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The U.S. soccer team had a new altitude and a new attitude Monday. -
from USMNT news group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Go_USA_2006 ---
A day after a 2-1 defeat in the smog at Mexico City's Estadio
Azteca, 7,200 feet above sea level, the Americans practiced at the
University of Alabama-Birmingham for Wednesday night's World Cup
qualifier against Guatemala at Legion Field.
"We all took a big, deep breath when we got off the plane," U.S.
captain Claudio Reyna said. "I think after the week, two weeks in
some cases, the guys got at altitude, that we're going to be very
fit now coming back to sea level."
On a cool, windy afternoon, the U.S. team (1-1) trained on a field
where an American flag flapped along with the Alabama flag - a red
St. Andrew's cross on a white field, sort of like the English cross
of St. George flag titled over.
Birmingham is 640 feet above sea level, and getting back to the
United States was, well, a breath of fresh air.
"It's the first time I haven't been breathing uncontrollably in 10
days," Landon Donovan said. "It's nice."
Following two road games, the Americans are tied for third with
Costa Rica in the final round of qualifying in the North and Central
American and Caribbean region, trailing Mexico (2-0) and Guatemala
(1-0-1). The top three teams advance to the 32-nation field for next
year's tournament in Germany, and the fourth-place team goes to a
playoff against an Asian nation.
Donovan attributed his tentativeness in the first half Sunday to his
lack of playing time with Bayer Leverkusen in Germany. He had not
been in a game since March 7.
"I'm just not as sharp as I usually am," he said.
U.S. coach Bruce Arena didn't want to hear any of that.
"I think Landon has to say, 'I don't feel rusty,' because that's
psychological," Arena said. "It's not like Landon hasn't touched a
soccer ball in three months. He's got to have his mind-set that he
can get out there and play and have an impact on the game."
Donovan may be headed back to Major League Soccer. Kicker magazine
and the Los Angeles Times reported last week that the Los Angeles
Galaxy are close to a trade that would send Carlos Ruiz -
Guatemala's star forward - to Dallas to acquire Donovan.
"I know that I have a decision to make in a couple days, but until
then I'll be worried about Guatemala," Donovan said.
The U.S. player of the year for three straight years, Donovan says
his club situation isn't a distraction, "not in the slightest," and
that he thinks about it only when reporters ask.
Arena said that had better be the case.
"His job is to get on the field and play," the coach said. "You
can't be worrying about his club situation at this point and neither
can he. That's important. If Landon is more worried about other
things, then it might be we have to make a change."
Donovan thought one half was enough to get his sharpness back and
that he was excited to get ready for Wednesday's game.
"I want to just crush Guatemala," he said.
Guatemala is coming off a 5-1 win at home Saturday over Trinidad and
Tobago (0-2), which lost its opener to the United States 2-1 last
month. Ruiz and Dwight Pezzarosi each scored twice.
While the Americans are tied for 10th in the world rankings, the
Guatemalans are 62nd.
"Guatemela is a very good team coming off probably one of their
biggest wins ever," Arena said. "We expect a team coming in here
probably with confidence and realizing that they can sit back a
little bit and make us play."
(source : Associated Press)
from USMNT news group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Go_USA_2006 ---
A day after a 2-1 defeat in the smog at Mexico City's Estadio
Azteca, 7,200 feet above sea level, the Americans practiced at the
University of Alabama-Birmingham for Wednesday night's World Cup
qualifier against Guatemala at Legion Field.
"We all took a big, deep breath when we got off the plane," U.S.
captain Claudio Reyna said. "I think after the week, two weeks in
some cases, the guys got at altitude, that we're going to be very
fit now coming back to sea level."
On a cool, windy afternoon, the U.S. team (1-1) trained on a field
where an American flag flapped along with the Alabama flag - a red
St. Andrew's cross on a white field, sort of like the English cross
of St. George flag titled over.
Birmingham is 640 feet above sea level, and getting back to the
United States was, well, a breath of fresh air.
"It's the first time I haven't been breathing uncontrollably in 10
days," Landon Donovan said. "It's nice."
Following two road games, the Americans are tied for third with
Costa Rica in the final round of qualifying in the North and Central
American and Caribbean region, trailing Mexico (2-0) and Guatemala
(1-0-1). The top three teams advance to the 32-nation field for next
year's tournament in Germany, and the fourth-place team goes to a
playoff against an Asian nation.
Donovan attributed his tentativeness in the first half Sunday to his
lack of playing time with Bayer Leverkusen in Germany. He had not
been in a game since March 7.
"I'm just not as sharp as I usually am," he said.
U.S. coach Bruce Arena didn't want to hear any of that.
"I think Landon has to say, 'I don't feel rusty,' because that's
psychological," Arena said. "It's not like Landon hasn't touched a
soccer ball in three months. He's got to have his mind-set that he
can get out there and play and have an impact on the game."
Donovan may be headed back to Major League Soccer. Kicker magazine
and the Los Angeles Times reported last week that the Los Angeles
Galaxy are close to a trade that would send Carlos Ruiz -
Guatemala's star forward - to Dallas to acquire Donovan.
"I know that I have a decision to make in a couple days, but until
then I'll be worried about Guatemala," Donovan said.
The U.S. player of the year for three straight years, Donovan says
his club situation isn't a distraction, "not in the slightest," and
that he thinks about it only when reporters ask.
Arena said that had better be the case.
"His job is to get on the field and play," the coach said. "You
can't be worrying about his club situation at this point and neither
can he. That's important. If Landon is more worried about other
things, then it might be we have to make a change."
Donovan thought one half was enough to get his sharpness back and
that he was excited to get ready for Wednesday's game.
"I want to just crush Guatemala," he said.
Guatemala is coming off a 5-1 win at home Saturday over Trinidad and
Tobago (0-2), which lost its opener to the United States 2-1 last
month. Ruiz and Dwight Pezzarosi each scored twice.
While the Americans are tied for 10th in the world rankings, the
Guatemalans are 62nd.
"Guatemela is a very good team coming off probably one of their
biggest wins ever," Arena said. "We expect a team coming in here
probably with confidence and realizing that they can sit back a
little bit and make us play."
(source : Associated Press)
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