ôFor a player this is what it is all about, knowing if you put it all together for a few games you are going to the World Cup.ö — Chris Armas. In preview of the USA-Mexico World Cup qualifying match Feb. 28 and the USA-Brazil friendly March 3, U.S. coach defender Eddie Pope and midfielder Chris Armas meet the press: EDDIE POPE, U.S. defender On Columbus Crew Stadium: “I think the stadium is important for the simple fact that we hope we will have a pro-American crowd. Maybe the weather will help us as well, but I think the big thing will be having pro-American crowd.” On the effect of playing in front of some crowds In the past that were not pro-American: “It is frustrating, but a lot of the guys are used to it. A lot of time we expect to have a crowd that is not pro-American, but it does help prepare us for away games.” On CONCACAF’S recent improvement: “Obviously Trinidad & Tobago is a lot better. Honduras is going to have a good team. Mexico is always a strong team and Jamaica is always strong. Costa Rica has given us problems in the past. The level of play is definitely a lot better in the region. But we will be prepared. Obviously, we have to do well at home and winning at home is very important. Winning on the road is a bonus. Home games are the most important and getting off to a good start is extremely important to us.” On getting motivated to play against Mexico: “I don’t think you have to be motivated to play Mexico. We are going to be excited to play any World Cup Qualifier. If we can stick with what we got, we will be all right. There will be tension from the start, and if we get our chances and play well defensively, we will come out OK.” On playing against Luis Hernandez: “With Hernandez he has a lot of experience as a forward. As a defender you have to realize he is as dangerous in the 90th minute as the first. He works extremely hard, pressures the backs, and he is a good finisher. Knowing that, you have to be extremely focused and always know where he is and what he is doing.” (EditorÆs note: Luis Hernandez is doubtful with a hamstring injury.) On areas in which the U.S. can improve: “Late in the game. We need to play for 90 minutes, not 80 or 85. Especially the away games, where if you can steal a point or win the game, that would be great. Also, we can maybe improve on finishing our one or two chances and taking a little bit of pressure off the midfield and the backs.” CHRIS ARMAS, U.S. midfielder On what areas the U.S. team could improve in: “If you use the last round as a measuring stick, I think we have gotten to some good spots on the road with a lead or a tie and we have given that up. It comes with experience and maturity. If we can concentrate for more than 75, 80 minutes, that is an area we need to improve. “If you look at some of the best teams, they get only one or two chances a game and they score on them. Sometimes we can create six or seven good scoring opportunities and not come away with anything. If we can focus more on each end of the field we can come away with some better results.” On what it’s like preparing with constantly changing lineups: “It doesn’t change my preparation at all. On this team, you can interchange a few players and everyone is on the same page, the system stays the same. In my role, it is not like I have to change or adjust to anything. The talent on this team is pretty deep, you have guys on the bench, guys in camp who can step in. This hasn’t been a problem for me.” On the motivation of playing against Mexico: “Bruce is a great motivator, and playing against Mexico will be something he will use to motivate the players. But it doesn’t take much to get the players excited for this game, or any games leading up to the World Cup. For a player this is what it is all about, knowing if you put it all together for a few games you are going to the World Cup. As we were last round, we are going to be more focused and ready for the next round.” On the weather at Columbus Crew stadium: “The Mexican players are used to warm weather and a lot of U.S. players are used to the cold weather. The colder the better. If that happens to be an advantage, we will take it. We are also looking forward to playing in front of a pro-American crowd at Crew Stadium.” On his role against Hernandez and the Mexican attack: “He is one of the guys we have respect for on that team. In my role, if I can double-team some of the forwards and run with guys in the midfield, that would be great. ôSome of Hernandez’s best games are the international games and the games that mean a little more. He will be doing everything to help his country, as we will. Maybe it helps that we know him a little better.” On playing in tight games: “For the games we have been playing in the first round of qualifying, they have all been tight games. We had some leads we let slip away, and I hope we learned from that. ôThe last game in Columbus it was a tight game. As the game goes on, we still have to stick to our game plan. The worst thing would be to lose, so you don’t want to panic and throw everything forward. If we stay focused we will get our chances, and it is up to us to put it away. If we can stay focused and concentrate for 90 minutes I think we can get a result.”