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U.S. Soccer team with injuries
No news may be good
news for the United States national soccer team, but there are still a
number of questions that need to be addressed before it opens its World
Cup campaign against the formidable Czech Republic on Monday.
Unlike most of the other World Cup participants, the U.S. prefers to
carry on its preparation in as much secrecy as possible - from
closed-door scrimmages to information embargoes to media, a "loose lips
sink ships" mentality.
The team broke from that routine yesterday, opening its training to the
public as well as to the media who attended the nearly 90-minute
session.
The biggest questions - other than who Coach Bruce Arena will put on the
field against the Czechs - continue to be about the progress of key
midfielders Claudio Reyna and John O'Brien. The two are the most
talented midfielders on the squad, but Reyna has been working to get
over a hamstring injury suffered May 23, and O'Brien has battled a
series of injuries since the 2002 World Cup that has limited him to
fewer than 20 games for club or country.
Reyna appeared sharp in practice and played in a scrimmage against
Angola but would not reveal for how long. He had trainers working on his
right hamstring after training and often stretched during the session.
O'Brien did not play in the scrimmage and was not impressive during
training.
"Things are going to plan," Reyna said. "Everything is fine, the whole
team looks good - just knock on wood, we have no problems."
Reyna, the U.S. captain, described the session as "generic," when asked
about the possibility of observers sent by foes.
"We do less as far as what we'd work on because you don't know who's
here," he said. "It was a very - I don't know - generic practice."
The team will take today off as it participates in an official welcoming
celebration at City Hall in Hamburg, for which Mayor Ole von Beust will
serve as host.
Open practices are far from novel in the World Cup and at other
international tournaments, especially for national teams with bigger
reputations. Germany recently had 42,000-plus turn out to watch it
recently; Brazil distributed 45,000 tickets to a session in Switzerland
last week, and often sells tickets to fans wanting watch it work out.
Other teams have followed suit by opening the doors to the public.
About 1,000 people watched the U.S. team yesterday.
"We just wanted to thank the local community," Arena said. "We're a bit
of a nuisance - we come through with our processing of sirens and
everything else every day.
"We rattle them a little bit, so the least we can do is say 'thank you
for all of your support and hospitality' and have an open session
today."
A suburb of Hamburg, Norderstedt has a population of about 70,000 and is
home to lower division Eintracht Norderstedt, whose Edmund Plambeck
Stadium was the venue for the Americans' ultra-secret scrimmage with
Angola on Monday. Brian McBride's goal gave the U.S. a 1-0 victory.
Arena, his players and staff would say little about the match. The U.S.
wore jerseys without names or numbers but made the most of the occasion
as 20 different players were able to see some action.
O'Brien, 28, continues to be the most fragile player on the U.S. team
and one of the most vital to the team's success.
"I don't know how long I could (go on the field)," he said when asked if
he was capable of starting against the Czechs. "The last game, I played
60 minutes against Latvia (on May 28), but obviously, the World Cup is a
more-intense level. I think I could (start). I think toward the weekend,
we'll have a better idea."
O'Brien and some of his teammates say that some positions may have
question marks next to them.
"We have to see how things pan out the next couple of days in terms of
(player) fitness, but he (Arena) probably has a better idea," O'Brien
said. "I think some positions are up for grabs."
Another player who has not been overly impressive recentlly is
midfielder DaMarcus Beasley. That brings up the possibility of Bobby
Convey's winning a starting place on the left flank and Beasley's being
relegated to the bench unless he moves to the right side with Reyna and,
if fit, O'Brien, in the center. Landon Donovan is another potential
right-side player, but Arena may choose to team him with McBride up
front or use him as a withdrawn striker. O'Brien could be put on the
flank with Pablo Mastroeni in a holding role behind Reyna.
Reserve midfielder Clint Dempsey said that most players get a chance to
be in a World Cup once in a lifetime and is hoping to make the most of
the opportunity.
"Some guys are making a statement for themselves," said Dempsey who
played 45 minutes against Angola.
"I couldn't say who's going to start," he said. "Looking at games and
past performances, you can get a good idea, but I think there are guys
fighting for spots. It's going to be a tough decision for him (Arena)."
Reyna concurred, but said that the U.S. gained a boost from finally
being fully acclimated to the time change.
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