BY RIDGE MAHONEY, senior editor As important as a pre-World Cup friendly can be will be played in Dublin next Wednesday (April 17). It’s much more than the last match prior to Coach Bruce Arena presenting his official World Cup list of 23 players. That announcement is expected to be made the following Monday (April 22). And it’s even more than another vital test against a World Cup-qualified European opponent. The U.S., which has lost to Germany, 4-2, and Italy, 1-0, this year, faces Portugal and Poland in South Korea. To advance, Euro-points must be produced. Sources have said that with the possible exception of goalkeeper, and barring injuries, the projected U.S. starting 11 for the World Cup opener against Portugal will be on the field at Landsdowne Road. Brad Friedel is expected to start against Ireland in goal, although Kasey Keller has also been summoned. Both are expected to play in the final warmup matches next month and Coach Bruce Arena has maintained for months he has not decided on his No. 1 World Cup keeper. The notable European absentees for the Ireland game are Jovan Kirovski and Steve Cherundolo. Of the MLS contingent, Carlos Bocanegra, Cobi Jones, Richard Mulrooney, Ante Razov and Pablo Mastroeni have not been summoned. “I haven’t ruled out anybody,” said Arena in an interview with Soccer America this week. Arena stressed the importance of the Ireland match without stipulating those starters would also line up against Portugal. He has said in the past he won’t necessarily start the same 11 players in the three World Cup games. The players know the importance. Ireland qualified at the expense of the Dutch from a group that also included Portugal, although Ireland needed to beat Iran in a playoff. In their last warmup match, the Irish pummeled fellow qualifier Denmark, 3-0, in Dublin. “It’s a good European team and it’s an away game,” says Chicago midfielder Chris Armas. “We’ll be tested. If we’re not concentrated for 90 minutes we shouldn’t expect to get the result. “That’s why Bruce picked games in Italy, in Germany and in Ireland and at home against Holland [May 19]. These are games — obviously it’s not the World Cup — where there’s talent and a good atmosphere. It’s great preparation.” For the pre-World Cup camp in North Carolina that commences May 1 Arena may not have all of his players from the first day. Several of those with European teams may be involved in relegation battles. Also, Greg Vanney plays for Bastia in the French Cup final May 11, and John O’Brien’s Dutch Cup final with Ajax is May 12. “There’ll be some that aren’t available because of clear conflicts: Relegation battles, cup competitions,” he said. “That hasn’t all been determined at this point, because you don’t know where every club is going to stand until days before our camp opens.” All MLS players are expected to be on hand from the start of camp. Arena also reiterated his stance about taking younger players just so they can traipse about Seoul. He won’t. That means Tim Howard would have to beat out Tony Meola on merit, not by virtue of youth. DaMarcus Beasley won’t have any edge over Eddie Lewis except for what he does on the field. “No, it doesn’t make any sense to me,” he said. “I read somewhere Brazil did that with Ronaldo in 1994. The key to that was the other 21 players that were there. “It would be idiotic for us to waste spots on young players just to give them experience. We need every player on our roster to contribute and make us a better team.”