TWO SURPRISES AS ARENA SELECTS SIDE CONRAD AND CHING IN, TWELLMAN AND ALBRIGHT OUT FOR WORLD CUP.

Byline: SCOTT FRENCH Staff Writer

Bruce Arena on Tuesday announced a World Cup roster long on depth and experience and short on surprises, although the U.S. coach managed to sneak through a pair of stunners.

Former UCLA star Jimmy Conrad, widely considered a long shot to make the 23-man U.S. roster, was one of eight defenders Arena selected for the June 9-July 9 championship in Germany. Forward Brian Ching was chosen instead of Taylor Twellman, who appeared to be a lock before the MLS season began.

``All the positions, we had a difficult time coming down to the last players,'' Arena said. ``That's good and bad. The good part is we've continually developed players that should be in our pool and challenged for spots on this roster.

``The negative part for me is simply that we have to tell some players that arguably belong on this roster that they're not going to be a part of it.''

Among that group were Galaxy defender Chris Albright, who overcame a January knee injury to make a strong case for inclusion, and 2002 veteran Gregg Berhalter. They joined Twellman in a 13-player alternate pool, ready to step in if one of the 23 suffers an injury.

``Obviously, this is an exciting day for everyone,'' noted Galaxy star Landon Donovan, one of the Americans' pivotal players. ``Likewise, it's a sad for a few. I think it's time we get going. ... It's been five months since we started (World Cup preparations) in January, and I think people have been waiting for this day so we can move forward and get going.''

The pre-Cup camp begins May 10 in Cary, N.C., with goalkeeper Kasey Keller and defender Steve Cherundolo arriving May 14 and defender Eddie Lewis joining preparations when Leeds United's promotion-playoff run concludes in England.

Arena selected a dozen players with World Cup experience - Keller, Cherundolo, Donovan, Lewis, defenders Frankie Hejduk and Eddie Pope, midfielders DaMarcus Beasley, Pablo Mastroeni, John O'Brien and Claudio Reyna, and forwards Brian McBride and Josh Wolff - and a dozen who play for European clubs. Keller and Reyna are taking part in the fourth World Cups.

O'Brien, who joined Chivas USA last month after 12 years in Holland, isn't assured a roster spot. He's regaining fitness and form following a series of injuries, and Arena said that if O'Brien isn't ready in time for the June 12 opener against the Czech Republic, he'll ``be a candidate for possible replacement on the roster.''

``He wants to see me in the next month get into form, and I need to play in some of the (exhibition) games,'' said O'Brien, the Americans' best player at the 2002 Cup. ``If I do that, then I can go to Germany. Nothing is set in stone. ... Physically, it's going to be tough, but I think I can definitely do it in a month.''

After meeting the Czechs in the Group E opener in Gelsenkirchen, the U.S. takes on Italy on June 17 in Kaiserslautern and Ghana on June 22 in Nuremburg.

``The challenge will be a pretty good one, with our opponents,'' Arena said. ``On paper, I like this team better than the team in 2002. But you don't win games on paper, you win them on the field. The way this team will be judged is (by) the way we play in the World Cup.''

Arena said his goal was to proceed from the first round, difficult with the Czechs and Italians in the group. ``Once we're out of group play, we can reevaluate the inventory and start from there. Going into camp, we'll be stepping on the field June 12 with the thought we're going to hang around Germany for awhile.''

Said Donovan: ``There's a very real chance we'll get out of the group and play Brazil (in the second round). Would I bet we beat Brazil nine times out of 10? Probably not. Can we beat Brazil? Yes. We have to be a little realistic, but we want to put ourselves in that situation,. If we're in that situation, I would still be confident.''

Conrad is joined by fellow UCLA alums Lewis, Carlos Bocanegra and Frankie Hejduk, who is making his third World Cup appearance. All play on the backline.

``I'm honored to be part of the roster,'' Conrad, who anchors the Kansas City Wizards' backline, said in a conference call. ``I don't know how to respond to this moment. I'm kind of in shock now. ... I'll definitely be having a glass of wine tonight with my wife.''

Arena then joked that the team was under an alcohol ban. ``I'll definitely be having a glass of water,'' Conrad shot back.

Twellman's exclusion was the biggest shock. The New England Revolution striker, who has been MLS's top goalscorer in three of his four seasons, had a sensational start to 2005, getting a hat trick in a Jan. 29 rout of Norway, scoring again in a Feb. 10 victory over Japan, and setting up New England teammate Clint Dempsey's winner March 1 against Poland.

Twellman has not looked sharp the first month of the MLS season and didn't score his first goal until Sunday's loss to Chicago.

``He easily could have been on the roster,'' said Arena, who later mentioned Twellman's name when speaking about possible combinations up front. ``He was certainly among a group of players, as we went through the process, who were in and then out, in and then out the last couple months. His form at the moment had a little to do with the decision.''

Alternates include Galaxy defender Todd Dunivant, whose Cup chances were harmed by injury, former UCLA goalkeeper Matt Reis and veteran midfielder Chris Armas, whose opportunity to play in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups was halted by injury.

The U.S. has four warm-up games - May 23 vs. Morocco in Nashville, May 26 vs. Venezuela in Cleveland, May 28 vs. Latvia in East Harford, Conn., and June 6 in a closed-door match vs. Angola in Hamburg - the Americans' German base - before Group E play begins.

scott.french(at)dailynews.com

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