Bruce Arena nearly sent Earnie Stewart home because of a mouth injury. Yet Stewart set up the equalizer against Ireland, then started against Mexico.
SOCCER AMERICA: Tell us about your injury.
EARNIE STEWART: Against South Africa, I took an elbow in the mouth, so I had to go to the dentist and have oral surgery … I severed a nerve above one of my teeth. The oral surgeon had to make an incision in my cheek and drain the fluid out.
SA: Is it causing you pain to talk right now?
ES: No, but I couldnÆt have talked to you on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. … I was in a lot of pain.
SA: Claudio Reyna and Cobi Jones mentioned that Bruce has allowed you guys to roam more freely and that has helped. Do you agree?
ES: Definitely. If you always stay in the same position and you just go up and down the field, it makes it a lot easier for the defense. … Interchanging, going through the middle, going to the outside … itÆs more difficult. You get some holes in the defense and you can get some opportunities.
SA: Has MLS contacted you about playing here?
ES: Yeah, in fact they called me in February. … First, they have to clarify it with the club and see if I can get released. As soon as that happens, you can start talking about it, but that hasnÆt happened yet. … I donÆt like flying at all, but IÆd love to play in the United States.
SA: Is there a sense of disappointment that Mexico didnÆt bring a stronger team?
ES: Of course, weÆre disappointed because weÆd like to win this Nike Cup against the three strongest teams and right now there were only two strong teams.
SA: Does it take away from the satisfaction of beating them?
ES: No, not really. ItÆs always good to beat a Mexican team.
by Soccer America associate editor Will Kuhns