U.S. NOTEBOOK: REYNA HEALTHY ENOUGH TO PLAY, SO HE WILL.Byline: Paul Oberjuerge Staff Writer SEOUL, South Korea - 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. says he's ready to go, and you don't have to be a confidant of coach 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. to know that means the veteran midfielder is going right into the lineup for Monday's key match with South Korea. Reyna, 28, suffered a strained quadriceps muscle the week before the U.S. national team's first game in the 2002 World Cup and sat out the victory over Portugal. On Saturday, Reyna said he could have played briefly that night, but he wasn't needed in the 3-2 victory. Reyna will play one of the two holding midfield positions, next to John O'Brien John O'Brien may refer to: In public life:
Meanwhile, the other injured American, midfielder Earnie Stewart Earnie Stewart (born March 28, 1969 in Veghel, Netherlands) is an American soccer player who was a regular midfielder for the U.S. national team from 1990s until his retirement in 2005. (strained groin) reported improvement Saturday, but he is unlikely to play Monday. Potential replacements for Stewart on the right side of the midfield, Arena said, are Cobi Jones Cobi Jones (born June 16, 1970 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American midfielder for Major League Soccer team Los Angeles Galaxy. Jones is currently the all-time leader of the United States men's national team in appearances, with 164 caps as of the end of 2004 (scoring 15 , Eddie Lewis, Frankie Hejduk Frank Daniel "Frankie" Hejduk (born August 5, 1974 in La Mesa, California) is an American soccer player who currently plays midfielder and defender for the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer, where he is team captain. and Joe-Max Moore Joe-Max Moore (born February 23, 1971 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is an American soccer forward who played for the United States national team in three World Cups. He played professionally for clubs in Germany, England, and finished his career with the New England Revolution of Major . --Chemistry lesson: Arena said telling players they aren't starting, particularly veteran players, is ``not the easiest part of the job.'' However, Arena seems to have put together a roster in which the veterans who aren't starting are able to deal with the situation. ``You've worked your whole life to get to this point, and honestly you want to be included for the starting lineup, but 12 players are not going to be able to have that opportunity, but things can change from game to game, and you've got to have a positive outlook on things,'' Joe-Max Moore said. ``Part of the problem with the '98 team was the fact the chemistry wasn't right. Players were a bit too disappointed in the fact that they weren't included in the starting lineup, and that kind of became a cancer, and it was part of the problem of why we didn't succeed. ``This team's different, and we hope that doesn't cause any problems here, at least in this tournament.'' --Starting, maybe:Landon Donovan, the Redlands native, figures he will be in the starting lineup against South Korea but Saturday said Arena has yet to reveal a lineup. Donovan played well against Portugal. When the U.S. defeated South Korea 2-1 in the Gold Cup in January, he scored a goal and set up another by DaMarcus Beasley. LOOKING AHEAD: UNITED STATES vs. SOUTH KOREA Time: Tonight, 11:30, Daegu, South Korea TV: ESPN ESPN Entertainment and Sports Programming Network 2, Ch. 34. Matchup: After the Americans upset Portugal, and South Korea disposed of Poland, this matchup becomes a fight for first place in Group D rather than a battle for second, as most would have thought. The U.S. is on a high but likely will make more than one change in the lineup, a bit unusual after such a big victory. The U.S. beat South Korea 2-1 in the Gold Cup at the Rose Bowl in January, but with an entire nation backing it (much as the U.S. crowds backed the Yanks here in 1994), South Korea, an underrated team making its Asian-best sixth World Cup appearance, is considered the favorite. Prediction: U.S. 1, South Korea 1. The Americans will conserve energy in the afternoon heat and take the point, hoping for more against Poland. - Patrick Hipes CAPTION(S): 2 boxes Box: (1) WORLD CUP GLANCE (2) LOOKING AHEAD: UNITED STATES vs. SOUTH KOREA (see text) |
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