Arena saw MLS playersÆ stock rise during the semifinal round of qualifying
How best to encapsulate advancement to the final round of 2002 World Cup qualifying? Which clichT is most relevant?The changing of the guard, the growing importance of MLS, and a worrisome lack of attacking flair were all reiterated during the semifinal phase.
All are valid points, but none carry the weight of simply moving on.
Stark evidence of that accomplishmentÆs importance can be found in Group E. The Americans are already planning for the next round. Costa Rica and Guatemala must break their tie with a one-game playoff at the Orange Bowl in Miami Jan. 6.
Coaches and players and fans can always point to points gained or lost because of a playerÆs mistake, a bad bounce or a refereeÆs call. But as much as the United States labored during its six matches, its first game turned out to be critical.
IN GUATEMALA. The Americans came away from the heat and humidity of a jungle town called Mazatenango with a point despite conceding a late goal. The 1-1 tie was, somewhat hysterically, branded a disaster.
When Costa Rica went to Guatemala on the final day of the semifinal round, the Ticos conceded a late goal ù and lost, forcing a playoff to be played on a neutral site, a playoff for a place in the next round that could be decided on a mistake, a bad call, a funny bounce or penalties.
Now, in a hyperbolic sense, thatÆs a disaster.
U.S. coach Bruce Arena is blessed, like all of us, with razor-sharp hindsight. He was not surprised that Costa Rica had a tough time in Guatemala, and says he had factored in that possibility while planning his strategy for the U.S. game against the Ticos in Columbus.
ôThe most important thing for the U.S. in that game was to get a point,ö he said of the 0-0 tie earned by an American team depleted by injuries and suspensions. ôThat set us up to advance with a win in Barbados, and we did.
ôYou usually need to win your home games, and of course we wanted to win, but we were missing so many players and Costa Rica is a good team. So getting a point took priority.ö
The CONCACAF Hexagonal has a history of draws. In the 1997 final round, 13 of the 30 matches ended tied. The Americans tied half of their matches. So did Jamaica, which is how a team with a minus-5 goal difference finishes third in a six-team group.
Mexico didnÆt lose a match, but six draws was enough for the Mexican federation to fire Bora Milutinovic.
VENUES. Icing the Mexican players is first on U.S. SoccerÆs list of things to do in 2001.
To that end, the Federation may head for Columbus for the late February match to treat their opponents to harsh weather as well as minimize their following. Arena wants a bitterly cold, but dry environment.
ôCold doesnÆt necessarily mean wet,ö he said, without explaining how to fine-tune the weather to get one but not the other.
U.S. Soccer is researching the possibility of staging the match in Seattle at the MarinersÆ new Safeco Field, but its configuration may not accommodate a full-sized field and it is an untested soccer venue. The facility does have a retractable roof.
RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., and Foxboro Stadium near Boston will likely be used for later qualifiers. RFK would likely draw a split crowd as did the Guatemala match last September, and Foxboro could be under a foot of snow, which is taking the weather thing to treacherous extremes.
Birmingham, Ala. is on the list; it will be cold in February, especially for a night game, but throngs of Mexican fans were there during the 1996 Olympics.
Midweek dates for home games pose problems of scheduling and marketing as well as team preparation.
ôItÆs a working day and in some cases is a school night,ö said U.S. Soccer chief operating officer Tom King. ôItÆs certainly not as easy a sell as a daytime weekend game.ö
The Federation has wisely put competitive advantage high on its list of priorities. In 1997, the Americans tied Mexico at home and still qualified with a match to play. It may not have that luxury this time around.
PREPARATION. Plans to stage the 2001 U.S. Cup in late January or early February will probably be dropped, with the tournament to be rescheduled for later in the year.
Arena wants two games prior to the match with Mexico. On the docket for U.S. Cup had been Colombia and South Korea. Colombia is still likely, but China may replace South Korea.
Few foreign-based players will be available in January, since there are no international schedule dates. Arena wants a two-week training camp at the ARCO Olympic Training Center facility to prepare a core of mostly MLS players.
ôThatÆs going to be a priority: To get the MLS players ready in January and February,ö he said. ôI also have to work around what D.C. United and Los Angeles are doing because theyÆre in the CONCACAF [Champions] Cup. ThatÆs seven or eight guys might not be available when we want them.ö
MLS VS. FOREIGN. Arena said he relied too heavily on European-based players for the first two road qualifiers last July.
ôIt was during their offseason,ö he explained, ôand looking back, I probably asked too much of them to play in those conditions.ö
Of the European-based players, only Claudio Reyna at Glasgow Rangers and Earnie Stewart at NAC Breda have been regular starters, although Brad Friedel recently claimed the starting slot at Blackburn. Joe-Max Moore is getting a lot less time than he did last season with Everton. Most of the others are on the bubble.
ôOf the players overseas, youÆre looking at Joe-Max, Claudio, Earnie Stewart, Gregg Berhalter, maybe Steve Cherundulo, our goalkeepers and Tony Sanneh,ö he said. ôThose guys will always be in the picture.
ôEddie Lewis is an example of a player who MLS has been good for. How he played in the league got him a spot on the national team, and while he was playing in the league he was doing well for the U.S.
ôNow heÆs not playing in England and as a result his game has suffered. ItÆs the same with Frankie [Hejduk] and itÆs the same with Jovan [Kirovski].ö
The critical 1-0 win against Guatemala at RFK in September was earned when Cobi Jones provided a perfectly lofted cross for Brian McBride to courageously poke into the net. An MLS goal all the way.
Ben OlsenÆs steady time at Nottingham Forest may help him bounce back from a 2000 season that was a lot less productive than his 1999 campaign.
Or Arena could be faced with another club squabble if the English club acquires him outright or extends his loan into the spring. Unlike the Premier League, the English First Division does not take breaks for international schedule dates. Lewis, at Fulham, is in the same situation.
In the case of the Mexico game, it does not fall into an international window. It has been moved to Feb. 28, a Wednesday, but still the European players will have to travel a few days before the game if Arena canÆt extract them from their clubs earlier.
ôWe ran into that for the Barbados game,ö said Arena. ôItÆs a three-and-a-half hour flight from Miami, but for the European guys, itÆs 11 or 12 hours and they have to fly out of London to get a connection.ö
Lewis struggled in the heat and humidity of Bridgetown.
Cherundulo played his first match in seven months as a sub for Hannover 96 on Nov. 25. Arena says he played 10 minutes at defensive midfielder, and is a strong choice at right back if the U.S. plays 4-4-2.
David Regis continues to bounce in and out of the lineup at Metz. HeÆs also been hampered by the language barrier.
ôHeÆs a good player,ö said Arena, ôbut thereÆve been some communications problems [on the field].ö
John OÆBrien showed promising flashes in 2000 as a clever, quick midfielder whoÆs good on the ball. Yet an AchillesÆ tendon injury has sidelined him since the Olympics. The injury further exacerbated the strained relations between U.S. Soccer and his club team, Ajax.
ôItÆs never been easy to deal with Ajax and him going back injured after the Olympics wonÆt help his situation,ö said Arena.
NEW FACES. The encouraging performances of several MLS players, not to mention Landon Donovan, this year should provide Arena with a much deeper pool of talent.
Clint Mathis, Josh Wolff, Chris Klein, Tony Meola, Chris Albright and Ante Razov all boosted their profiles in 2000. McBride, Chris Armas, Jeff Agoos, Eddie Pope and Carlos Llamosa will be regular members of the pool.
LewisÆ struggles on the left could be an opportunity for Olsen. Mark Chung and Chris Henderson are outside possibilities. Arena says heÆd like to take a look at MiamiÆs Pablo Mastroeni at right back.
ôRight now, IÆm leaning more toward the MLS players as much as possible,ö said Arena. ôWe know their situations and you canÆt always say that about the guys in Europe.ö
The U.S. 31
Bruce Arena used 31 players in six World Cup qualifiers in 2000. HereÆs a look at their chances for 2001 as well as their average rating in SA Report Cards during 2000 qualifying.
JOE-MAX MOORE
Forward GP: 4 Min.: 351 SA rating: 6.25 Scored twice against Barbados, but otherwise not impressive. Will test opponents with his combativeness and zeal to score.
TAB RAMOS
Midfielder GP: 3 Min.: 139 SA rating: 5.25 During the 1990s was often called upon to carry U.S., so 2000 was a bonus. Went out with a win, as he should have.
CHRIS KLEIN
Midfielder GP: 1 Min.: 90 SA Rating: 6.00 Nothing pretty about his play, but he can muscle past opponents and reads the game well.
GREGG BERHALTER
Defender GP: 5 Min.: 450 SA rating: 5.80 Solid, rugged, reasonably good on the ground and tough to beat in the air. Handballs happen. The revelation of 2000, but needs steady club play in 2001.
TONY SANNEH
Defender GP: 5 Min.: 406 SA rating: 4.60 Played right back four times in the 4-4-2 and struggled in midfield against Costa Rica. Prowess in the air and strong tackling are pluses. Crossing was poor.
CHRIS ARMAS
Midfielder GP: 5 Min.: 405 SA rating: 6.00 Will be tested in 2001 by potent midfields. Strong showing in right-back slot against Costa Rica underlined his value. Vital cog.
EARNIE STEWART
Midfielder GP: 5 Min.: 402 SA rating: 5.80 Leading scorer in qualifying with three goals and also led in yellows with three. Experience is growing in value as counterparts retire.
COBI JONES
Forward GP: 6 Min.: 375 SA rating: 5.25 Erratic at times, but his speed is still a weapon. If given time on the ball, as he showed against Guatemala, he can cross effectively. Shooting must improve.
KASEY KELLER
Goalkeeper GP: 4 Min.: 360 SA rating: 6.00 As always, was solid and reliable. No chance on any of the three goals he allowed and was especially sharp in opener against Guatemala.
DAVID REGIS
Defender GP: 4 Min.: 360 SA Rating: 5.00 Very good in first two away qualifiers, really struggled offensively at home against Guatemala. Turns 32 in November, so the clock is ticking.
CLAUDIO REYNA
Midfielder GP: 4 Min.: 310 SA rating: 5.25 Needs dynamic players around him to best utilize his vision and touch. Wants to be the conductor, not the instigator.
ANTE RAZOV
Forward GP: 4 Min.: 286 SA rating: 5.00 Nice instincts around the goal. Shows more for the ball than he used to, yet still a rather static option up front.
EDDIE LEWIS
Midfielder GP: 5 Min.: 275 SA rating: 3.80 Had a disastrous series of games. Crossed poorly and couldnÆt get in sync with teammates. The search for a dominant left-sided midfielder continues.
EDDIE POPE
Defender GP: 3 Min.: 226 SA rating: 6.00 Yet another campaign marred by injury. Speed and surefootness are complemented by the occasional goal. Distribution can get better.
JEFF AGOOS
Defender GP: 2 Min.: 180 SA rating: 6.00 Has fended off several challenges for the left-back spot. Had trouble with his footing in home match against Costa Rica but did well enough.
CARLOS LLAMOSA
Defender GP: 3 Min.: 180 SA rating: 6.00 Showed composure and tenacity against Paulo Wanchope in 0-0 draw with Costa Rica. Can play right side in three-man line or centrally with four.
BRIAN McBRIDE
Forward GP: 2 Min.: 180 SA rating: 6.50 Two goals in two games upped his strike rate in qualifiers to six goals in eight matches. He may not be elegant, but heÆs fearless, a real foxhole kind of guy.
JOVAN KIROVSKI
Midfielder GP: 2 Min.: 138 SA Rating: 4.50 Enigma played well positionally but rarely showed a willingness to cut open the defense with a pass or dribble.
JOHN OÆBRIEN
Midfielder GP: 2 Min.: 135 SA rating: 6.00 Injury problems cloud his future. His touch, vision and quick feet are valuable assets.
GREG VANNEY
Defender GP: 2 Min.: 104 SA Rating: 5.00 Rebounded from a rough game in Guatemala to play well in Costa Rica. Left side is his strength. 2001 could be his proving ground.
CHAD DEERING
Midfielder GP: 2 Min.: 94 SA Rating: 4.00 Has the tools to play defensive mid but didnÆt fare all that well in only start against Costa Rica at home. Likely to be a fringe player again.
CLINT MATHIS
Forward GP: 1 Min.: 90 SA Rating: 7.00 Only qualifier was 4-0 win over Barbados, but his fine friendly against Mexico and array of attacking skills stamp him as an attacker to watch.
BRAD FRIEDEL
Goalkeeper GP: 1 Min.: 90 SA Rating: 6.00 One of the better backups on any national team. Regular play with Blackburn will keep him sharp.
ROBIN FRASER
Defender GP: 1 Min.: 90 SA Rating: 4.00 Showing in Guatemala was lackluster. 2001 may be his last chance at the age of 34.
FRANKIE HEJDUK
Defender GP: 2 Min.: 28 SA Rating: 3.00 Regressed in 2000 because of limited club play and poor showings during first two away qualifiers.
CHRIS ALBRIGHT
Forward GP: 1 Min.: 22 SA Rating: 6.00 Has a good touch and likes to take the ball past people. Better up front than in midfield.
JOSH WOLFF
Forward GP: 1 Min.: 21 SA Rating: 6.00 Could be third or fourth on depth chart among the forwards in 2001. Works hard and finds spaces. Strikes the ball well.
RICHIE WILLIAMS
Midfielder GP: 1 Min.: 12 SA Rating: 6.00 Fringe choice at defensive mid never quits. Form with D.C. United will dictate his national team prospects in 2001.
BEN OLSEN
Midfielder GP: 1 Min.: 11 SA Rating: 5.00 Has to write off 2000 because of injuries and other com-mitments. If the U.S. plays four in midfield, he could be squeezed out although he can play on either side.
JASON KREIS
Midfielder GP: 1 Min.: 3 SA Rating: NR Not likely to be a major factor in 2001. The attacking ranks are getting crowded.by Soccer America senior editor Ridge Mahoney