U.S. Trying to Find Right Pieces
SALT LAKE CITY — One year and five days from today, soccer’s 2006 World Cup will kick off in Munich, Germany.
That’s how long U.S. Coach Bruce Arena has in which to find 20 players who can equal or improve on the Americans’ strong quarterfinal showing at the Korea/Japan ’02 World Cup.
It’s not going to be easy.
Barring injury or a dramatic loss of form, some positions are a lock. Kasey Keller, for instance, figures to be the starting goalkeeper. Midfielder Landon Donovan will be on the field, no questions asked. So will winger DaMarcus Beasley and, probably, defensive midfielder Pablo Mastroeni.
Beyond that, who knows?
Today, the U.S. resumes World Cup qualifying when it plays Costa Rica at Rice-Eccles Stadium on the University of Utah campus. A victory, plus another Wednesday against Panama in Panama City, would put the Americans much closer to a berth in Germany ’06.
The two matches in five days also could answer a few roster questions for Arena or, just as likely, raise a few more.
On Friday, Arena still was trying to settle on a starting lineup, knowing that Costa Rica will present a significant challenge.
“They’re a team that has some physical presence,” he said. “They’re also a team that I think would feel confident leaving the U.S. with a point because they return home to play Guatemala next Wednesday.
“So I think they’re going to sit back and play for a tie, and perhaps at some opportune moment try to get a goal on a break or a restart.”
Costa Rica faltered at the beginning of the final qualifying round, losing at home to Mexico and later gaining only a tie at Trinidad and Tobago. That caused the ouster of Jorge Luis Pinto as coach and the return of Brazilian Alexandre Guimaraes.
Guimaraes coached the Ticos to the 2002 World Cup, where they performed admirably, especially in a 5-2 loss to eventual champion Brazil.
“I have the greatest respect for him,” Arena said. “It became very clear in the last go-around that he is a proven winner. He did a great job qualifying Costa Rica.”
The ability of forward Paolo Wanchope concerns Arena. “He’s an outstanding striker,” Arena said. Other experienced players, especially midfielder Jafet Soto and forward Ronald Gomez, could pose problems.
The U.S., which has defeated Trinidad and Tobago and Guatemala and lost to Mexico in the North and Central American and Caribbean (CONCACAF) region’s six-team final qualifying round, has a few question marks. Who plays left back? Who is the holding midfielder? Who partners Brian McBride up front?
Former UCLA star Carlos Bocanegra has started at left back in the last three qualifiers, but is not “completely comfortable” in the position, Arena said. Greg Vanney played left back in the 2-1 loss to England in a friendly at Chicago last week but lacks speed.
“We’re having a difficult time finding a left back on our team,” Arena admitted. “We don’t have someone who really plays [there] with their club team.”
In the absence of Mastroeni and John O’Brien, both injured, as well as Claudio Reyna, who is taking time off, Kerry Zavagnin is the likely choice in defensive midfield today.
“He comes in at a time when we’re short players in that particular position,” Arena said. “We’re a little bit thin and it’s Kerry’s opportunity to take advantage of that.”
Two-time World Cup player McBride, with 26 goals in 86 internationals, will start at forward, but Arena is unsure who will join him there.
“I’ve got to first evaluate where Eddie Johnson stands [coming off a toe injury] and think about who might be a good partner for Brian McBride,” he said. “It could be Landon Donovan. It could be Josh Wolff. It could be Eddie Johnson. It could be Pat Noonan. We haven’t made that decision yet.”
