On his third anniversary (April 14, 1998) as U.S. coach, Steve Sampson announced the ouster of John Harkes from the World Cup squad. Here’s how some other players have fared under Sampson: 1994 World Cup starter Mike Sorber played just three times in 1996, worked his way out of the doghouse in 1997, but has been dropped twice already in 1998. Sampson demanded more dynamism from a defensive midfielder. Marcelo Balboa is the most-capped U.S. player, but not a shoo-in for Sampson, who offered a cold welcome back when Balboa was recovering from injury in early 1997 and has bounced him in and out of the lineup. Sampson was more patient with Alexi Lalas, but finally benched him for poor form last September against Costa Rica. Lalas returned two games later, but was benched the first two matches of 1998. Kasey Keller sat out once because, against Sampson’s orders, he played injured vs. Manchester United. Cobi Jones was a player cited for poor fitness in 1997 but worked his way back. Frankie Hejduk jumped into the doghouse by missing a team flight — and played only six minutes in the next 12 months. Preki was discarded until he “changed his attitude” about accepting a substitute’s role. Sampson has various explanations why young Jovan Kirovski — a Bundesliga player! — has been passed over several times. Motivation by benching was Sampson’s reason for playing Ernie Stewart as a sub in 1997’s first Canada game. Claudio Reyna sat out 70 minutes of an El Salvador game as Sampson cited form weakness and “distractions.” Eric Wynalda was a sub against Sweden and the Netherlands — for objecting to midfield duty and for poor training. Harkes, who had never been benched, was the captain. When the captain fails the coach, the hammer comes down harder.