U.S. SoccerÆs Training Camp Update: Tuesday, July 11, 2000 from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. The USA is preparing for its first qualifier for World Cup 2002, July 16 in Guatemala. Tony Sanneh arrived in Ft. Lauderdale late last night, and was followed by Eddie Lewis and Claudio Reyna this morning, so Coach Bruce Arena has a full squad of 18 players for this afternoonÆs training session. After a relatively uneventful training session on Monday to open the camp, the team will likely work on more specific aspects of game preparation today. Player shape and the development of partnerships within positions will be the focus of todayÆs activity, after which the team will be divided for some 8 v. 8 work on a shortened field. The team will meet again tonight with Arena and the coaching staff after dinner, where they will begin the process of studying the upcoming opponents on videotape edits. In general the edits feature key players on the opposing teams, as well as detailed analysis of the goals they have scored and allowed in recent competitions. Q&A with Earnie Stewart Q: Give us an idea about your last season with NAC Breda in Holland, where you won the First Division championship. STEWART: When I first got to Breda we were in the Honor Division, and we had plans to be in the European Cup. Somehow, all kinds of things happened and we ended up being relegated. So last year we were in the First Division and we pretty much took hold of the league. We didnÆt start out too well in the beginning, but after a while we started playing very, very well and ended up winning the league by eight points. Q: Is there a big difference between the First Division and the Honor Division in Holland? STEWART: Yeah, there is, and itÆs a good thing. Our club made sure they kept all the players they wanted so we could go back in one year. They kept most of the players that played in the Honor Division, including myself, and that made a big difference. Q: When youÆre on a scoring streak like you had in March for Breda, do you recognize how well you playing, or is it something that hits you later? STEWART: No, you can feel it when youÆre in form. Like I said, in the first half of the year the team wasnÆt playing well and I wasnÆt playing well. But in the second half all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. I started to feel comfortable in the position I was playing, and everything starts from there. I got to a point where I got a goal, an assist, and I was on the scoresheet almost every week. You try to bring that to the national team. Q: Given the option, what position on the field would you most like to play? STEWART: IÆd probably play the No. 10, not the center forward, but roaming around the center forward. ThatÆs the spot IÆd desire to play. I think that somehow, when youÆre 31 like I am, you should move away from the outside and try to play inside more. On the other hand, if youÆre effective on the outside I can understand why the coach would want you there. Q: Would you like to finish you club career in Holland? STEWART: I donÆt know if IÆd like to end it there, but thatÆs probably where IÆll end it. If you were to have asked me a couple of years ago I would have gone out dreaming and said Barcelona or AC Milan. Right now, if it were possible, I would love to play in MLS, except I still have that flying problem to get over. But IÆd love to play in my own country, and live over here with my family. That would be tremendous. Q: How hard is it playing so far away from the country you represent on the international level? STEWART: ItÆs more a mental thing than a physical one for me. Last year I hardly played for the national team because I was injured so much. It was ridiculous. During World Cup qualifying four years ago I was never injured, and I traveled all the time. I donÆt like flying, so that takes a toll on me. ThatÆs probably the hardest thing. Especially now that I have a little girl and a family back home, itÆs hard. Q: What do you do to combat your fear of flying? STEWART: IÆve tried everything. ItÆs real easy when people talk to me and I read books about how safe flying is, but when you step on a plane and youÆre scared, those books donÆt mean anything. IÆve tried a lot of different things, but nothing has really made a difference. Some flights are more comfortable than others. Q: What makes road games during World Cup qualifying so much more difficult? STEWART: The United States is the biggest country in the world of sports, and everywhere we go people have something against us and want to beat us. Supporters in other countries use that to help their own teams. Everything is different than it is in the States, but those are the things you have to deal with. Q: Do you have an all-time favorite National Team teammate? STEWART: ItÆs always Cobi (Jones). HeÆs my roommate. WeÆve been through a lot together and had a lot of fun, and I always look forward to meeting back up with him.