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1411

Football / Re: US roster for T&T game.

« on: August 10, 2005, 11:52:10 AM »

Reyna returns to U.S. squad for Trinidad qualifier
 
Claudio Reyna, who has played only twice for the U.S. in the last 11 months, heads a 20-man squad named on Wednesday for next week's World Cup qualifier against Trinidad and Tobago.

The Manchester City midfielder and long-standing U.S. captain has been hampered by injury and lack of fitness. His only international appearance so far this year was in the 2-1 loss to arch-rivals Mexico in a qualifier in March.

The U.S. are one point behind leaders Mexico halfway through the Concacaf zone final group qualifiers going into the August 17 match against Trinidad in East Hartford.

Mexico lead the six-nation group with 13 points while Costa Rica are third on seven, followed by Guatemala and Trinidad and Tobago on four each and Panama with two. The top three nations automatically gain a berth to the 2006 finals in Germany.

"I'm confident the roster we've selected will help us secure three points in what figures to be a critical game in our World Cup qualifying effort," said U.S. coach Bruce Arena, who named 10 European-based players and 10 from domestic squads.

Also returning following an extended absence due to family matters is Leeds United midfielder Eddie Lewis who scored twice in qualifiers this year and Manchester United goalkeeper Tim Howard, who has not played for his country since September.

Arena, whose team who won the CONCACAF Gold Cup last month, is faced with a relatively inexperienced back line due to missing the injured Eddie Pope and Steve Cherundolo while Frankie Hejduk is suspended.

1412

Football / Re: US roster for T&T game

« on: August 10, 2005, 10:16:42 AM »

Arena Calls 20 Players for U.S. vs. Trinidad World Cup Qualifier on Aug. 17 
 
U.S. Men’s National Team Manager Bruce Arena has selected 20 players to prepare for the crucial World Cup qualifier against Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday, Aug. 17 in Hartford, Conn. 

Kickoff at Rentschler Field is set for 8 p.m. ET, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and delayed on Telemundo at 12:30 a.m. ET/PT. The ESPN2 broadcast will be the first soccer match televised on one of the high definition services offered by ESPN. Fans can follow all the U.S. matches live on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker, presented by Philips Electronics. 

The U.S. sits in second place in the final round hexagonal with a 4-1-0 record, while Trinidad is desperate for a victory with only four points from five matches.  While the U.S. team cannot qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup with a win on Aug. 17, the picture will certainly become a lot clearer after the evening’s matches are completed. (For a complete look at 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying in the CONCACAF region, visit the competitions page at ussoccer.com.)

"I'm confident the roster we've selected will help us secure three points in what figures to be a critical game in our World Cup qualifying effort," said U.S. Manager Bruce Arena, who holds a 17-5-7 lifetime record in qualifying.  "We are facing the usual circumstances of injuries and suspensions, which is all part of the process.  Having said that, I'm certain we can be successful on Aug. 17 in Hartford."

U.S. captain Claudio Reyna returns to the fold after missing the last two World Cup qualifiers.  The 32-year-old midfielder has made only one appearance for the USA in 2005, getting 90 minutes in the Mexico qualifier in March. Also rejoining the ranks is midfielder Eddie Lewis, whose 54th minute goal proved the game-winner in the USA’s 2-1 victory against Trinidad in the opening match of final round qualifying on Feb. 9 in Port-of-Spain.  Manchester United goalkeeper Tim Howard makes his first appearance of the year in a U.S. camp, having recovered from a shoulder injury that he rested in the off-season.   

Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan continues to set the pace for U.S. scoring in World Cup qualifying, tallying seven goals and eight assists.  The only player to appear in all 13 of the USA’s matches in 2006 qualifying, he has recorded at least one point in 12 of 13 games on the road to Germany.  Fulham forward Brian McBride is one step away from history. His nine career goals in qualifying are tied for the most in U.S history along with Earnie Stewart.  McBride is second all-time on the U.S. scoring charts, his 28 goals now six shy of the mark set by Eric Wynalda.  Meantime, PSV Eindhoven midfielder DaMarcus Beasley continues to demonstrate his valuable presence, tallying three goals and four assists in 2005, already good for a career-best in a single year with the full team.
 
Backstopping the U.S. will be heralded goalkeeper Kasey Keller, fresh off of captaining the U.S. team to their third Gold Cup championship last month. The 15-year veteran has made 29 appearances in World Cup qualifying, the most of any goalkeeper in U.S. history and just one behind all-time leaders Cobi Jones, Eddie Pope and Earnie Stewart. He has 16 shutouts in qualifying action to add to his career total of 42, also a team record.

The U.S. roster will boast the two top scorers in Major League Soccer: Colorado Rapids forward Jeff Cunningham brings his 11 league goals into the U.S. mix for the first time this year, while Revolution forward Taylor Twellman sits tied for second on the MLS scoring charts with nine goals.

The U.S. and Trinidad & Tobago have played nine times in World Cup qualifying, with the U.S. compiling an undefeated record of seven wins and two ties. The U.S. has not surrendered a goal to Trinidad & Tobago in a home qualifier since a 1-1 tie in Torrance, Calif., on May 13, 1989, and has recorded a shutout in six of their nine overall qualifying matches.

The U.S. team will report to the Hartford area Aug. 14 after the completion of league matches over the weekend.  With the match scheduled on a friendly date as designated on the FIFA international coordinated calendar, players need only be released by their clubs 48 hours prior to kickoff.
 
After Hartford, the USA’s next qualifier is a marquee matchup with Mexico on Sept. 3 in Columbus, Ohio.  A sold-out crowd at Crew Stadium will witness the teams’ first meeting in qualifying on U.S. soil since the U.S. downed the Mexicans 2-0 on Feb. 28, 2001, in the very same venue. 

To date, the U.S. is halfway through the 10-match schedule in the final round of qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The USA, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama and Trinidad & Tobago are competing for three automatic berths to the World Cup finals in Germany.  The fourth-place finisher will face the fifth-place team from the Asian Football Confederation in a home-and-home series to determine the last entrant into the tournament.



 
 

1413

Football / US roster for T&T game.

« on: August 10, 2005, 10:05:35 AM »

Goalkeepers - 3 – Kevin Hartman (Los Angeles Galaxy), Tim Howard (Manchester United), Kasey Keller (Borussia Moenchengladbach).

Defenders - 5 – Chris Albright (Los Angeles Galaxy), Gregg Berhalter (Energie Cottbus), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Greg Vanney (FC Dallas).
 
Midfielders - 8 – Chris Armas (Chicago Fire), DaMarcus Beasley (PSV Eindhoven), Bobby Convey (Reading FC), Eddie Lewis (Leeds United), John O’Brien (ADO Den Haag), Santino Quaranta (D.C. United), Steve Ralston (New England Revolution), Claudio Reyna (Manchester City).
 
Forwards - 4 – Jeff Cunningham (Colorado Rapids), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Brian McBride (Fulham FC), Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution).

http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=216673

1414

Football / Re: Eddie Johnson likely to play for US in qualifier

« on: August 08, 2005, 09:47:14 AM »

He went 63 minutes against the MetroStars on Saturday before he was subbed off. He later complained of pain in his toe. Still questionable for the qualifier.

1415

Football / Re: The US sees the Trinidad game as must win

« on: August 04, 2005, 07:20:03 PM »

When did Donovan say that T&T was 3 easy points? Does anyone have a link to that article?

1416

Football / Eddie Johnson Thread

« on: August 04, 2005, 02:56:35 PM »

Eddie Johnson is healthy again. He came off the bench for Dallas yesterday and scored on a PK. Should be all set to play in the upcoming qualifier.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=338047&cc=5901

Bad news for you guys.

1417

Football / Re: What an insult!

« on: July 31, 2005, 11:27:42 AM »

Who made the comment?

Seems like the journalist, rather than a player or coach.

1418

Football / Re: The US will man mark Yorke

« on: July 27, 2005, 10:37:59 AM »

It's hard to say who will be in central defense for us, but it will be among these guys: Pope, Gibbs, Bocanegra and Onyewu.

Look for Mastroeni to be roaming in midfield to mark whoever you use as your attacking midfielder.

1419

Football / USA - Champions of CONCACAF

« on: July 24, 2005, 05:54:17 PM »

U.S. beats Panama on penalty kicks to win Gold Cup
 
It took more than two hours, but the United States was finally able to secure the CONCACAF Gold Cup thanks to the left foot of Brad Davis.

Davis booted a low corner shot just past the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Jaime Penedo to secure a 3-1 victory on penalty kicks over Panama after the teams played a scoreless 120 minutes.

It is the third time that the U.S. has taken home the regional tournament, having won the inaugural Gold Cup in 1991 and again in 2002.

Panama, which won its quarterfinal match against South Africa on penalties, had trouble making shots from the spot in this one. Luis Tejada opened the penalty kick round by having his shot denied by U.S. goalkeeper Kasey Keller.

"We tried to go to school from their quarterfinal," Keller said. "Tejada went to the left in the quarterfinal, so I figured he'd go that way."

After Santino Quaranta connected in the Americans' first attempt, Jorge Valdes struck the post for the Panamanians but Chris Armas had his effort stopped by Penedo to keep the score 1-0. Panama's Felipe Baloy and Landon Donovan of the U.S. each hit their kicks, but Alberto Blanco sailed his kick into the stands to set up Davis' game-winning shot.

"I tried to get him to commit to one side or another but he didn't move until I took my last step," Davis said. "Thankfully it made it through the keeper, who had a really good tournament."

The Americans, who were guided by assistant Glenn Myernick because coach Bruce Arena was serving a red card suspension, had most of the scoring opportunities in the first half.

Jimmy Conrad missed an open tap in the 23rd minute and Clint Dempsey's header in the 38th was turned away by Penedo, who was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament.

Penedo also stopped DaMarcus Beasley in the 41st minute after the U.S. striker received an excellent headed pass from Josh Wolff, whose 44th-minute effort also was thwarted by the 23-year-old goalkeeper.

"I felt the pressure of the attack of the American team," Penedo said. "We defended them good and my defenders played well in front of me and helped me out a lot."

"I think both teams had chances to win the game," Myernick said. "Beasley gave our best shot, but both teams were poorly finishing today."

Even though the U.S. had the better run of play after halftime, Panama had the better chances to score. Angel Luis Rodriguez found Valdes open in front of the net, but the striker's attempt ricocheted off the left post in the 75th minute.

Valdes again was denied six minutes into the extra session when Keller dove to his right to stop the Panamanian's shot.

"We had our chances to win the game, but we just didn't finish putting the ball in the net," Panama coach Jose Hernandez said. "I didn't want to go to penalty kicks because of our rivals' keeper."

The U.S. had beaten Panama on the road in a World Cup qualifier on June 8, 3-0.

The Americans entered the game shorthanded after a physical struggle in their 2-1 semifinal win over Honduras. Pablo Mastroeni, Eddie Pope and Steve Ralston were all injured in the contest in part because of the rough play by Honduras, which won the Fair Play Award in the tournament.

Arena had been handed his red card for arguing that a foul should have been called on Honduras after Armas was the recipient of a hard tackle.

"We had a few players go down against the team that won the Fair Play, and the only red card issued was against the coach," Arena said after the final.

1420

Football / Re: What's the status with Zamora?

« on: July 11, 2005, 12:30:20 PM »

Has he been approached since Beenhakker became coach?

1421

Football / Re: What's the status with Zamora?

« on: July 10, 2005, 10:40:03 AM »

We can't wait for this guy at the moment maybe we should check him out after the 2006 WC

But if you qualify somehow I bet you would be hearing from him before the tournament begins.

1422

Football / Re: What's the status with Zamora?

« on: July 10, 2005, 09:58:03 AM »

But have you heard anything since the Hexagonal began?

Surely he must know that T&T has a decent shot at qualification, especially since the 4th place team makes the playoffs (against an Asian team). And I really don't see England asking this guy to play for them.

1423

Football / Bobby Zamora Thread

« on: July 09, 2005, 11:41:14 PM »

What's the status with Zamora?

Wasn't there talk of him playing for you guys at one point? Whatever happened to that idea?

How is he connected with T&T?

1424

Football / Re: Blasted cheating USA!!

« on: July 09, 2005, 11:15:41 PM »

Switch to decaf, buddy.