorado Rapids), 30, 126 caps
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Most-capped
U.S. player, will be playing in his third World Cup finals.
Played two seasons for Mexican first division side Leon. Good in
the air at back of defence, but can also play a midfield role.
Nicknamed 'Rocky' after the movie boxer.
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Mike Burns
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(New England Revolution), 27, 70 caps
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Solid
right full-back, the only American player to represent his
country at all four levels -- Under-17, Under-20, under-23
(Olympics) and World Cup.
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Eddie Pope
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(Washington D.C. United), 24, 20 caps
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Mobile
full-back or central defender who can score at set-pieces. Has
attracted attention from several top European clubs. Continued
to study law while helping D.C. United to two MLS titles.
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Jeff Agoos
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(D.C. United) 29 (30 on May 2), 84 caps
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Versatile left-back or midfielder, nicknamed 'Goose' and
veteran of 1994 World Cup. Overlaps well but prone to mistakes,
such as the gaffe that gifted Jamaica a goal in their World Cup
qualifier and his sending-off against Mexico for retaliation.
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Midfielders
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Thomas Dooley
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(Columbus Crew) 36 (37 on May 12), 74 caps
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Poised German-born libero or midfielder, played nine years in
Germany, including leading Kaiserslautern to 1991 Bundesliga
title. Sampson on record as saying he is a leader of the team.
Father was U.S. Army veteran. A qualified architect who designed
his own home.
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Tab Ramos
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(NY/NJ Metrostars) 31, 77 caps
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Career hampered by
injuries and Sampson unwilling to use him unless fully recovered
from knee surgery that has kept him out of Metrostars lineup
this season. Appearing in his third World Cup, has close
dribbling skills and pin-point passing. Scored winner in
qualifier against Costa Rica that virtually clinched U.S. berth
in France. Uruguayan-born, has experience in Spain and Mexico.
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Claudio Reyna
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(VfL Wolfsburg, Germany) 24, 58 caps
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Often
called the best player ever produced in America. Current
midfield general for Wolfsburg in German Bundesliga. Has deft
passing skills with good vision. Experience in Germany has
improved defensive part of his game. Missed 1994 finals with
injury. Has Argentine father, Portuguese mother. Wife Danielle
played for U.S. women's soccer team.
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Cobi Jones
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(Los Angeles Galaxy) 27 (28 on June 16), 105 caps
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Dreadlocked star who is tireless runner on either flank
and equally at home up front. He can score from any position.
Played in 1994 finals and had brief spells with English premier
league Coventry City and in Brazil with Vasco de Gama.
Especially popular with fans, he has his own health and fitness
show on MTV.
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Chad Deering
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(VfL Wolfsburg, Germany) 27, 7 caps
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Sampson's
choice to replace surprise omission John Harkes as left-sided
defensive midfielder. Plays alongside Reyna at Wolfsburg and is
likely to do the same in France.
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Mike Sorber
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(NY/NJ Metrostars) 26 (27 on May 14) 67 caps
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Unspectacular defensive midfielder who excels in short-ball
passing but can also be deadly from free-kicks and long range,
earning himself the nickname 'Laser.'
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Preki Radosavljevic
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(Kansas City Wizards) 34 (35 on June 24), 21 caps
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Yugoslav-born and known simply as 'Preki,'
played nine seasons of indoor soccer in U.S. before returning to
outdoor game in England and then MLS. One of most gifted U.S.
players with brilliant dribbling skills and lethal left-foot
shot, was league's top scorer last season and voted Most
Valuable Player.
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Chris Henderson
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(Colorado Rapids) 27, 76 caps
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Hard-working
midfielder whose performances for last year's MLS runners-up
Colorado Rapids, brought him back into contention for the
national team. Was a member of the 1990 World Cup squad but
didn't play in Italy and was cut from final 1994 squad.
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Brian Maisonneuve
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(Columbus Crew) 24 (25 on June 28) 4 caps
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Promising midfielder who has impressed Sampson with his play for
Columbus, where he plays alongside Dooley and sets up many of
Brian McBride's goals.
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Frankie Hejduk
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(Tampa Bay Mutiny) 23, 11 caps
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Can play
either full-back or midfield where he is dangerous coming
forward on the right wing.
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Forwards
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Eric Wynalda
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(San Jose Clash) 28 (29 on June 9) 98 caps
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Eric Wynalda (San Jose Clash) 28 (29 on June 9) 98 caps.
All-time leading U.S. scorer with 32 goals in 98 games. Known as
'Waldo,' he played in the 1990 and '94 World Cups and has
devastating speed on either wing. Deadly in front of goal with
both feet and head and can take penalties and free-kicks.
Extensive experience in Germany, but returned to U.S. for MLS.
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Roy Wegerle
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(D.C. United) 34, 35 caps
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South African-born,
proven goal-scorer in more than 10 seasons in England including
spells at Queens Park Rangers, Blackburn Rovers and Coventry
City before joining MLS. A sniper, who scored twice against
Canada to help send U.S. to France 98, Sampson likes him as
target man up front, laying off the ball for others.
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Roy Lassiter
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(Tampa Bay Mutiny) 29, 24 caps
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Was top scorer
in the MLS's inaugural season in 1996 with total of 34 goals.
Has netted some vital goals for the national team but is out of
favour with Sampson who has used him sparingly.
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Brian McBride
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(Columbus Crew) 25 (26 on June 19), 20 caps
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Tall and commanding in the air, with a nose for goal.
Inconsistent in World Cup qualifying matches mostly due to
injury that restricted him to only 13 league games last season.
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Joe-Max Moore
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(New England Revolution) 27, 65 caps
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Lethal
goalscorer with a hard shot from long-range, free-kicks and
penalties. Sampson has recently converted him to an attacking
midfield role where his tireless work has impressed.
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Ernie Stewart
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(NAC Breda, Netherlands) 29, 45 caps
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Dutch-born,
has played all his professional soccer in Netherlands. Scored
winner in shock 2-1 U.S. win over Colombia in 1994 World Cup.
Sampson alternates him between striker and attacking midfielder.
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Jovan Kirovski
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(Borussia Dortmund, Germany) 22, 25 caps
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A
promising youngster who had a brief spell with Manchester United
before joining Dortmund. One of youngest ever to play for U.S.,
scored first his goal (v Jamaica) when still 18.
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John Harkes
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(D.C. United) 31, 90 caps
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Team captain and
driving force in midfield but has fallen out with Sampson and
will apparently not go to France. Vast experience in 1990 and 94
World Cups and with English Premier League Sheffield Wednesday
and Derby County. Son of Scottish immigrants, has ability to
read game, tackle, distribute from deep positions and score with
both feet and his head. Wears number 6 after his idol Franz
Beckenbauer and hopes for a late change of heart by Sampson.
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