SOCCER: U.S., MEXICO SEEK REGION'S TOP PRIZE COLOMBIA KICKS OFF TOURNAMENT TODAY.Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services Twelve nations will contend for the eighth CONCACAF CONCACAF Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (Soccer) CONCACAF Confederacion Norte, Centroamericana y del Caribe de Futbol Asociacion (Spanish) Gold Cup title, but - like all soccer competition in this part of the globe - it's all about the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and Mexico. The longtime rivals are prohibitive favorites in the nations championship for North and Central America Central America, narrow, southernmost region (c.202,200 sq mi/523,698 sq km) of North America, linked to South America at Colombia. It separates the Caribbean from the Pacific. and the Caribbean, which begins today with a Group A doubleheader in Miami. The Americans, with a solid roster despite the absence of some high-profile Europe-based players, seek their third Gold Cup crown - to go with championships in 1991 and 2002. Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan Landon Timothy Donovan (born March 4, 1982 in Ontario, California), is an American professional soccer player on the Los Angeles Galaxy, who is the joint all-time leading scorer for the U.S. National Team (along with Eric Wynalda). , Dutch-based winger DaMarcus Beasley, and German-based goalkeeper Kasey Keller lead Coach Bruce Arena's squad, which also features several young players, including D.C. United's Santino Quaranta and New England's Clint Dempsey and Pat Noonan. The most prominent missing Americans are England-based midfielders Claudio Reyna and Eddie Lewis. England-based goalkeeper Brad Friedel has retired from the national team. Mexico, the defending champion and four-time winner, is coming off a fourth-place finish at the Confederations Cup, in which it beat Brazil. Coach Ricardo Lavolpe has brought in star forward Jared Borgetti from that squad, but defenders Salvador Carmona and Aaron Galindo - suspended Monday by the Mexican federation after positive drug tests in Germany - aren't available. Mexico plays its first two Group C games in Southern California, taking on guest team South Africa on Friday night at Home Depot Center and a solid Guatemala side - starring Galaxy midfielder Guillermo Ramirez and former Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz - Sunday at the Coliseum. Caribbean Cup champion Jamaica, with Galaxy defender Tyrone Marshall, also is playing its first two games in Southern California. The Americans open Group B play Thursday against Cuba in Seattle. Their other first-round foes are Costa Rica, traditionally the strongest Central American nation Noun 1. Central American nation - any one of the countries occupying Central America; these countries (except for Belize and Costa Rica) are characterized by low per capita income and unstable governments Central American country , and 2000 champion Canada. The Costa Ricans are led by Galaxy defender Michael Umana and Chivas USA defender/midfielder Douglas Sequeira. Canada, which former San Jose coach Frank Yallop is rebuilding following a disastrous World Cup qualifying campaign, features three MLS See multilevel security. players - San Jose's Dwayne De Rosario Dwayne De Rosario (also spelt de Rosario and commonly shortened to DeRo by fans; born on May 15, 1978 in Scarborough, Ontario) is a Canadian soccer player, who currently plays as a midfielder and forward for Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer. , Chicago's Will Johnson and New England's Felix Brillant - and seven from the United Soccer League's Division I, the second tier in U.S. professional soccer. Colombia, also a guest entrant, is the likeliest challenger to a U.S. or Mexican championship. The Colombians have rebounded from a poor start in World Cup qualifying with resounding re·sound v. re·sound·ed, re·sound·ing, re·sounds v.intr. 1. To be filled with sound; reverberate: The schoolyard resounded with the laughter of children. 2. victories under new coach Reinaldo Rueda, and they sit fifth in the South American standings, in position to advance to next year's championship in Germany. Colombia opens against Panama tonight in Miami; Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago (trĭn`ĭdăd, təbā`gō), officially Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, republic (2005 est. pop. 1,088,000), 1,980 sq mi (5,129 sq km), West Indies. The capital is Port of Spain. faces Honduras in the second game. CAPTION(S): photo, 3 boxes Photo: DaMarcus Beasley, who stars for Dutch power PSV Eindhoven, is one of seven Europe-based players on the U.S. roster. Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Box: (1) THE FIELD (2) U.S. SCHEDULE (3) IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA |
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