BY RIDGE MAHONEY, Senior Editor What U.S. coach Bruce Arena calls the “weeding-out” process has begun but it's not strictly talent by which he'll decide who goes to the World Cup and who doesn't. A two-week training camp preceding the Gold Cup forged a team that made up in grit and cohesion what it may have lacked in raw ability. And Arena says he'll insist on that same sense of selflessness and team chemistry as he blends his European-based players with the domestic group in the run-up to Korea/Japan 2002. “This group has done a wonderful job as have most of our players,” said Arena during the Gold Cup competition that the U.S. won for the first time since the days of Bora Milutinovic in 1991. “If you look back at [France] '98, that team had cancers. We will avoid that. If we're not going to be successful it's not going to be because of people being divided. That is part of the process over the next five months. “Twenty-three players together is going to be better than 23 outstanding individuals.” In the Gold Cup, the U.S. attacked quickly and incisively, defended stoutly, and just as important, moved and worked hard for each other. Despite lacking Claudio Reyna and Tony Sanneh and several other European-based players who regularly start for the U.S., the Americans rolled through five games without a defeat and scored nine goals while conceding one. The match against Italy in Catania, Sicily on Wednesday, Feb. 13 (live, ESPN, 2:30 ET) begins a tough series of preparation matches that will include visits to Germany (March 27) and Ireland (April 17) as well as home games against South American qualifiers Ecuador (March 10) and Uruguay (May 12). Most of the European group was picked for the Italian game, although right back Steve Cherundolo was left out. His German club Hannover 96 plays a league match two days prior to the Italy game. “It wouldn't be fair to expect him to be ready so quickly,” said Arena. Frankie Hejduk (Bayer Leverkusen) and Eddie Lewis (Fulham) are out of favor with their clubs but both played extensively at the Gold Cup to keep their names in the frame. Both were picked for the Italy game. “They haven't eliminated themselves,” said Arena. “They haven't played much. “If Eddie Lewis had been in a better [club] situation he might be a guy who'd be penciled in as a starter. But you can't make up the lost time of the environment he's been in. The same with Frankie.” The most conspicuous absence is Brian McBride, who scored four goals and won the MVP award at the Gold Cup. McBride will be married to Dina Edwards the day after the Italy game — Valentine's Day. Regardless of personnel, Arena wants unity. He blames a three-game loss during the Hexagonal partly to schisms within the team. The U.S. was beaten in successive games by Mexico, Honduras and Costa Rica before a win over Jamaica clinched its World Cup place. “In those three games that we lost we had a bunch of players who had their own agendas,” said Arena. “In the long run that was damaging to our team. “That's obviously my responsibility but we can weed out those players and make it right.” Arena has selected goalkeepers Kasey Keller and Brad Friedel. Keller performed wonderfully at the Gold Cup and Friedel has held the starting spot for English Premier League club Blackburn for nearly a year. Both have expressed their displeasure at serving as backup to the other. Arena has not named his starter for the Italy match. “I would think either one of them would want to be part of the World Cup regardless,” said Arena, himself a keeper in his playing days. “Goalkeeping is just another part of the formula to get things right. “If I'm a field player and I'm on that team I want to believe that everyone is there because they want to be there and want the team to win regardless of what their role is going to be. “If all 23 don't think that way then we're making a mistake. That will be presented to every player and if they don't want to be there because their agenda isn't being met they shouldn't be there.” USA squad for Italy Friendly Feb. 13: Goalkeepers — Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel. Defenders — Jeff Agoos, Gregg Berhalter, Frankie Hejduk, Pablo Mastroeni, David Regis, Tony Sanneh. Midfielders — Chris Armas, Cobi Jones, Eddie Lewis, John O'Brien, Claudio Reyna, Earnie Stewart. Forwards — Landon Donovan, Jovan Kirovski, Joe-Max Moore, Josh Wolff.