Bruce’s theme was that experience counts, but you play yourself onto this squad. He kept an eye on injuries, but also kept another eye trained on MLS games.
Midfielder John O’Brien, who played every minute of every game in 2002, was the only cloudy issue. His fitness is returning and Bruce called him “a little bit of a question.”
This time, the U.S. is monitoring the fitness of the team. “In 2002 some players were not fit,” Bruce said. Ralston and Noonan’s injuries didn’t help their cause.
“I think John Spector was a possibility, but that injury a few weeks ended the dream he may have had.”
Gone are the memories of the 1998 embarrassment, according to Arena.
The U.S. has 12 players who’ve been in a World Cup; the Czech Republic, Bruce said, has none. Landon Donovan “in his mind, he has picture of what a World Cup looks like. And that’s an incredible asset.”
“I realize now that this is my job, and I need to be better professional,” including more massages, drink more fluids and get to bed early, Donovan said.
What got Ben Olsen on the team?
Bruce: “Ben Olsen got Ben Olsen on the team.”
“The eight (midfielders) we decided on gives us the right kind of balance in case of injuries.”
On McBride: “Got better in last couple of years, against good competition. Invaluable.”
On Brian Ching: “Good start to MLS season. Did fantastic in game against Guatemala. The big goal he scored against Jamaica. He’s in pretty good form right now.”
On paper this team in better than in 2002, Arena said. "Size, or what have you, is another apsect of our game that is better this time around.”
Donovan agreed: “You can’t go into a World Cup timid, and you can’t go into it shy. We are here for a reason, and we are here to win. Everyone has to take that responsibility.” (He also said the U.S could face Brazil in the second round and that they could beat them BUT 9 times out of 10 they wouldn't.)
Other Bruce comments--
On Hejduk: “He wasn’t the first name I wrote down when I put together the roster. He’s fit again and brings a lot of experience. Likley not in first 11.”
Gibbs: “He put a stamp on the fact that he’s healthy and he’s a player we can depend on.”
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UNITED STATES 2006 FIFA WORLD CUP ROSTER BY POSITION (All-time World Cup Roster Selections)
Goalkeepers (3): Marcus Hahnemann (2006), Tim Howard (2006), Kasey Keller (1990, 1998, 2002, 2006)
Defenders (8): Carlos Bocanegra (2006), Steve Cherundolo (2002, 2006), Jimmy Conrad (2006), Cory Gibbs (2006), Frankie Hejduk (1998, 2002, 2006), Eddie Lewis (2002, 2006), Oguchi Onyewu (2006), Eddie Pope (1998, 2002, 2006)
Midfielders (8): DaMarcus Beasley (2002, 2006), Bobby Convey (2006), Clint Dempsey (2006), Landon Donovan (2002, 2006), Pablo Mastroeni (2002, 2006), John O’Brien (2002, 2006), Ben Olsen (2006), Claudio Reyna (1994, 1998, 2002, 2006)
Forwards (4): Brian Ching (2006), Eddie Johnson (2006), Brian McBride (1998, 2002, 2006), Josh Wolff (2002, 2006)
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