U.S. coach BRUCE ARENA
On whether qualifying for the World Cup is sweeter because the clinch came against Mexico:
''The two top teams in CONCACAF are the U.S. and Mexico. We had the one blemish on our record in the first part of the final round when we lost in Mexico City. So it's nice to get that back and it's obviously very special to qualify at home and against our arch rival.''
On qualifying for the 2006 World Cup:
''It's difficult. You'll look at it and say it's real easy and it's a breeze. But it's not a breeze. It's very difficult. I remember back to our first game in this round against Trinidad in Trinidad. That was a very difficult game, followed by a tough one in Mexico City and then having to battle to win the Guatemala game. The Costa Rica game, if it wasn't for Kasey (Keller) making some big saves, as well as in Panama, there's a big difference. The T&T game was a battle a couple weeks ago. So every game has been difficult, but I think our experiences over the last four years have positioned us to be successful, and our guys know how to win in big games.''
On the play of Mexico:
''Mexico played the kind of game we expected them to play. Obviously you can't compare games from Mexico City. I know most of you don't appreciate it, but Mexico City is a lopsided advantage for the Mexicans because of the altitude. It makes it a completely different game. We know that when we play them anywhere else, we can beat them. We proved that tonight.''
On getting forward into the attack:
''One of the things we said to our guys at halftime was that not enough of our players getting forward in the attack were taking fouls. That's a big part of the game, and we wanted to at least take some fouls and be able to have set pieces and that type of thing. DaMarcus (Beasley), in the start of that game, was a factor. The Mexicans had to foul him three times.''
KASEY KELLER
On the USAÆs path to Germany and what it means to beat Mexico:
ôWe qualified pretty comfortably in 1998, but really made it difficult on ourselves last time. This time when weÆve needed the results weÆve got æem and we ended up doing it comfortably. It always means a lot to beat Mexico. To beat Mexico to qualify to finish this thing off and to beat them comfortably 2-0 is even better. It just makes it better.ö
On whether it was easy for the U.S. in this round of qualifying:
ôNo chance, regardless. I mean we beat Costa Rica 3-0 and I had one of my biggest games in qualifying. There is no such thing as easy, and even going down to Guatemala in a couple of days is going to be a very, very tough game.ö
On the confidence the U.S. showcased in this round of qualifying:
ôReally, weÆve been winning these games by scoring goals. We used to struggle in the past in games, and win one and draw a bunch, but beating Trinidad 2-1 to start this off really set the tone, and we won in Panama 3-0. We have really stepped up and weÆre no longer scrapping buy with nil-nils and 1-nil, we can go in and beat teams three to nothing.ö
On not being overly active tonight, but making a huge save right at the end of the half:
ôThatÆs what goalkeeping is all about is really having nothing to do at time and make sure you concentrate and are getting ready to make the saves when you are called upon. Going in at halftime 1-0 down would have been a travesty. I think Mexico had their best spell of the game the final 20 minutes of the first half. But we didnÆt change anything. We came out in the second half and did what we had to do and got the two goals. We defended extremely well and were unlucky not to get goals three and four. It was a great effort from everyone involved and I was very happy with the defense the whole game and the midfield worked very hard and the guys got the goals when we needed them.ö
On the great home-field advantage in Crew Stadium:
ôIt definitely helps, and whenever we can play Mexico in America (and we got a little nervous there at the beginning as there were a few Mexicans out there) but by the time everyone came in from their tailgating parties it was obviously a very pro-American crowd.ö
On the teamÆs confidence level:
ôWe know we can score goals, and we know we can keep it clean at the back. You combine those two things and you know you are going to win a lot of games. Look at the Gold Cup as an example. We changed 8 or 9 or 10 players and we still won the tournament. ThatÆs a credit to everybody. To the guys here, to MLS giving guys a chance to play, the guys going to Europe and doing their job there. We have a very, very well balanced team right now and that is where the confidence comes from.ö
On his performance:
ôIÆm just very glad IÆm able to perform at the level I am over all these years and I still enjoy it every time I step on the field for the USA.ö
BRIAN McBRIDE
ôBruce, IÆm sure, doesnÆt have his (World Cup) team decided, so you have to make sure you stay in his mind. We have a young group but I think itÆs about experience and everybody realizing that itÆs a 90-minute game, not get frustrated and take the chances that we get.ö
On the difference between this round of qualifying and qualifying for the 2002 World Cup:
ôWe stumbled right after the first half. This time there was a lot of concentration, especially in the Trinidad game and I think today there was a lot of energy.ö
On whether Kasey KellerÆs save at the end of the first half changed the momentum of the game:
ôI think we talked about setting some things right and the shape of the team. Kasey (Keller) does that all the time though, to be honest.ö
On the emotion of the team after Steve RalstonÆs goal:
ôIt was crazy. I saw Gooch get up and I thought, æWow, heÆs up.Æ Then it hit the post and there were tons of bodies and I thought, æAh, no oneÆs there.Æ Then, all the sudden, from behind comes Raly (Steve Ralston), heading it in. He was standing there but he came across and I saw him, I was like, æRun!.Æ It was a great feeling. IÆm really happy for Raly and it spurred us on a little bit.ö
On whether Mexico was shocked by that goal:
ôMaybe they were. I mean, it definitely pumped us up, IÆm sure that had some effect.ö
LANDON DONOVAN
ôAfter we got that first one, they were never in the game.ö
On the satisfaction of qualifying against Mexico:
ôThe only thing sweeter would have been to score. At least for three or four more years theyÆll shut up. They canÆt say anything and I love it.ö
On all the Mexico fans at the stadium during warm-ups:
ôThey show up early. I knew all the American fans would fill in and, by game time, it was very pro-American.ö
On whether momentum from qualifying carries over to the World Cup:
ôBruce made a good comment. He said, æWeÆve qualified and thatÆs great, but lets get better over the next seven months. It doesnÆt mean you relax. LetÆs get better as a coaching staff, as a team, and guys that get a chance to play now should prove that they belong.Æ That makes the depth of our team better. ItÆs a great opportunity for some guys.ö
On whether the game started to die out before the first goal:
ôTo be honest, the first half was a little sluggish. We didnÆt play so great. But after halftime we got a little momentum and we started getting some free kicks in some good areas. We knew if we got a goal that the game was going to die, that theyÆd be dead. We were fortunate to get the goal. It was pretty easy from there.ö
On the Mexican team looking stunned after RalstonÆs goal:
ôYeah, and thatÆs when we got the second one. They werenÆt in it. They know they havenÆt scored here in a long time. They wanted a zero-zero result. They would have been happy. Once we scored the goal, they had no chance.ö
CLAUDIO REYNA
ôWe fought really hard. It was an even game. Those two goals were obviously the difference. Obviously weÆre thrilled. WeÆre so happy to be able to do this. Like I said, a strong Mexican team. To get a 2-0 victory says a lot about our team. We limited them to, I think, zero chances, which is great. TheyÆre a great attacking team. Probably the bigger plus was how well we defended rather than how well we attacked. We capitalized on our chances and got a great 2-0 win.ö
On whether the win was special because it was against Mexico:
ôAbsolutely. We have a good rivalry with them and to beat them, at home. We wanted to do it tonight, even a bit more because it was them, no doubt. TheyÆre the one team that beat us in CONCACAF and thatÆs what we said. We want to show weÆre the best team in CONCACAF and we have to prove it tonight and we got a good, sound, victory today, 2-0, yeah, itÆs great. To do it at home, in front of our fans here, it was a great all-around victory.ö
OGUCHI ONYEWU
ôWe won the game. We learned a lot from the first game. I think we gave the forwards a lot more space in the first game and today we just suffocated them all around the field. We didnÆt really give them much of a chance of a goal. The only save that Kasey really had to make was on a free kick. Other than that, I think we played well, defensively.ö
On the effect of the home-field advantage:
ôItÆs always good to play at home. When you have the crowd behind you, it always feels good. YouÆre kind of assured whenever you make a mistake. Of course we feel the home-field advantage. Even if we didnÆt have the 24,000 fans, just playing on home soil, you feel the presence.ö
On what he has to do to secure a spot:
ôWhat I have to do? You have to talk to Bruce about that. I donÆt try to get into the coachÆs head. I just try and play my game. If he likes the way I play, thatÆs great for me. If not, I guess I have to work harder. Stay healthy. ThatÆs the most important thing right now. Now that weÆve qualified, the most important thing is to play consistently and stay healthy à Things have been going pretty well for me the last couple months and IÆm going to try and keep the momentum going that way.ö