Leo Perez San Antonio, Texas Do you think that U.S. coach Bruce Arena would be canned if the team does not get into the 2002 World Cup? Who do you think would be his replacement? Are one or two great coaches out there who could coach our national team and succeed? Mike Woitalla: ItÆs never to early to ponder a coachÆs fate, is it Leo? I think Bruce Arena should be the U.S. coach through the 2006 World Cup. Indeed, we find him at a low point, as he spews out excuses for his teamÆs poor results in its first two qualifiers. Arena is new to World Cup qualifying and the unique pressures and obstacles that come with it. But his record shows heÆs a quick learner, and I believe heÆll compose himself and qualify the team. If he doesnÆt? IÆd still say he should stay on and help orchestrate the rebuilding. There really arenÆt any American candidates with better credentials than Arena, and they would have the same problems of international inexperience that Arena is currently getting over. Choosing a foreign coach would simply be a short-term solution. I feel more comfortable with Arena, whose ultimate aim is to strengthen American soccer for the long term. I also believe that Arena advocates an attacking style of play that suits the American mentality. If the U.S. Soccer Federation did have to replace Arena, names that come to mind are Bob Bradley (Chicago Fire), Octavio Zambrano (MetroStars) and John Ellinger (U.S. U-17s). While weÆre speaking of the qualification failure, it should be noted that missing a World Cup isnÆt the end of the world. France failed to qualify for the 1990 World Cup and the 1994 World Cup, and recovered quite well — winning the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. (If you have a question for a Soccer America Magazine editor, click “Q&A with SA Editors” in the left column of the home page under “Interactive.”)