You’d never have guessed Bruce Arena felt any pressure as he embarked on his quest to rebuild the U.S. national team program. After Raul Blanco was pressed on the podium to admit he thought Australia was the better team, Arena wrapped his Australian counterpart in a friendly bearhug, leaned into the microphone and extolled the virtues of his young team. Thus began Arena’s first postgame press conference. The new U.S. coach was all smiles. After all, he will have two years to prepare the United States for 2002 World Cup qualifying in relative peace. He won’t face the media scrutiny coaches face abroad. Only one out-of-town paper bothered to send a reporter to the Arena opener. Arena can pretty much do what he pleases until World Cup qualifying begins. He got the security of a four-year contract that Steve Sampson, his predecessor, never got. Sampson did have one thing, though, that Arena won’t have: an experienced team. For the last decade the bulk of the international experience was given to a small group of U.S. players, and many of them don’t figure in Arena’s plans. Arena did a pretty good job of not showing any signs of nerves, considering the team he put out on the field against Australia. The United States will really struggle to qualify in 2002 if that’s all Arena has to introduce. Probably the most interesting prospect is Clint Mathis, and he has all of 15 pro starts for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Arena’s boys need all the international experience they can get — and fast. Considering U.S. Soccer will be distracted by the ’99 Women’s World Cup, Arena will have to push hard to get his players the games they need. FANS: LET’S HEAR YOUR VIEW Are Bruce’s kids all right? Click here to log onto (Soccer) American Graffiti. Then click on the topic entitled “YOUR VIEW: The push begins” and respond to Paul Kennedy in 200 words or less. Don’t hold anything back! Best responses will be reprinted in Soccer America Magazine. If YOUR VIEW is selected, we’ll send you a cool t-shirt and pin…. Because You’re FANATIC.