Celticrugby
Oct 3 2005, 08:48 PM
WCQ: Arena selects youth against Ticos
Associated Press
MIAMI (AP) - The United States selected a lesser-experienced roster for the second straight game, announcing a squad for its World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica without Brian McBride, Kasey Keller and Landon Donovan, who will end a streak of playing in 20 consecutive qualifiers.
U.S. coach Bruce Arena, who used an experimental side in September's 0-0 draw against Guatemala after clinching its place for Germany with a 2-0 victory over Mexico, chose 11 players with 12 caps or less for the 18-man roster for Saturday's game in San Jose.
Four of the players come from the Major League Soccer-leading San Jose Earthquakes: defenders Wade Barrett and Dan Califf, midfielder Ricardo Clark and forward Brian Ching.
Manchester United goalkeeper Tim Howard returns to the U.S. side for the first time in more than a year, leading a cast of seven European-based players that also includes midfielders DaMarcus Beasley (PSV Eindhoven) and Bobby Convey (Reading); and defenders Eddie Lewis (Leeds), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege), Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham) and Jonathan Spector (Charlton Athletic).
Real Salt Lake defender Eddie Pope returns to the team after missing the previous four games mostly due to injuries and is the most experienced on the roster with 72 caps.
Ching, who also has been injured, could play his first game with the national team since March, and will among a relatively inexperienced front corps that also includes D.C. United Santino Quaranta and New England Revolution forward Taylor Twellman.
"Obviously our main goal has been accomplished," Arena said Monday. "However, the last two games in this round are extremely important, not only from a competitive aspect, but also in evaluating players."
Donovan, who has 73 caps since making his debut in 2000, has played every qualifier since a 1-0 loss to Mexico in July 2001, and also played all five games during the 2002 World Cup.
Of 17 games played by the United States this year, the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder has competed in 15, the most of anybody, missing only friendlies against Colombia and Honduras in March.
Roster
Goalkeepers:
Kevin Hartman (Los Angeles)
Tim Howard (Manchester United, England)
Defenders:
Chris Albright (Los Angeles)
Wade Barrett (San Jose)
Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham, England)
Dan Califf (San Jose)
Eddie Lewis (Leeds, England)
Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege, Belgium)
Eddie Pope (Real Salt Lake)
Jonathan Spector (Charlton Athletic, England)
Midfielders:
DaMarcus Beasley (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands)
Ricardo Clark (San Jose)
Bobby Convey (Reading, England)
Kyle Martino (Columbus)
Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado)
Forwards:
Brian Ching (San Jose)
Santino Quaranta (D.C. United)
Taylor Twellman (New England)
================================================== ==
Definitely a younger squad, so it'll be interesting to see if these guys can get it done.
Associated Press
MIAMI (AP) - The United States selected a lesser-experienced roster for the second straight game, announcing a squad for its World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica without Brian McBride, Kasey Keller and Landon Donovan, who will end a streak of playing in 20 consecutive qualifiers.
U.S. coach Bruce Arena, who used an experimental side in September's 0-0 draw against Guatemala after clinching its place for Germany with a 2-0 victory over Mexico, chose 11 players with 12 caps or less for the 18-man roster for Saturday's game in San Jose.
Four of the players come from the Major League Soccer-leading San Jose Earthquakes: defenders Wade Barrett and Dan Califf, midfielder Ricardo Clark and forward Brian Ching.
Manchester United goalkeeper Tim Howard returns to the U.S. side for the first time in more than a year, leading a cast of seven European-based players that also includes midfielders DaMarcus Beasley (PSV Eindhoven) and Bobby Convey (Reading); and defenders Eddie Lewis (Leeds), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege), Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham) and Jonathan Spector (Charlton Athletic).
Real Salt Lake defender Eddie Pope returns to the team after missing the previous four games mostly due to injuries and is the most experienced on the roster with 72 caps.
Ching, who also has been injured, could play his first game with the national team since March, and will among a relatively inexperienced front corps that also includes D.C. United Santino Quaranta and New England Revolution forward Taylor Twellman.
"Obviously our main goal has been accomplished," Arena said Monday. "However, the last two games in this round are extremely important, not only from a competitive aspect, but also in evaluating players."
Donovan, who has 73 caps since making his debut in 2000, has played every qualifier since a 1-0 loss to Mexico in July 2001, and also played all five games during the 2002 World Cup.
Of 17 games played by the United States this year, the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder has competed in 15, the most of anybody, missing only friendlies against Colombia and Honduras in March.
Roster
Goalkeepers:
Kevin Hartman (Los Angeles)
Tim Howard (Manchester United, England)
Defenders:
Chris Albright (Los Angeles)
Wade Barrett (San Jose)
Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham, England)
Dan Califf (San Jose)
Eddie Lewis (Leeds, England)
Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege, Belgium)
Eddie Pope (Real Salt Lake)
Jonathan Spector (Charlton Athletic, England)
Midfielders:
DaMarcus Beasley (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands)
Ricardo Clark (San Jose)
Bobby Convey (Reading, England)
Kyle Martino (Columbus)
Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado)
Forwards:
Brian Ching (San Jose)
Santino Quaranta (D.C. United)
Taylor Twellman (New England)
================================================== ==
Definitely a younger squad, so it'll be interesting to see if these guys can get it done.