SOCCER: ARENA: U.S. NOT A POWER ADU WILL JOIN WORLD CUP PREPARATIONS; GERMANY GAME IN MARCH.Byline: Scott French Staff Writer The U.S. national soccer team has ascended to unprecedented heights since Bruce Arena Bruce Arena (born September 21, 1951 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American soccer coach, currently Head Coach and Sporting Director for Red Bull New York of Major League Soccer and the former coach of the United States men's national soccer team. took charge seven years ago, and the Americans' No. 8 position in FIFA's largely derided rankings might seem evidence on their rise among the sport's powers. Arena, preparing his team for the June 9-July 9 World Cup, isn't fooled. He acknowledged Tuesday that the U.S. team doesn't deserve to be among the eight seeds for the Dec. 9 draw - and shouldn't be considered a candidate to win the trophy in Germany. ``I know some of our accomplishments look good on the surface,'' he told an audience at Futbol de Primera's eighth annual symposium at the Biltmore Hotel Biltmore Hotel is the name of a hotel chain created by hotel magnate John McEntee Bowman. The name evokes the Vanderbilt family's Biltmore Estate, whose buildings and gardens within are privately owned historical landmarks and tourist attractions in Asheville, North in downtown Los Angeles Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area. The sprawling, multi-centered megacity is such that its downtown core is often considered just another district like Hollywood or , ``but we have far to go to be a power in this sport. ... ``We've won six World Cup games in history. Brazil won six at the last World Cup. We're still a little behind.'' Arena, who guided the Americans to the quarterfinals at the 2002 World Cup, said that in 117 games as U.S. coach, ``I believe in three games I've had a full (first-choice) team together. When our team is healthy, we can play very good football.'' At its best, he said, the U.S. lineup would feature midfielders Claudio Reyna Claudio Reyna (born July 20 1973 in Livingston, New Jersey) is an American soccer player. He was the captain of the U.S. national team before retiring from international soccer immediately following the USA's exit from the 2006 FIFA World Cup. and John O'Brien John O'Brien may refer to: In public life:
Brian McBride (born June 19, 1972) is a football striker who has appeared in three World Cups for the United States national team and is currently captain of Fulham F.C. of the English Premier League. , and Landon Donovan attacking from just behind the top two. ``I've never had those six players together at the same time.'' It likely will be March, when the Americans play two games in Europe (including a March 22 match against Germany) that Arena has all six on the field at the same time. All but Donovan and Johnson play in Europe, and the coach will use domestic players during preparations in early 2006. A Home Depot Center camp begins Jan. 4, when 16-year-old phenom Freddy Adu will receive his first full national team call-up. Arena said he is considering ``16 or 17'' foreign-based players and expects 12 or 14 to make the team. Scott French, (818) 713-3627 scott.french(at)dailynews.com |
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