U.S. MNT Blog

Change Has Come to the MNT Blog

2009-08-06T15:50:00.000-07:00

It's time to say goodbye to this version of the Men's National Team blog and wave a big HELLO to a re-vamped MNT Blog on the re-vamped ussoccer.com.

We know you’ve become emotionally attached to this one blog and change can be a little scary (and yes, you'll have to change your bookmarks), but we promise the new and improved platform will continue to bring you all the insight and behind the scenes access you are accustomed to, including videos, photos, interviews and much more. And this is still the best destination to keep on the U.S. players who are getting it done in Europe and across the world for their club teams as their seasons roll on.

And don’t worry, if you want to relive the past two years of MNT Blog action, including this summer’s run through the Confederations Cup, the Gold Cup and the ongoing adventures of vuvuzebra, you can always come back here to see them.

There will be a lot of action over there as the MNT gets set to travel to Estadio Azteca for the big one against Mexico, and of course we’ll take you through the rest of the hexagonal and beyond as the team marches towards the goal of playing in South Africa in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Thanks as always for all the support, comments, criticisms and contributions. Keep ‘em coming. We hope you like the new digs …

(Once more for good measure: http://www.ussoccer.com/Social/MNT-Blog.aspx)

Altidore Signs for Hull City (Subject to Work Permit)

2009-08-06T10:20:00.000-07:00

Hull City has taken Jozy Altidore on loan for the duration of the 2009-10 season, subject to a work permit. Altidore joins up with the Tigers just weeks ahead of the opening of the Premier League season. Should he gain a work permit, Altidore will be available for selection in Hull's opening day game against Chelsea. Not a bad way to start the season...

Carlos Bocanegra on SportsNation and More

2009-08-05T11:40:00.000-07:00

U.S. MNT Captain Carlos Bocanegra will be appearing on ESPN's SportsNation on Thursday. Carlos is stopping by on the show to talk about the upcoming game against Mexico and will be on the show from 3 p.m. ET. You can send questions for Carlos to SportsNation via their twitter feed.

Also on Thursday, ESPN.com is scheduled to post "Fevered Pitch," a multimedia feature by
ESPN.com senior writer Wayne Drehs that tells the story of the U.S. men's national soccer team this summer during its travels around the world with an eye to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

The package combines Wayne's writing and reporting with photo galleries and video. Wayne was in Costa Rica with us, so there's some behind the scenes stuff and he also followed the team during its two stops in Chicago this summer. Through additional reporting, he tells the stories of what happened in South Africa as the U.S. reached the Confederations Cup final and everything ends with an eye towards USA/Mexico on Aug. 12.

That will go live on Thursday so be sure to check back here for the links. You can also follow Wayne Drehs on twitter at twitter.com/ESPNWayneDrehs.

Clint Dempsey on FIFA Futbol Mundial

2009-08-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

As some of you may have seen, Clint Dempsey was featured on FIFA Futbol Mundial. After an exciting summer where Dempsey won the Bronze Ball at the Confederations Cup, the U.S. midfielder is back with Fulham in the English Premier League. While the league season is yet to get underway, Fulham have already started their European campaign. They beat FK Vetra in the first leg of Europa League qualification last week and face the return leg at Craven Cottage in a few days. Here's the piece from Futbol Mundial:

Weekend Recap

2009-08-03T07:46:00.000-07:00

Some countries in Europe have already begun the domestic calendar, a few started their cup competitions this weekend, while other teams are wrapping up their preseason schedules. Here's a few notes from the past few days:

Michael Bradley and Borussia Mönchengladbach got past FSV Frankfurt in the DFB Pokal Cup. Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 fell to Entracht Trier and were eliminated from the competition.
Brad Guzan and Aston Villa beat Juventus in a shootout to claim the Peace Cup title. The preseason tuneup in Spain finished 0-0 after 120 minutes and culminated in pks, where Guzan saved two shots to help Villa beat the Italian club. Fullback Eric Lichaj also featured for Aston Villa.
DaMarcus Beasley featured for Rangers in two preseason games this weekend. He came on as a halftime sub yesterday in the 3-0 defeat to Arsenal. Beasley also came on in the 61st minute during a 1-0 victory against PSG on Saturday.

Cooper Heads to 1860 Munich

2009-07-31T07:57:00.000-07:00

U.S. MNT forward Kenny Cooper has signed for 1860 Munich and is set to undergo a medical with the 2.Bundesliga club. Cooper, who was recently named to the CONCACAF Gold Cup all-tournament team, scored 40 goals in 93 appearances for FC Dallas since joining them in 2005. 1860 Munich has some history with American internationals, having had World Cup veterans Gergg Berhalter and Josh Wolff on their books as recently as a few years ago.

Random Fun Fact: German film director Rainer Werner Fassbinder, an MNT Blog favorite, was a huge 1860 fan.

Getting Underway in Germany

2009-07-30T11:15:00.000-07:00

The DFB Pokal Cup kicks off this weekend in Germany as teams from the Bundesliga get set to take on lower division sides. Michael Bradley and Borussia Mönchengladbach face FSV Frankfurt, while Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 travel to meet Eintracht Trier on Sunday. Luis Robles and Kaiserslautern get the action underway on Friday with a game against Eintracht Braunschweig.

Hannover Lose to Arsenal

2009-07-30T09:04:00.000-07:00

Steve Cherundolo and Hannover fell 1-0 to Arsenal in pre-season action. Cherundolo started and played 74 minutes in the game:

Howard Saves Some Spot Kicks

2009-07-30T08:51:00.000-07:00

As you may have seen last night, Everton prevailed in the MLS All-Stars game, defeating the MLS All-Stars in a penalty shootout. Tim Howard of Everton came up big in the shootout, here are the highlights:

Four Players Named to All-Tournament Team

2009-07-29T14:40:00.001-07:00

Four players from the U.S. Men's National Team were named to the All-Tournament team for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Defenders Chad Marshall (ab0ve) and Clarence Goodson (below) were included on the team for their play on the backline, while midfielder Stuart Holden and forward Kenny Cooper also received nods.

Mexico Names Roster for Aug. 12

2009-07-29T12:02:00.000-07:00

Mexico has named a roster for the big game on Aug. 12. Javier Aguirre has called up all the names you would expect to see. Marquez is returning from injury while other players from Europe include Castillo, Guardado, Salcido and Osorio. Also Blanco is there. Here's the 20-man roster:

Goalkeepers (2): Guillermo Ochoa (América), José de Jesús Corona (Cruz Azul)
Defenders (8): José Antonio Castro (Tigres), Aarón Galindo (Guadalajara), Efraín Juárez (UNAM), Jonny Magallón (Guadalajara), Rafael Márquez (Barcelona), Ricardo Osorio (Stuttgart), Carlos Salcido (PSV Eindhoven), Oscar Rojas (América)
Midfielders (4): Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Chicago Fire), Israel Castro (UNAM), Andrés Guardado (Deportivo La Coruña), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul)
Forwards (6): Nery Castillo (Shakhtar), Guillermo Franco (out of contract), Alberto Medina (Guadalajara), Giovani dos Santos (Tottenham), Miguel Sabah (Monarcas), Carlos Vela (Arsenal)

Everton Set for MLS All-Star Game

2009-07-29T11:57:00.001-07:00

Tim Howard and Everton are on vacation..errr..pre-season in the U.S. Tonight the Toffees will lineup against the MLS All-Stars at Rio Tinto Stadium in Utah. You can see the game from 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and Galavision.

Fulham Set to Begin European Campaign

2009-07-29T11:01:00.000-07:00

Fulham kicks off its Europa League campaign against Lithuanian outfit FK Vetra this Thursday. The Cottagers landed in Vilnius yesterday in preparations for tomorrow's game, which is the first leg of the 3rd Qualifying Round. The second leg will be played on August 6 at Craven Cottage, with the winner earning passage into the playoff round. Clint Dempsey and Eddie Johnson both saw time in Fulham's recent pre-season game with Peterborough United. Dempsey started the game at right wing while Johnson came on as a late sub.

Sepp Blatter Pays Visit to the United States

2009-07-28T10:04:00.000-07:00

As you surely have read by now, FIFA President Joseph “Sepp” Blatter paid a visit to the United States, first stopping by the New Meadowlands Blatter, CONCACAF President Jack Warner and FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke took a tour of the new 82,500-seat stadium, which will open in May 2010 and serve as one of the jewel venues proposed in the U.S. bid to bring the FIFA World Cup to the United States in 2018 or 2022.

Below is a video of the FIFA President scoring the first goal inside the New Meadowlands following Sunday’s tour:

On Monday, Blatter stopped by The White House and met with President Barack Obama, who accepted a ball from the FIFA Confederations Cup final as a gift:

“Blatter presented Obama a ball from the Confederations Cup final that the U.S. lost to Brazil in June... Blatter joked that he gave the president the ball from the first half.”

Blatter also said that Obama was juggling and dribbling around the Oval Office.

The President of the United States also received an official invitation to next year's FIFA World Cup in South Africa:

"After the closed Oval Office meeting between the two presidents, Mr Blatter told White House reporters Mr Obama, after receiving the invite, told his assistants in the room to "look at the agenda"

Benny Nets Game Winner for Aarhus

2009-07-28T08:36:00.000-07:00

Benny Feilhaber's first goal as a professional - really - was the game winner in Aarhus' 3-2 victory at Randers yesterday. Feilhaber also had an assist in the game to earn Man of the Match honors in Aarhus' second game of the season. The U.S. MNT midfielder also had an assist in the team's opening game last week.

You can catch highlights of the match here: http://jp.dk/jptv/sport/?id=19497

Post-Match Reaction: Mexico 5, U.S. 0

2009-07-27T07:05:00.000-07:00

For the complete quote sheet, visit ussoccer.com.

U.S. Men's National Team Head Coach Bob Bradley
On allowing goals in the second half:
“The second half for us is not what we’re all about. It’s important we can look hard at ourselves and learn from a half like that and use it the right way.”

On if the inexperience of the U.S. players factored into the result:
“The area where we didn’t do well enough was our response to the first goal. I think the first half we played pretty well, and now when the second half starts you obviously want to build on that. We had one very good chance at the start of the second half when Robbie Rogers hit one over. But now, when we get down, your ability to make sure that the game doesn’t become a free-for-all where the other team has all sorts of space and opportunities, where your numbers aren’t good enough in the back when the ball turns over, where you lose bad balls, so there’s a lot of different things there that obviously came into play. I think it’s most important that we can look at those things.”

On finishing second in the Gold Cup:
“Today was their day. When you have to stand there, whether it’s in the Confederations Cup in South Africa and it’s Brazil, or whether it’s in Giants Stadium and it’s the Gold Cup and it’s Mexico, when you finish second you have to stand there – which is the right thing to do – see the other team get their medals, hold up the trophy, that’s a feeling that as athletes, as competitors it’s a feeling that you don’t like. You hope those are things that help you grow in the future on an individual basis and on a team basis. Like I said, today is their day, they can celebrate. It’s our job to make sure we’re ready for what we already knew was a challenge to play in Azetca. We’ll be ready. It’s 90 minutes and it starts over.”

On seeing a lot of younger players during this tournament:
“I think we’ve had a good chance to see so many different players. I think we’ve got a good, solid nucleus, but we’re always looking for players that we believe are going to move forward and help our team.”

U.S. Men’s National Team captain and forward Brian Ching
On giving up five goals:
“When it comes down to it we just lost our composure. They're a good team and they punished us. ... ”

On what they’ll take from the game:
"You look at anybody in the United States and this loss will anger you. We have to channel that, use it and bring it with us on August 12."

U.S. Men's National Team goalkeeper Troy Perkins
On what happened after halftime:
“We were where we wanted to be and we had controlled the things we wanted to. We just exposed ourselves too much in the second half and they punished us for it.”

USA Lineup vs. Mexico

2009-07-26T10:54:00.000-07:00

The United States starts the final with the same lineup that earned a victory in the previous game against Honduras:

Perkins; Heaps, Marshall, Goodson, Pearce; Holden, Beckerman, Pause, Rogers; Arnaud, Ching (capt.)

- On the bench for the U.S.: Busch, Evans, Cooper, Quaranta, Clark, Cronin, Parkhurst

Official U.S. Soccer Bars Host Sunday Matinee

2009-07-26T07:32:00.000-07:00

Two tournaments. Two finals. Two-time defending champions.

Oh, and it's USA-Mexico.

The one common thread throughout - the Official U.S. Soccer Bars have been there to bring fans together for every step of this 13-game, two-month odyssey of the USA's summer tour. If you can't be amongst the sold-out crowd of more than 60,000 at Giants Stadium, you need to be at the Official U.S. Soccer Bars across the country cheering for the U.S. with a Gold Cup title on the line.

And who knows who you might see? We hear zebras like Official U.S. Soccer Bars too ...

Pre-Game Primer: The Final

2009-07-26T07:28:00.001-07:00

All you need to know about Sunday's final against Mexico. Some things you should know:

Defender Clarence Goodson became the tenth U.S. player to score a goal during the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the sixth U.S. player to get his first national team goal during the tournament in the 2-0 win against Honduras.
The U.S. has advanced to the finals in the last three editions of the tournament. The last time the U.S. missed out on a Gold Cup final was in 2003 when Bruce Arena's team fell to Brazil in the semifinals.
The U.S. has a lifetime record of 15-29-11 against Mexico in a series that dates to 1934, but the U.S. has a 13-6-9 advantage in home matches since 1957. Since the rivalry between these two teams began in earnest in 1990, the sides have played 28 times, with the U.S. holding a 13-7-8 advantage.
The U.S. has a 3-0-2 lifetime record at Giants Stadium, with 10 goals scored and only one surrendered.
The last meeting against Mexico at Giants Stadium came June 11, 2000, when goals from Frankie Hejduk, Brian McBride and Ante Razov helped the USA to a 3-0 victory.
The U.S. is 2-2-0 against Mexico in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, including 1-2-0 in championship games.
In six CONCACAF Gold Cup final appearances, the United States is 2-2-2. The two draws, in 1997 and 2005, both resulted in a USA victory in a penalty shootout.
The Men's National Team has contested a Gold Cup final at Giants Stadium once before, beating Panama in a penalty shootout on July 24, 2005, to lift the Gold Cup trophy.
Jimmy Conrad and Santino Quaranta both appeared in that match, with Quaranta netting one of the penalties to secure the U.S. win.
The USA's last appearance at Giants Stadium came June 8, 2008, when Bob Bradley's team played then No.1-ranked Argentina to a 0-0 draw in front of more than 78,000 supporters.
Ching is the only player on the current roster that was part of the team that won the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Pre-game Quote Sheet: USA vs. Mexico

2009-07-25T16:59:00.001-07:00

U.S. Men's National Team head coach BOB BRADLEY
On the conclusion of a busy June and July and the opportunity to defend the CONCACAF Gold cup title:

"It's been a busy summer. We're excited about defending our title here. We expect a good game and I know we're looking forward to it."

On the progress of the group of players which comprise the U.S. squad at the Gold Cup:
"It's been a good group. You could tell when they came in they were very proud of what had taken place in South Africa. They were excited about their opportunity and you always need the first round to kind of grow a little as a group. That's helped us size up everybody, and from their it's been a stretch of tough games, but good games, for us."

On the rivalry between the USA and Mexico:
"I think it'll always bring out the emotion. It'll be a hard game and I think both teams will go after each other in a way that they'll try to put the game on their terms. We'd expect, as always, a good game."

On whether he felt pressure to use more players on the 30 man roster:
"There are always so many factors that go into rosters. We talked earlier in the tournament that CONCACAF allowed us a bigger roster because of the difficult of going from the Confederations Cup into the Gold Cup. Nonetheless, when you add it all up we still feel this group has done well and they are ready to go."

On handling the emotion of a Cup final:
"In any final that's a huge factor. Everybody's excited, the game starts and how do you handle the first part of the game? There are decisions, reactions and certainly as the game goes on, you need the concentration and the discipline to keep going."

On the keys to the game for the USA:
"For us we need to start with a good amount of energy. That's been in important for us. We need to make sure that as the game goes on we're good with the ball and we still have the ability to put pressure on Mexico in the key parts of the field. Our reserves have done a good job in this tournament of helping us and coming on in key moments and those things help you win."

On playing on a natural grass field:
"Whenever there's an installation it means in some cases the field will be a little bit slow compared to a field that has had a chance to settle in, but I know that all the players are excited about playing on grass."

U.S. Men's National Team forward BRIAN CHING

On the Gold Cup final against Mexico being followed by a trip to Azteca Stadium next month:
"A game against Mexico is a game against Mexico. Both teams are going to be out to win this game and we'll approach this game the same way we will approach that one."

On what he, as a veteran, would tell his younger teammates about playing in a USA-Mexico game:
"To play the way they're capable of playing. Don't do anything you're not accustomed to doing on the field and play like the way you've been playing in the past few games. We've seen some good performances from the young guys and that's encouraging. This is another game for them to prove themselves, and more importantly they need to go out there and relax and enjoy the moment."

On how he would describe the rivalry with Mexico:
"Fun, intense and exciting. Along with it there's a little bit of a circus, but that's week in and week out for the NFL. It's what some of the European guys are used to, and we hope that one day the game aspires to be like this every week, and not just against our biggest rival."

On the USA's biggest strength when it faces Mexico:
"The U.S. teams have always been grounded. This team is the same way. Nobody is out to make a name for themselves; they just want to win as a team. That's always been our strength, and hopefully going forward it will always be our strength."

ESPN2 to Air One Hour Preview Show Before Gold Cup Final

2009-07-25T14:21:00.000-07:00

ESPNSoccernet Press Pass will be hosting a special one hour pre-game show to preview the USA-Mexico final of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. ESPN commentators Derek Rae, Tommy Smyth and Janusz Michallik will be joined by former U.S. team captain Claudio Reyna to break down the Gold Cup final and review the history of the rivalry between the U.S. and Mexico. Tune in to ESPN2 beginning at 2 p.m. ET.

Clarence Goodson and the Saga of the Missing Jersey

2009-07-25T10:56:00.000-07:00

The jersey-swapping tradition is great times. Every once in awhile, however, a player wants to keep his or her own jersey. There's no shame in that. Sometimes you want to rock your own kit instead of that Messi jersey you traded for, only to find out it was too small anyways.

One of those times came Thursday. When Clarence Goodson scored his first national team goal, he decided his U.S. jersey from that night would be a good memento of the occasion. Things didn't exactly go as planned. Here's what happened, as Clarence told it to us earlier today:

"At the end of the game I told Tim [Cook, U.S. Soccer MNT equipment manager and the overseer of such matters] I had to keep this jersey because it was special, being my first goal for the national team and everything.

"Tim said 'No problem', so I took it off and put it in a little plastic bag. I was in a little bit of a rush after the game because I did a few interviews and the boys were getting on the bus. President Obama was coming through [Editor's note - Obama's motorcade was scheduled to come up Lakeshore Drive just around the time we were leaving] so Ivan Pierra - MNT trainer extraordinaire- came and got me out of the cold tub. I had to get all my things on and get my stuff situated. I had it in my hand, and as we were walking out I must have set it down. I guess I zipped up my toiletries kit and didn't pick it back up.

"When we got to the bus we were rushing and I realized it was missing. I was taped up with ice and stuff, so Ivan said he'd go back and look. He went back to get it but he couldn't find it - there was nothing in the locker room!

"I was gutted because I knew I had it in there but didn't know what happened. Robbie Rogers and Jay Heaps stayed after for drug testing and we called them but they couldn't find it. Pam Perkins - MNT General Manager and resident problem solver - called some people but we still couldn't find it."

"I went out for dinner with my folks and my wife. I was so happy because we were in the final and we were all just enjoying the moment. But in the back of my mind there was this little downer that I didn't have that jersey. You know, it's just a jersey, but you still want it...

"Around midnight I got the text from Kenny Cooper, my roommate, and I thought he was kidding around. I was like "Kenny, this is the cruelest thing you've ever done. Stop messing with me." He said "No, no I'm not!" And I came back and Pam and Brad Evans were like "We got it!" Obviously it was a huge relief. Apparently somebody found the bag with the jersey in it in the trash can. Happy times."

"I've kept a fair collection of jerseys over the years. Ones traded in MLS, in Europe and with the national team. It's nice to have them and have something to look back on. Hopefully I can be able to hand them down to kids and grandkids in the future.

"The first of anything is special and you like to have that little piece of history.
If I score tomorrow I'll absolutely be keeping that jersey too. I'll just leave it on this time though and wear it all night."

It's always nice when a story has a happy ending. Big shout out to Hughie O'Malley, U.S. Soccer's Manager of Sports Medicine Administration, who trekked to our team hotel at 12:30 a.m. to return the jersey. The final mystery? In the bag with Clarence's jersey was his pair of shinguards. Those were never returned...

Q & A with Heath Pearce, World Traveller

2009-07-25T09:54:00.000-07:00

U.S. Men's National Team defender Heath Pearce has been with the team since the beginning of the summer when the team met up May 26 in Miami. Since then he's been to Costa Rica, Chicago, Pretoria, Rustenberg, Bloemfontein, Johannesburg, Seattle, Washington, D.C., Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago (again), and finally New York. Pearce has been with the team through all the ups and downs this summer (mostly ups considering he's been in both squads that have made it to finals this summer). We sat down with Pearce to ask him about the hectic summer, his experience on the road for 60+ days and what will hopefully a great ending to a busy June and July...

ussoccer.com: You've been with the team since the beginning. That's more than 60 days (not that we're counting!)...

Heath Pearce: “It's tough to remember how long it has actually been. It went by fast, and there's been a lot of games and a lot of excitement this summer. Even though it's been more than 60 days it doesn't really feel like it's been more than two months on the road because of the successes we've had starting all the way back on the 26th of May.”

ussoccer.com: People will remember this summer for a variety of reasons. We've played more than a dozen games in two tournaments on two continents and made it to two finals. What has this whirlwind of June and July been like for you?

HP: “It's been amazing. This summer has been really special for U.S. Soccer. There were the emotions of us being almost knocked out of the Confederations Cup to us then making it all the way to the final. There was us being up 2-0, and ending up losing 3-2. It was a heartbreaking finish but it was a special moment for us to reach the final and be in that position. For me, I had the chance to be able to come into the Gold Cup, which I wasn't part of in 2007, with almost a completely different team. We were able to set the bar high and the fact that we've gone after the same results we achieved with the other group has been great. I think U.S. soccer and fans in America will remember this summer as something special and a big stepping stone in our development.”

ussoccer.com: You were one of the few players to come directly from Johannesburg to Seattle to get ready for the opening match against Grenada. How was that journey and what did you need to do as a player to be able to make that transition?

HP: “Since I didn't play at all in the Confederations Cup, for me it was about getting in and trying to get my feet under me because it had been awhile since I had played a game. When you come in here, you go into the game with the same mentality whether you're playing or not, but knowing you have a better chance of playing or helping the team in a different way.”

ussoccer.com: For a player who maybe doesn't get the opportunity they would like in one tournament, how nice is it to have the chance to come play in another international tournament right after and get right back on the field?

HP: “I think most players have been through ups and downs in their career. It's all about how you bounce back and that was my main focus. You know you may get another chance and when you do you have to do well. Every game, whether you play or not, happens for a reason. I came off a long spell of not playing with my club team and that's the way it goes. At the national team it's all about what kind of form you're in and whether the coaches think you’re ready. Of course it's disappointing when you don't play, but it's great when the team is getting results and when you know that you'll have another chance to play.”

ussoccer.com: You're one of the leading cap-winners on this Gold Cup team. In a leadership or experiences sense, how is your role here different from your role earlier in the summer?

HP: “I'm not the oldest player or anything, but I think the experiences that I've had at the Confederations Cup and in some of the big international games we've played have been able to carry over to some of the guys here who maybe haven't been in that situation before. I tried to provide some knowledge and wisdom heading into this tournament at the beginning and now this game against Mexico.”

ussoccer.com: This team has developed from game to game and grown throughout the tournament. Everybody who we've talked to says that day by day, and game by game, the team is growing in confidence and familiarity. How helpful has it been to spend a month together in this tournament?

HP: “I think it's been extremely valuable to find our rhythm as a team. As you saw against Grenada we got the result but we were still really green. We weren't on the same page always and we didn't really know each others runs or maybe how we played. Over this past month we've grown a lot as a team and I think there were stretches in our last game against Honduras where we maybe weren't playing our best soccer but we all had built a strong understanding from each other of what it takes to get a result and what it takes over 90 minutes.”

ussoccer.com: This was also a new situation for you in the sense of getting to know guys. In the first part of the summer the team had a certain level of familiarity with each other but here it obviously takes some time to meet your teammates and familiarize yourself with them on and off the field...

HP: “It takes some time for everybody. At first there's a sense of competition and a sense of wanting to play. There's also shyness and people not knowing what to expect from one another. Once we got past that we've been able to have a good month together. Everybody's been getting along really well and everyone's got to know each other really well. It's helped us get better on the field too.”

ussoccer.com: You and Brian Ching played against Mexico in February. Obviously, the context and situation of that game was much different, but what did you learn about playing against Mexico that can transition into tomorrow's final?

HP: “The important thing is how we play as a group. Mexico has some good individual talent and how we stick together as a team is going to be what makes the major difference in getting a win tomorrow.”

ussoccer.com: If there is anything that you can learn from the Confederations Cup final and apply to tomorrow's game in Giants Stadium, what do you think that is?

HP: “It's understanding the dangers of a lead and the dangers of certain situations. You can't shut off for one minute because it can change the whole momentum of a game. In the final against Brazil, Luis Fabiano had a nice hit from the top of the box. Our defender was there but it's one of those things that, because it happened early in the second half, changed the whole momentum. I think going into tomorrow's final it's about doing all the small things right in terms of set pieces, in terms of movement. We need to make sure we're in it for 90 minutes and not give up anything.”

ussoccer.com: You're out of contract at the moment, having finished up two years in Germany. What's next for you on the club level?

HP: “After tomorrow's game the big decisions have to come. There's some stuff on the table that I need to assess but obviously my biggest focus is tomorrow's game. After that I'll need to come to a quick decision as to where my next club is going to be and where my next situation is going to be. I'll be flying back to Europe to sort that out.”

ussoccer.com: If there's one memory you will take away from the summer of 2009 with the Men's National Team, what is it?

HP: “Just making it to the finals and doing it with two different groups. It's special in a sense that it shows the quality of depth in American soccer. Both finals mean a lot, and I've never really been in a situation in my club career where the idea of a cup final has been the most realistic thing. To be here with this group all throughout the past 60 days and make it to the finals of two big tournaments in one summer has been really great.”

ussoccer.com: So in that case, hopefully us lifting the trophy tomorrow will be the best possible conclusion to this long summer on the road?

HP: “It would be the perfect ending.”

Gym Session

2009-07-24T16:02:00.001-07:00

The U.S. team traveled this afternoon to New Jersey for its final destination of the two-month tour, now setting up shop in the 11th different hotel since May 26. All the work took place in the hotel, with the starters going through a regeneration session in the pool and the reserves working on circuit training. The U.S. will have its pre-game training at Giants Stadium and the newly laid sod tomorrow afternoon, and then its simply rest and recover before the Gold Cup final Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET.

Bright Lights, Big City

2009-07-24T00:14:00.000-07:00

Heading to the Final

2009-07-23T18:14:00.000-07:00

For the second time this summer the U.S. Men's National Team will be playing in a cup final. Goals from Clarence Goodson (his first for the national team) and Kenny Cooper (his second in as many games) paced the U.S. to a 2-0 victory against Honduras. Goodson's goal came in first half stoppage time, after he powered in a close range header from a Stuart Holden corner kick.

The blow was a tough one for Honduras, but Los Catrachos fought back and made things difficult in the second half. Troy Perkins needed to be at his best to deny Carlo Costly a late chance, before Kenny Cooper's close range finish put the U.S. on course for the final. Brian Ching and Stuart Holden played a great combination, with Ching backheeling the ball to his club-mate inside the area. Holden whipped a low cross to the back post where Cooper tapped in from about four yards.

We'll be back with all the post-match reaction and quotes. Until then, be sure to celebrate the U.S. Men's National team getting to their third consecutive Gold Cup final!

USA Lineup vs. Honduras

2009-07-23T14:53:00.001-07:00

Here's how the USA will lineup for tonight's Gold Cup semifinal against Honduras:

Perkins; Heaps, Goodson, Marshall, Pearce; Holden, Beckerman, Pause, Rogers; Arnaud, Ching (capt.)

- Jimmy Conrad will not dress tonight and Brian Ching will replace him as captain.
- The bench looks like this: Busch, Quaranta, Evans, Clark, Cronin, Cooper, Parkhurst

Pre-Game Primer - Honduras Round Three

2009-07-23T07:36:00.000-07:00

Game information for USA-Honduras here. Some highlights:

The U.S. has advanced to the semifinals in the last five editions of the tournament. The last time the U.S. missed out on a semifinal place was in 2000 when Bruce Arena's team fell to Colombia in a quarterfinal shootout.
The U.S. will be facing Honduras for the 15th time, and has a 9-2-3 edge in the series.
The extra time victory against Panama was the first time the USA played more than 90 minutes since the Gold Cup final on July 24, 2005, against Panama. The U.S. won that game in penalty kicks, with Santino Quaranta accounting for one of the USA’s three tallies.
The two sides met as recently as two weeks ago in CONCACAF Gold Cup group play. The USA won 2-0 behind goals from Quaranta and Brian Ching.
The last meeting against Honduras at Chicago's Soldier Field came June 6, a 2-1 win for the U.S. in a FIFA World Cup qualifier.
The U.S. is 3-0-1 against Honduras in the Gold Cup, including a 0-0 tie in the inaugural Gold Cup final in 1991 that the U.S. won 4-3 on penalties.
In eight CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal appearances, the United States is 5-2-1. The lone tie came in 2002, when the U.S. and Canada played out a scoreless draw. The USA subsequently won in penalty kicks.
With Luis Robles, Jay Heaps, Sam Cronin and Colin Clark earning their first cap against Haiti, 85 players have now earned at least one cap under Bob Bradley.
Kyle Beckerman's first goal for the United States in the team's last outing against Panama means 28 different players have scored a goal during Bradley’s tenure.

A Moment With Pause

2009-07-22T13:03:00.000-07:00

One of the many new faces in this Gold Cup squad is Chicago Fire midfielder Logan Pause. A member of the U-23 team in 2003-04, he is getting his first sniff with the full team during this tournament. Pause has partnered in central midfield with Kyle Beckerman in three matches, including the 2-1 quarterfinal victory against Panama. ussoccer.com spoke with Logan about his experience in the Gold Cup.

ussoccer.com: Do you remember where you were when you first heard you had been called up to the 2009 Gold Cup squad?

Logan Pause: “I heard from Denis Hamlett that I was in the mix, but I didn't hear anything until I got an e-mail. I was at home and I was thrilled. I had tried not to get my hopes up too much but I was honored to get the call.”

ussoccer.com: You were one of a handful of players to make your national team debut in the game in Seattle. Take us through that experience.

LP: “It was huge to get a win in that first game of the tournament. It was a great opportunity to get my legs under me. You dream as a kid of wearing the national team crest and representing your country, and it was a wonderful feeling. Obviously there were quite a bit of nerves, and listening to the national anthem was such an amazing time. We have such a great group of guys and we went into that game confident and believing in each other. Once the game got started it was all about focusing on the task at hand.”

ussoccer.com: As the team has moved forward in the tournament there's been a real sense that this group has developed a good camaraderie as they try to achieve the goal of winning the tournament. How has the positive atmosphere within this group helped guys who maybe weren't familiar with one another at first?

LP: “It's played a huge part. It's no secret that the majority of the guys here are looking to break in and showcase as much as we can and that adds motivation for guys to do well. This group of guys believes that doing well for yourselves will come first and foremost from us doing well as a team.”

ussoccer.com: We've been together for a little while now, so there's also been the opportunity to get to know players that maybe you didn't know as well from the first day...

LP: “Absolutely. The guys even that you don't know really well, the ones who are playing on opposing teams, it's nice to get to know them better. I wasn't one of the guys in the U-17 program but a lot of guys have been together in some capacity since age 15. Continuing those relationships and friendships over the course of however many years is definitely special from a personal standpoint. Of course it helps when you're playing with players that you do know as well.”

ussoccer.com: One person you've known for a while is Kyle Beckerman. He's your roommate here and you've also partnered him in the center of midfield in three of the four games thus far...

LP: “I've known Kyle for years since we've played for the U-23s in 2003 and 2004. We're good buddies and we get along well. All that helps when you get on the field. It's been nice to reconnect with him and be able to spend some time with him over the last three weeks. We definitely enjoy playing with each other.”

ussoccer.com: Coming into the national team is a new experience for a lot of members of this Gold Cup squad. What has it been like for you?

LP: “It's a different perspective, but I've played with players and under coaches that have worked with Bob and his staff, from Jesse Marsch to Chris Armas to our coaches in Chicago, Denis Hamlett and Mike Jeffries. It's been a fantastic opportunity and I had some people who helped paint a picture of what to expect.”

ussoccer.com: What advice did they give you before you met up with the U.S. team?

LP: “Some of the best advice was probably just to enjoy it and stay within myself. As a player I've always tried to do that. I'm not a flashy player. I just do my job. I think that was the one thing that the majority of people were telling me, to continue to do what I do and not try to go out and over-impress or anything like that.”

ussoccer.com: The U.S. played Honduras two weeks ago at RFK Stadium, but this situation and this game will be much different.

LP: “It's definitely going to be a different game then the last one. We're in the semifinal of the Gold Cup and we know they're going to put a lot into it. They'll be hungry, but we feel with our group the important thing is concentrating on what we do. In a short period of time, the U.S. has beat Honduras twice now, but we're looking at this game just by itself, as a semifinal. We've learned by playing them, but we're looking forward to it and we know it will be a difficult task.”

ussoccer.com: How is this U.S. team different from the one that stepped on the field in the first game?

LP: “The more experience that you get, even if it's one or two games, makes a difference. The more we're around each other and the more comfortable we get always helps. The first couple of games I thought we did well to get results but guys were still coming into their own in terms of being comfortable on and off the field. A game or two means the world in terms of experience in a tournament like this.”

ussoccer.com: As a Chicagoan (or at least an adopted-Chicagoan), what will it be like to step onto Soldier Field representing your country?

LP: “I think it definitely would be special to represent the U.S. in what's become my hometown, in front of friends and family. In the whole scheme of things, though, it's not too different from any other game. I'm sure I'll have a few more people coming to the game than I did in Boston, but that's no different in terms of my preparation and what I'm looking to help contribute to the team. If I play it'll be a fantastic experience.”

ussoccer.com: It promises to be an exciting atmosphere during Thursday night's semifinal. Honduras will be looking to avenge their losses from earlier in this tournament and at Soldier Field last month. A berth in the tournament final is at stake as well. What do you expect from a game with a lot on the line?

LP: “We're expecting a very difficult game. We know they'll come out flying but we know we will be prepared. In order for us to succeed we need to come out and start well. We need to execute our game plan and stick together as a team. That's what has got us to this point in the tournament. I think guys are looking forward to the opportunity and challenge on Thursday as we try to get one step closer to the ultimate goal of lifting a trophy this summer.”

Official U.S. Soccer Bars Hosting Happy Hour for Honduras

2009-07-22T11:29:00.000-07:00

(yes, we are borderline obnoxious with alliteration...)

The United States has reached the semifinals of the second consecutive major international tournament (remember that Spain game in South Africa?), and the Official U.S. Soccer Bars are ready to host you for a Thursday matinee. The two-time defending champions take on Honduras - again - with a spot in the championship match of the Gold Cup on the line. Come as early as you like, with kickoff slated for 6 p.m. CT., and watch the U.S. try to completely crush the Catrachos!

(ok. we did it again ...)

Highlights from USA-Honduras at Soldier Field

2009-07-22T11:04:00.000-07:00

47 days and two different international competitions separate the meetings between the United States and Honduras at Soldier Field in Chicago.

What separated the teams on the field was a Carlos Bocanegra diving header to give the U.S. a 2-1 come-from-behind victory in World Cup qualifying to close out the first half of the final round. Have a look:

ESPY Video

2009-07-22T09:12:00.001-07:00

As you have probably heard, the U.S. MNT won an ESPY this past week for "Best Upset." If you didn't catch the show on Sunday, here's what happened:

And if you want to see a few pictures with our guys who attended the event, click here.

Payton Giving Props

2009-07-22T07:12:00.000-07:00

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton knows a thing or two about football and isn't afraid to write about. In this week's editions of 'Monday Morning Quarterback', he addresses the issue that is starting to creep its way into the minds of most fans at this point in the summer:

d. Congrats to the U.S. men's national soccer team, finishing second in the recent Confederations Cup in South Africa. In the coming weeks, they will play Mexico in a 2010 World Cup qualifying match in Mexico City. In 23 games, the U.S. has never defeated the Mexicans on their home soil (0-22-1), but this is the year it could happen. I believe they have their best chance to beat Mexico and I think we should all be pulling for the upset and support this team."

Read all of Coach Payton's musings here.

Thanks for the pep talk, coach ...

Bob Speak

2009-07-21T15:31:00.001-07:00

Today's press availability with the jefe.

Nine for 10

2009-07-21T15:20:00.000-07:00

With their victory in the quarterfinals, the U.S. has now advanced to the semifinals of the Gold Cup in nine of 10 regional championship tournaments. Since winning the inaugural tournament in 1991 - defeating Honduras in penalties - the U.S. has collected four Gold Cup titles. Their only failure to reach the semifinals came in 2000 edition of the event, losing in the quarterfinals to Colombia in penalties after a 2-2 draw in regulation.

The U.S. also has twice finished as runners up (1993, 1998), and two third-place finishes (1996, 2003).

A tale of two trainings

2009-07-20T18:51:00.001-07:00

Today's training session could be described as either light or grueling, depending on your experience. The starters from Saturday's quarterfinal trained for about 40 minutes before doing stretching and regeneration, while five field players and two goalkeepers were put through an exhausting exercise. The first portion involved 2 v. 2 plus one, with one player as the all-time attacker. On a field 55x44, the defending team played the ball to the three-man attacking crew who went to goal, then jogged back to the other end and switched to defense. The second part, also played on 55x44, was once again 2 v. 2, with two free flank players on either sideline who could roam end to end. The wide players provided a good simulation of creating numbers in the attack in a larger space. Combining intense stretches with recovery in between, the entire exercise lasted 20 minutes.

Parkhurst Recalled For Semifinal

2009-07-20T12:10:00.000-07:00

U.S. coach Bob Bradley has recalled defender Michael Parkhurst to the squad for Thursday's semifinal against Honduras. The FC Nordsjaelland-based defender appeared in the USA's group games against Honduras and Haiti before returning to Denmark to start the league season. Parkhurst is the only addition to the roster, increasing the total to 19 for game day selection.

TT - Familiar Foes

2009-07-20T10:42:00.000-07:00

When the USA faces Honduras in Thursday's semifinal in the Gold Cup, it will be the third time in 47 days that the teams have met in official competitions, and the second time at Soldier Field. That can't happen very often, can it?

Yes, that's actually a question - in two parts:

a) Has the U.S. ever faced a team three times in that short a time span?
2) If so, who and when?

'Keeper Change

2009-07-20T07:01:00.000-07:00

The U.S. has said goodbye to goalkeeper Luis Robles, who returns to FC Kaiserslautern for the start of the Bundesliga season. Other than missing a week for his wedding, Robles had been with the team since May 26 and the start of training camp in Miami.

Chicago Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch joins the team this morning for training. Recall that Busch has been part of the official 23-man Gold Cup roster from the beginning, but remained with the Fire until needed. Busch, the 2008 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, has one cap to his credit.

He Finally Gets to Go Home

2009-07-19T07:23:00.000-07:00

Spreading the Wealth

2009-07-19T05:32:00.000-07:00

Nine different players have scored the 10 U.S. goals through four games at the Gold Cup. Until Stuart Holden became the first repeat scorer against Haiti, the first seven marked first time that seven straight goals in a Gold Cup have come from seven different players. Freddy Adu, Stuart Holden, Robbie Rogers, Charlie Davies, Santino Quaranta, Brian Ching and Davy Arnaud set the U.S. record for most different players to score in the group matches, breaking the 2007 Group Stage record of six players scoring in matches against Guatemala, Trinidad & Tobago and El Salvador. This group has also tied the record number of players to score in a single Gold Cup competition for the U.S., a mark also set in 2007.

Conrad Update

2009-07-18T22:16:00.001-07:00

Jimmy Conrad has been diagnosed with a concussion following his head-to-head collision just before halftime. Jimmy was taken to the hospital and the evaluations were negative. He is listed as day-to-day.

He is back at the hotel, and other than not remembering the play, is doing well. Good news for Jimmy...

Post-Game Reaction from USA-Panama

2009-07-18T22:01:00.000-07:00

U.S. Men's National Team Head Coach Bob Bradley

On finishing the game in regulation time or an extra time, as needed:
"As a game like this wears on, what you need is the execution on a play. You need to get the timing right, get a play right and finish the game off. I think we had some situations as the [second]half went on where we lost a little sharpness, so that's what we emphasized going into the overtime. It would be ideal to finish things off in regulation but tonight it took 30 extra minutes. It says something about the group that, at the end of regulation, they still felt that this was their game."

On the necessity of going to extra time and whether that was disappointing:
"Every game is different and tonight it took 120 minutes. Certainly the goal at the beginning of every game is to get on top of a team, take the lead and finish the game in 90 minutes. Right before halftime we gave up a goal; that's a bad time to give one up. It comes on a set piece where we lost track of things a little bit. It was a challenge to the team to be in that spot at halftime and I still felt good that the response was strong. When we didn't finish the game in regulation, you still got a sense that the mentality was "we're going to take care of this thing. The players deserve a lot of credit for that."

On facing Honduras in the semifinals:
"It will be the second time we've played them in this tournament and it was a very good win tonight for them against Canada. We know them well and we know the way they play. They play hard and have a good group of players. You can tell in this tournament the group they have has put a lot in to it, so we expect a hard game. In the first game in D.C. we had a good finish to the match after a tough 65 or 70 minutes. That [they made it difficult for us] says a lot about their organization and their discipline and we'd expect another difficult game."

On who takes a penalty kick in a situation like tonight:
"That's decided on the field. Obviously he's a player that has confidence and he's taken them for his club team. After the foul there was a discussion between Kenny and Brian and Kenny stepped up."

On what the coaching staff said to the team at halftime:
"We had certain ideas of what the game would be like. We just needed to make sure everybody understood that we couldn't lose track of what we wanted to do in the game. We had to make sure our discipline to keep moving as a unit was there, and we also talked about the fact that, in certain situations, we can play the ball faster. We talked about having a little more energy, being a little more aggressive in those situations and obviously it was nice to get a goal early in the [second] half."

U.S. Midfielder and Man of the Match Kyle Beckerman
On his goal, the first in his national team career:
"The ball went out wide and was sent across. I gambled a little bit just thinking it may pop out to the top of the box. Sometimes you gamble and sure enough the ball finds your foot. Fortunately it went in."

On giving up a goal early and the response:
"We were definitely disappointed to give up a goal before halftime; it's the worst time to do that. Bob [Bradley] told us "we are in a tough game" and he told us also that we've all been down before and had to come back to win a game before. We just felt we needed to step up and play a bit better to get our chances. If we got one, we thought the next would come."

On facing Honduras in the semifinals:
"It's going to be another tough one. This definitely took a lot out of us and I don't think many of us have played an overtime match in awhile. We're going to have to really recover quick and get right back to preparing for what will be a really tough game against a team looking for revenge. They're a talented team and we'll just try and really get ready for the game this week."

U.S. Men's National Team forward Kenny Cooper

On the winning penalty kick:
"Obviously, its fortunate any time you can get a penalty. It obviously came at a good time in overtime. Fortunately, it snuck in and the guys did great to hold on defensively, the whole 90 [minutes], everyone from Brian Ching to Troy Perkins. It was excellent and they busted their butts. Fortunately we were able to hold on and walk away with the win."

On the match:
"Obviously from the beginning of the game everyone was hungry to do well and we all are excited to be involved here and have the opportunity to be in the quarterfinal and want to do well. The team had to work hard tonight to come through and we're advancing now and we're all hungry to do well in the semifinals."

On being able to contribute:
Obviously, I'm excited to be here and I want to contribute any way I can, whether it's getting goals or working hard or even contributing in training. I want to contribute any way i can help this team have success."

USA Lineup vs. Panama

2009-07-18T15:44:00.000-07:00

Here's how the United States will start tonight's CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal against Panama:

Perkins; Heaps, Conrad (c), Marshall, Pearce; Holden, Pause, Beckerman, Rogers; Arnaud, Ching

All 18 players in camp are dressing tonight, so the subs bench looks like this:
Robles, Evans, Goodson, Cronin, Quaranta, Clark, Cooper

A Few Photos

2009-07-18T07:26:00.000-07:00

The day before a game is always difficult for photos. There's only a set amount of time that training in the stadium is open for photos, so the MNT Blog tries to snap as many pictures as possible in that window. Usually there's some people running, some stadium shots, and, if we're lucky, some work with the ball. Then our camera gets shut down.
Anyhow, we managed three photos for you! Training at Lincoln Financial Field was the customary 45 minutes yesterday. As you can see, the field looks great, and it was the first time many of us had been in the stadium...

Deja Vu at Official U.S. Soccer Bars

2009-07-18T07:07:00.000-07:00

Soccer Saturday is back and the Official U.S. Soccer Bars are ready to run a repeat performance. It was a little more than two years ago that the U.S. faced Panama in the quarterfinals of the 2007 Gold Cup, the 2-1 victory propelling the United States towards their second-consecutive regional championship. The path to the crown is the same this time around, and you can gather to show your support at Official U.S. Soccer Bars across the country to help the U.S. team rise up against the Red Wave" of Panama.

Kicking Contest - The Video

2009-07-17T11:13:00.000-07:00

The other day we showed you pictures of Philadelphia Eagles kicker David Akers' visit to MNT training. Here's the video:

Pre-Game Primer

2009-07-17T10:22:00.001-07:00

Press notes available here. Here's the highlights:

• With two goals and one assist, Stuart Holden is tied on top of the scoring charts at the CONCACAF Gold Cup after group play with Panama’s Blas Perez. Five other players have scored two goals.
• The U.S. has now been undefeated in group play at all 10 Gold Cups with a 23-0-2 record.
• The last-minute tie against Haiti salvaged at 56-game unbeaten streak at home against CONCACAF opponents that dates to Sept. 1, 2001, when Honduras defeated the U.S. 3-2 in Washington, D.C
The last meeting between the teams was in the quarterfinals of the last edition of the Gold Cup. Landon Donovan and Carlos Bocanegra goals gave the U.S. a 2-1 victory on June 16, 2007.
• The teams drew 0-0 in the final of the 2005 Gold Cup, with the U.S. winning the title 3-1 on penalty kicks. Santino Quaranta converted the first of the three successful U.S. penalties.
• The match will be the first international game for the U.S. in Pennsylvania since a 1-0 loss to Ukraine at Bethlehem’s Goodman Stadium on Oct. 23, 1993.

MNT Wins ESPY for "Best Upset"

2009-07-16T10:53:00.000-07:00

For their victory against world No. 1 ranked Spain in the semifinals of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, the United States Men’s National Team was awarded the 2009 ESPY for “Best Upset” at the 17th annual awards ceremony in Los Angeles, Calif. The show will be televised on ESPN and ESPN HD on Sunday, July 19 starting at 9 p.m. ET.

As you can see from the photos, several of the players who were part of the memorable run at the FIFA Confederations Cup made their way to L.A. to be a part of the show. Jonathan Spector, Carlos Bocanegra, Jonathan Bornstein, Sacha Kljestan, Clint Dempsey, Ricardo Clark and Jozy Altidore are pictured above (from left to right), and they were joined by Landon Donovan on stage to accept the award.
Beating out other nominees Mine That Bird (50-1 shot to win the Kentucky Derby), Oregon State (beating then-#1 ranked USC last fall) and the Tampa Bay Rays (winning the American League Championship Series), the U.S. Men’s upset against Spain was chosen through online balloting from sports fans across the nation.

It is the first ESPY for the U.S. Men’s National Team; the U.S. Women won the Outstanding Team award in 2000 for their performance in winning the 1999 Women’s World Cup. Looks like it was a fun night for everybody, and we can't wait to watch the show when it airs on Sunday!

Twitter Interview Transcript

2009-07-15T19:24:00.001-07:00

Earlier today U.S. Men's National Team defender Chad Marshall assumed command of U.S. Soccer's twitter account. We asked fans to write in their questions and here are some of the higlights:

@ussoccer what is the difference between college, pro and national team coaches and trainings?
@johnnyazores With every level the players get better, stronger and faster. Also, a lot more is expected of you as you move up.

@ussoccer what aspect of Panama's game needs more attention?
@davsthejumper Panama is a good team with great physical abilities and speed. We will have to pay attention to that and watch closely...

@ussoccer Q to Chad: Wot do U think U hv 2 do 2 make #USMNT World Cup squad? Has coach said anything 2 U about wot he wants 2 C from U?
@twayward I just have to play well when called upon. You dont always know when that'll be, but if you get the chance you just want to take it

@ussoccer cage match..... Gooch v Tim Howard.... who leaves the cage?
@AdamTheRed Gooch.

@ussoccer what is the difference in your mindset while playing for the national team vs playing for the crew?
@Joepark20 I have the same mindset, I just know at this level you have to be that much sharper and focused bc the game is so much faster...

@ussoccer did you go to the whitehouse this week? if so, does the President know his soccer?
@TheFansAttic Yes and he knew everything that was going on with our championship last year and in the league this year.

@ussoccer was soccer your dream ever since you were a kid?
@youngin14 Yup. If I wasn't playing soccer I'd be finishing up school somewhere and going into business or finance.

@ussoccer Who is a player that maybe goes under the radar in MLS, but is a handful for central defenders?
@gpawiebe Davy Arnaud. He doesn't stop working and he's got a good long range shot, so you can't let him get too far away from you...

Thanks to everybody who wrote in questions to Chad!

Kicking Contest

2009-07-15T17:38:00.001-07:00

No, that's not our third goalkeeper - although judging by his performance, he could have had a different career...

The sprawling 'keeper pictured is three-time Pro Bowl kicker David Akers, who came out to the U.S. team training session for a bout of sharing professional secrets with Stuart Holden and Santino Quaranta. The Philadelphia Eagles all-time leading scorer first schooled the guys on place kicking - and for the record, 'Tino and Stuart both nailed field goals from 35 out, and Holden buried one from 50!- then he threw on the gloves for a little shooting session of their own.

Akers, who played goalkeeper growing up in Kentucky, was pretty spry in net. Then he turned the tables on Santino, and after claiming not to have kicked a soccer ball in 17 years, proceeded to absolutely drill shots at a rather worried looking forward-turned-goalkeeper.

The guys exchanged jerseys, autographs and photos afterwards, much to the delight of the media in attendance. Tune in to Thursday's edition of Studio 90 for highlights from the session.

Photos from Today's Training Session

2009-07-15T13:57:00.001-07:00

After our day off yesterday it was back to work on Wednesday for the U.S. Men's National Team. We were back at the Philadelphia Eagles complex and the 18 players in camp put in a good shift as the U.S. starts to gear up for Saturday's quarterfinal against Panama...A full photo gallery is available at ussoccer.com... After training Philadelphia Eagles kicker David Akers came by to hang out and meet the team. We'll have a few photos of that up later on, so check back in a bit!

Chad Marshall Takes over Twitter at 2 p.m.

2009-07-15T10:40:00.001-07:00

U.S. Men's National Team defender Chad Marshall will be stepping in to field questions on our twitter feed in a few minutes. Chad will take over around 2 p.m. ET and answer questions for part of the afternoon. You can post your questions here if you want, but a better bet is to ask us directly at twitter.com/ussoccer

Three In A Row

2009-07-15T10:34:00.000-07:00

The USA-Panama quarterfinal marks the third consecutive Gold Cup that the teams will meet in the knockout phase. In the 2005 final, 120 minutes wasn't enough to decide a winner, the U.S. capturing the crown after winning 3-1 in penalties - including a PK from a young Santino Quaranta.

Two years later, with Bob Bradley stood at the helm of his first major international tournament, Foxborough served as the site of the quarterfinal pairing. Landon Donovan scored his record-setting 10th career goal in the Gold Cup and Carlos Bocanegra added the insurance as the U.S. collected a 2-1 win en route to their second consecutive regional championship.

Updated Roster

2009-07-14T13:13:00.000-07:00

With Charlie Davies departing for FC Sochaux this evening to complete a medical and sign his contract, here is the updated roster for Saturday's quarterfinal against Panama

GOALKEEPERS (2): Troy Perkins (Valerenga), Luis Robles (FC Kaiserslautern)

DEFENDERS (5): Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Jay Heaps (New England Revolution), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Heath Pearce (Out of Contract)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Davy Arnaud (Kansas City Wizards), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Colin Clark (Colorado Rapids), Sam Cronin (Toronto FC), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Logan Pause (Chicago Fire), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)

FORWARDS (3): Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas), Santino Quaranta (D.C. United)

Down Day

2009-07-14T10:45:00.000-07:00

As we mentioned, the national team gets a day off today and has dispersed to enjoy the afternoon. With Baltimore only 90 minutes away, the Jersey Shore about an hour, and all the sites of one the country's most historic cities, the team gets well-deserved down time before getting back to business tomorrow.

So, if you were in the Philly area and had some time, what would you do?

Pictures from Our First Session in Philadelphia

2009-07-13T13:04:00.000-07:00

Today's training session featured smaller numbers, as a few players departed camp while Brad Evans, Chad Marshall and Robbie Rogers joined up with the Columbus Crew for a visit to the White House in Washington D.C. We went to the Philadelphia Eagles training complex, which as you can see from the above photo, is close to where we'll be playing Panama on Saturday night (you can see Lincoln Financial Field in the background above the trees). It was a lovely morning - not too hot - and the guys went through a slightly extended regeneration session following yesterday's travel. Click here to see a full gallery of photos at ussoccer.com.

Second International in Philly

2009-07-13T12:40:00.000-07:00

The U.S. will makes its second appearance for a full international in Philadelphia, and the first in more than 40 years, when they take the field Saturday against Panama. The U.S. Men haven’t played a match in Pennsylvania since 1993 in Bethlehem, and the appearance in the City of Brotherly Love is the first since a friendly with England’s Sheffield Wednesday at Veterans Stadium on Aug. 2, 1991. The last international played by the U.S. in Philadelphia was a 4-0 loss to Israel on Sept. 25, 1968.

And guess who else is enjoying his first trip to Philly?

Two More Excused

2009-07-13T10:52:00.000-07:00

Defenders Steve Cherundolo and Michael Parkhurst have left camp to return to their clubs. Cherundolo begins preseason with Hannover after having missed the second half of the 2008-09 season with a hip injury. Parkhurst joins FC Nordsjaelland for the start of their campaign in the SAS Ligaien on July 26 against Aalborg.

Train Trip Highlights

2009-07-12T20:13:00.000-07:00

Today's train journey was the first for the Men's National Team since France '98. We've done a lot of traveling over the past 48 days and so a change of pace was nice this time around. We chronicled a bit of our trip on Twitter and we were even met by fans at Philadelphia's 30th Street Station. Here's a few highlights from our trip into the city of Brotherly Love:

2009 Gold Cup Quarterfinals Set

2009-07-12T19:14:00.001-07:00

Gold Cup group play concluded today with two matches in Group C. First up, Panama dispatched Nicaragua with an easy 4-0 win. The victory put Panama on four points and eliminated Jamaica (3rd place in Group A) from the competition. Next up was Mexico versus Guadeloupe, where El Tri managed a 2-0 win to give themselves a first place finish in the group. Guadeloupe, despite the loss, went through in second place on six points.

Here's how things look as we progress to the knockout round:
Canada will meet Honduras in Philadelphia on Saturday before the U.S. takes the field against Panama in the nightcap. The next day Guadeloupe faces off against Costa Rica and Mexico plays Haiti at the new Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.

What do you think about these matchups? Surprised to see any team in the quarterfinals? Sad that Mexico didn't slip up in the last game? Will you be at the games Saturday night in Philly?

Happy 48th

2009-07-12T10:13:00.002-07:00

Today marks the 48th day on the road for Heath Pearce and the entire staff since the start of training camp May 26 for the World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica. The group has logged some serious miles in hitting three continents for 10 matches since June 3 - for example, U.S. head coach Bob Bradley has traveled 28,456 miles since leaving Los Angeles. Tuesday marks the 50th day of the summer tour, and will be the first of the entire journey that involves neither travel nor training.

On a Warm Summer's Morn, On a Train Bound for Philly...

2009-07-12T08:53:00.000-07:00

For the first time that anyone can remember, the U.S. team is traveling by train, taking the Acela Express from Boston to Philadelphia. It's comfortable, incredibly scenic, and has power outlets at each seat, which has the group absolutely stoked.

The southbound express train takes us past, amongst other places, Manhattan, the under-construction Red Bull Arena, and Princeton University (alma mater of Bob Bradley). In the words of Santino Quaranata: "This is fantastic. I'm done with flying."

We're on the train for the next several hours, so if you have any quick questions for the guys, send 'em over.

And for you Kenny Rogers fans...

Pizza Party

2009-07-11T21:07:00.000-07:00

No such thing as too much soccer for this coaching staff. On the bus ride back from the stadium, team trainer Ivan Pierra order pizzas to be delivered to the hotel in time for our return and the start of the Galaxy-Chivas game. With a computer and a projector set up in the training room, the staff and a few players have huddled to watch the game.

USA Lineup vs. Haiti

2009-07-11T14:54:00.000-07:00

Here's how the U.S. Men's National Team will be lining up tonight against Haiti:
Robles; Evans, Parkhurst, Conrad (c), Heaps; Quaranta, Holden, Cronin, Clark; Cooper, Arnaud

Some firsts tonight in the lineup:
-It's the first U.S. appearance for Luis Robles, Jay Heaps, Colin Clark, and Sam Cronin.
-Those four, as well as Davy Arnaud and Brad Evans, get their first U.S. start as well.
-Heaps, at 32 years of age, will be getting his first cap in front of his friends and family at Foxborough. Should be a good moment for him.

We'll have constant updates throughout the game over on our twitter feed, at http://www.twitter.com/ussoccer and you can also follow the game with stats at ussoccer.com's MatchTracker...

Guess Your Starting XI

2009-07-11T14:18:00.000-07:00

We're on the bus moments away from arriving at the ballpark, and you're about 45 minutes away from getting the official version, so in the meantime let's get the armchair midfielders out there to predict today's starting lineup...

An Ideal Soccer Saturday Check List

2009-07-10T12:42:00.000-07:00

1) First place in Group B up for grabs - check
2) Haiti fighting for their tournament lives - check
3) Two serious unbeaten streaks for the U.S. on the line - check
4) Official U.S. Soccer Bars across the country ready to show you all the action along with great food and fellow supporters on tap - you betcha

(Remember all those good things that come in fours?)

TT - Losing Records

2009-07-10T11:43:00.000-07:00

With the discussion of the USA's unbeaten record in Gold Cup group play (23-0-1), the unbeaten streak against CONCACAF opponents at home (45-0-10), and the unbeaten record at Gillette Stadium in Gold Cup play (6-0-1), we got to thinking:

a) why the heck are we tempting fate with all these stats?
2) who are the CONCACAF teams that have been successful against the U.S.?

As it turns out, there are two teams in the region that have a winning record against the U.S. Most of you probably know that historically Mexico has the upper hand, but which other team has more wins than losses against the United States?

Through to the Quarterfinals

2009-07-10T06:08:00.000-07:00

With the highly chaotic 1-1 draw between Panama and Mexico that saw three players and Mexico coach Javier Aguirre ejected, the U.S. is guaranteed no lower than one of the two-best third place finishes in the group phase, thereby insuring their passage into the quarterfinals. The when and where will only be determined following the final Group B matches, in which the U.S. needs only a draw to ensure first place and a quarterfinal date of July 18 in Philadelphia.

MNT Blog Q&A with Michael Parkhurst

2009-07-09T15:21:00.000-07:00

Michael Parkhurst is a CONCACAF Gold Cup veteran, having made his first international appearance in the previous edition of this tournament. In 2009, he's played in both games thus far, coming on as a sub against Grenada and playing the full 90 minutes against Honduras. We asked him about his experience from two years ago, his life with club team Nordsjaelland of Denmark, and his return to the Boston area...

ussoccer.com: You made your national team debut during the 2007 Gold Cup and now you're back defending a title you helped win two years ago. Is there a sense of personal pride in the fact that you're helping to defend a championship you helped the U.S. win?
Michael Parkhurst: It is special anytime you're a part of a big tournament like this. I did get my first cap in 2007 and to have it in a meaningful game in this tournament was nice. It added to the whole environment. To be back here, to be part of the team and to defend the crown is nice. We all are trying to do our best out here to show that we belong with the national team and the Gold Cup is an important step for all of us in that way. It's good to be back, it's a big tournament within the region and it holds significant value for us.

ussoccer.com: What do you remember most about your first cap and about that tournament?
MP: Getting the first cap was special, and I remember that day out in L.A. against Trinidad. Other than that just being with the team for a few weeks was great. It was all pretty new at that point and it was fun to be around the guys, being in the winning environment in tournament play and just moving from game to game, seeing the team perform. When we got into the later stages I didn't dress much and I was up in the stands watching. It was awesome to see the team do well and to know that I was a part of it. The celebration on the field after the championship was a lot of fun.

ussoccer.com: It's been two years since the U.S. celebrated on the pitch at Soldier Field. How are things different this time around?
MP: Obviously it's a new group of guys this time and not too many from 2007 are on the team. Similarly to two years ago though it's a good bunch of guys, and we have a good time with each other off the field. We have good chemistry and this time around we have a few more younger guys fighting for spots. It's a little bit different but there's the same mentality: we're always out there to win.

ussoccer.com: You signed for Nordsjaelland in late 2008 and moved over there for the second half of the season. How has your experience been so far?
MP: The first season was difficult. From people I've talked to who have gone abroad, it takes a little bit of an adjustment period and I think I went through that as well. There were a lot of learning curves. There were some games where I didn't play as well as I would have hoped to and some games where I did play well. It's just difficult to adapt to a new environment and you have to try to do it as quick as possible. Off the field was good for me and there weren't too many distractions there, but you have to get used to a new league, new coaching staff, new teammates and a new way to go about the game. Overall though I enjoyed it and I think it's been a good move for me. I'm looking forward to having a full season with the team.

ussoccer.com: When you take a step like that in your career, undoubtedly there are all sorts of people who brief you on what to expect. Is there any way to prepare for a situation like moving to a club team in Europe or is it almost a trial by fire regardless of what you hear or expect?
MP: It's a little bit of both. You have to have an open mindset and know that there are going to be some difficult times. There wasn't too much of a language barrier, since everyone speaks very good English in Denmark. But they still do speak Danish on the field and the coaching staff still speaks Danish. It's just getting used to trying to pick up little things and trying to be more aware. In games it's about adapting as quick as possible and hoping that if you make mistakes they don't hurt the team. There's not too much that could prepare you for that but it's more about trials and tribulations. You just go and try to get the experience, which is what I tried to do in the first six months.
ussoccer.com: How about off the field? How has living in Denmark been for you?
MP: Living in Denmark has been good. I have an apartment in downtown Copenhagen, which is a great city. The people are very friendly which has helped me out a lot. I was neighbors with somebody on the team so I had somebody to hang out with, since my wife hasn't moved out yet. Off the field there were not many problems and it was a pretty smooth transition. My teammates were very helpful and friendly as far as getting me acclimated and people there are very friendly and willing to help. I like the European way of living, which was more laid back than I was used to, and I like everything so far.

ussoccer.com: You're from Providence, R.I., and you started your career with the New England Revolution. How does it feel to be back home?
MP: It's always nice to be back. It's nice to be back in the U.S. hanging out with guys I've played with here and there and become friends with. It's especially nice we have a game up here in Boston, and I'll be able to meet up with some family and friends I haven't seen for awhile. I'm excited to play at the old stomping grounds again and [Gillette Stadium] is where my career started. I had a lot of good memories back there, and it'll be nice to get back and see teammates and the coaching staff.
ussoccer.com: There are a few Olympic veterans on this team and after the first game they talked about the chemistry that group formed in Beijing. How does last year’s experience at the Olympic shape this team and shape the guys who took part in that tournament?
MP: I think everybody that played in the Olympics had a great experience there. We bonded and we were together for awhile. We have a special bond, and I think we'll always remember that experience together. I think that translates also to on the field performances. It's just easier when you've played with people before, just knowing little tendencies and how they like the ball and what runs they make. It's a younger group here and that's why there's a few of us from the Olympic team together. Everybody on this team has great chemistry, and I think that's something that the younger guys brought from the Olympic team. We had a strong bond there and that has continued here.

ussoccer.com: In 2007 the U.S. won its first two group games en route to finishing top of the group. What do you take from that experience in 2009, where we've had similar results in our first two games?
MP: Most important right now is us finishing first in the group. We want the best path to the final and that means less travel and possibly an easier matchup in the quarterfinals. We need to go out and get at least a draw to clinch first place. From there it's just keeping the mentality of "if you lose you go home." I think most of us have been in that situation before, whether it be playoffs, Olympics or other instances. We all know what it takes, and what it will take, once we get to those stages to continue moving on. We all know we're capable of getting to the final and doing well, so those are the expectations.

Post-Game Sound

2009-07-09T14:54:00.000-07:00

Watch the exclusive post-game reaction from the MNT following the 2-0 win against Honduras.

In Case You Blinked - We're in Boston!

2009-07-09T11:54:00.000-07:00

With a flight time of 56 minutes, the team moved from outside Washington, D. C., to the suburbs of Boston this afternoon, already approaching 48 hours prior to kickoff for the third group game. Shared a plane with Haiti once again, although this time it was the U.S. team in the back of the bus.
Mostly reading and card-playing on the flight, and we are now minutes away from arriving at the team hotel to begin the pre-game routine that kicks in t-minus two days.

Scratch that - we're here ...

Keeping It Clean Since 2005

2009-07-09T09:04:00.000-07:00

With the 2-0 shutout last night, the U.S. extended its shutout streak in Gold Cup group play to 702 minutes spanning seven-plus matches and three tournaments. The last goal scored against the United States came in the 18th minute of the 4-1 win against Cuba on July 7, 2005, in Seattle. Goalkeepers contributing to the cause include Marcus Hahnemann and Kasey Keller (2005), Keller and Tim Howard (2007), and Troy Perkins (2009).

On the flip side, the U.S. has scored 19 goals during the shutout streak through 11 different goalscorers.

Homecoming King

2009-07-08T21:56:00.000-07:00

What a fantastic night for Santino Quaranta. The D.C. United man has climbed a personal mountain the last three years, and to have his national team career resurrected in front of his friends and family was truly special. Players and staff were quick to congratulate 'Tino on a very emotional night.

He also helped remove a monkey off the back of his home ground, RFK having the dubious distinction of hosting the last U.S. defeat at home against a CONCACAF opponent, which came Sept. 1, 2001, also against Honduras.

USA Lineup vs. Honduras

2009-07-08T17:16:00.000-07:00

Here's how the USA will lineup for tonight, courtesy of U.S. Soccer's twitter feed.

Perkins; Cherundolo (c), Marshall, Parkhurst, Pearce; Quaranta, Pause, Beckerman, Rogers; Adu, Ching

On the bench tonight: Robles, Evans, Davies, Holden, Feilhaber, Heaps, Cooper...

Tune in at 9 p.m. ET on FSC and TeleFutura. You can also follow the game at the aforementioned twitter feed and on ussoccer.com's MatchTracker as well...

House Call

2009-07-08T13:29:00.000-07:00

Four players got a chance to take a special tour Tuesday, thanks to Matthew Cutts, Chairman of the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission, and Kirk Rostron, Chairman and Founder of No Greater Sacrifice (and Steve Cherundolo's cousin..).

Cherundolo, Brian Ching, Jimmy Conrad and Heath Pearce were given a private guided tour of the East Wing of the White House - POTUS and FLOTUS were not at home - and met several members of the White House Office of Public Engagement leadership team, including Christina M. Tchen, Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and Michael Strautmanis, Chief of Staff to the Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Relations and Public Engagement.

Tagging along on the tour were Joe Kennedy - a staff assistant to the Office of Public Engagement and the guy with enviable task of dealing with all of the stars of the sports world that come through 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and Chelsea Kammerer from the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.

Shameless namedropping now complete, the tour itself was quite fascinating. The players were led through some of the most famous rooms in the house, including the Blue Room (where foreign heads of state are greeted) and the China Room that houses all of the White House china since the time of George Washington. They also got a peek at the Roosevelt Room, where the President's Cabinet meets, and through an open door a view of the Oval Office.

Steve's cousin is the really tall guy. Oh, and he's the man...

At home 54 games ago ...

2009-07-08T12:14:00.000-07:00

The United States played Honduras at RFK Stadium on Matchday 7 of final round qualifying for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. In front of 54,282 fans, an Earnie Stewart goal got the U.S out to an early lead before Honduras equalized. In a crucial sequence of events, Stewart missed a penalty just before halftime while Honduras netted a PK of their own early in the second half to snatch a lead they would not surrender. The 3-2 loss remains the last U.S. defeat at home against CONCACAF opponents, a string of 54 matches in which the team has posted a 44-0-10 record.

Local Connections

2009-07-08T10:56:00.000-07:00

There are a'plenty on the USA's roster for tonight's game in the nation's capital:

Santino Quaranta plays for D.C. United and hails from Baltimore, Md.
Kyle Martino (we meant Beckerman!) is from up the BW Parkway in nearby Crofton, Md.
Freddy Adu calls Potomac, Md., home when not in Europe and started his career at United
Clarence Goodson is from the other side of the Potomac River, born and raised in Alexandria, Va.
He went to the University of Maryland in College Park, as did the ussoccer.com Man of the Match against Grenada, midfielder Robbie Rogers
Troy Perkins played for the Black-and-Red from 2004-07, winning the MLS Cup in his debut season
Kenny Cooper spent part of his youth in Baltimore, where his father coached the Baltimore Blast

(Last and certainly least, one of the MNT bloggers is from Laurel, Md. Hi dad!)

Studio 90 - Game Day at RFK

2009-07-08T10:34:00.000-07:00

Here is the latest game day edition of Studio 90, which features a behind the scenes look at the USA's last meeting with Honduras, a special feature on the second chance for D.C. United forward Santino Quaranta, and sound from yesterday's pre-game media session.

Watch here.

Bob Bradley and Players Discuss Upcoming Game Against Honduras

2009-07-07T16:44:00.000-07:00

We trained in the stadium today, using our allotted time of one hour to run over final preparations for Wednesday's game. Following the session, Bob Bradley and a few players spoke to the gathered media:

U.S. Men's National Team head coach BOB BRADLEY
On if he prefers the Gold Cup with strictly CONCACAF teams only:
“I know they’ve done different things over the years and every time the Gold Cup comes around I think it’s a little bit different both in terms of teams but also in terms of timing. This year is different in that it fell after Confederations Cup. But what it’s done is given us the opportunity to assess some different people and I think that’s positive.”

On having Charlie Davies play in both tournaments the summer:
“I think if you look at what’s happened with Charlie this summer and the combination of both tournaments work well in terms of trying to move him forward. He finished up the Confederations Cup in good form and his club has felt that this time is good for him. So, we’ve been able to find a good balance there.”

On why Benny Feilhaber was called into the roster for this game:
“It gives us a little bit of cover in the midfield. I think after the Confederations Cup he needed a little bit of time. And like all of these guys, we need to balance our needs with the needs of his club and the ability of the player to get back to his club at a good time so that he can earn playing time and continue to move forward. So there are a lot of different factors with all of these decisions.”

On Michael Bradley’s suspension ruling:
“Obviously with a game like that and a call like that emotions are going to be high, and this is the way FIFA typically handles these things.”

On the move of Oguchi Onyewu to AC Milan:
“It’s very exciting. It’s one of great clubs of the world. I think it’s a terrific opportunity for him. Certainly, the experience he will get there will really be important as we move forward with our national team.”
On if the Honduras game will allow for a better chance of evaluation:
“This is going to be a much better. We expect that this is the game for putting ourselves in position to win the group.”

On what he sees in Santino Quaranta as a player:
“I think he has matured as a player and a person. You can tell that he’s very excited to have this opportunity at this time. We all feel like he’s shown well for D.C. during the second half of last season and early this year, and it’s very good to have him with our national team.”

On how the political situation may affect the Honduran players:
“Regardless of anything else, we always prepare for our opponent. We always have respect for what they’re all about. Honduras has a lot of talent and we certainly expect this to be a competitive game.”

U.S. Men's National Team defender STEVE CHERUNDOLO
On the importance of the CONCACAF Gold Cup as a regional tournament:
“It's our regional tournament. Every confederation around the world has their own tournament and it's nice to just have CONCACAF teams. Every two years we give somebody from this region the chance to win a championship.”

On coming through the game in Seattle without any ill effects:
“I feel good, much better. Last week was my first game and there was no pain, which is the most important thing. Now I'm just kind of getting back into the swing of things.”

On Honduras and the prospect of winning Group B:
“They are a tough team. They are doing well in World Cup qualifying and we expect a difficult game that is going to require us to go hard for 90 minutes. We want to win, especially here at home. We're expecting a tough game but we're optimistic that we can come out on top. The winner of tomorrow's game will certainly put themselves in position to win the group and that's our goal. I hope that we're standing here tomorrow night discussing the win.”

U.S. Men's National Team forward SANTINO QUARANTA On coming back into the national team after a few years absence:
“This is the first time I've played for Bob and I really like what he does here. He really gets down to business and every player knows their role. It's not a selfish group and when we put the team first it really helps. We're a group that's really hungry and we're excited about this tournament.”

On what he's learned since his last appearance for the national team:
“I've grown as a player and I know that if you put the team first and work hard that the other things will fall into place. You can't be selfish about this thing. I just want to work hard.”

On the similarities between himself and Freddy Adu and how they've grown:
“I came in at 16 and he came in at 14. You really don't know a whole lot, but I think we thought we did. We figured out that if you don't work hard and you don't put the time and effort in, you fall off the radar.”

U.S. Men's National Team Forward FREDDY ADU
On the biggest obstacle about getting back to a high level:
“Fitness, rust, all that stuff. When you’re training in Europe, you are training with some of the best players there are. When you come back, there’s not that big of a difference. Obviously, the international level is a lot faster. When you come here you just try to apply what you’ve learned in Europe and it’s worked out so far. And now, it’s about maintaining that level. And when you do get a chance to play in a game, you’ve just got to go out there and get the job done because those chances don’t just come along. You’ve got to earn them.”

On being back in the Washington area:
“It’s absolutely amazing. I’ve been looking forward to this since the schedule was announced. I know I’m going to have 100 people in the stands and I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve got all the guys I played with when I was 8, 9, 10, 11 years old. Everybody’s coming with their families, so that gives you extra motivation to go out there and hopefully have a great game.”

U.S. Men's National Team forward CHARLIE DAVIES
On his busy summer playing in both tournaments:
“For me it’s about continuing to get better and I have to continue to keep playing. When I get back with my club, I’ll stay on form and stay in shape and I’m always happy to be playing with the national team.”

On any fatigue felt due to the travel:
“After a 35-hour trip, it’s a bit difficult on the body and the mind. But I feel like I’m ready to go. The game in Seattle was good to get everything out of my system and now I’m feeling pretty good and ready to go.”

On what to expect from Honduras:
“I’m expecting them to come out for the first 10-15 minutes with a flying start, really putting pressure on us. But I think we’ll settle into the game well, and we just have to play our game and we’ll be successful.”

MNT Blog Q&A with Stuart Holden

2009-07-07T09:47:00.000-07:00

U.S. Men's National Team midfielder Stuart Holden made Saturday a day to remember, earning his first cap and scoring the second goal in the USA's 4-0 win against Grenada. Holden was slated to make his debut in January, but an injury setback meant he had to wait, work hard and stay positive as he sought to take the field for the U.S. On Saturday, that dream came true and we asked Holden about the experience and the team's preparations for the next game in the tournament

ussoccer.com: It's been a few days since Saturday's game but obviously the excitement of making your first appearance for the U.S. must still be there. How does it feel to be a capped U.S. international?
Stuart Holden: “I was just excited that I'd made my first cap. I'd come close a couple times and to be injury free and fit, I was just so excited to represent the U.S. on the Fourth of July. I was just hoping that we could open the tournament with a win, and that things would go well and they did.”

ussoccer.com: When does it hit you: “Hey, I'm about to step on the field for the U.S. National Team?"
SH: “For me it kind of kicks in first when you walk in the stadium, but also when you walk out with the starting lineup. You put on the jersey and you walk into the stadium with the FIFA anthem and you see the sea of U.S. fans and USA jerseys. Then, obviously, standing in line for the national anthem and putting the hand over the heart just knowing that you're representing the United States of America. All these people - whether they are Dynamo fans, Galaxy fans, whatever - everybody is kind of behind you supporting you as a whole.”
ussoccer.com: You became one of many players in U.S. history to score a goal in their first international appearance. Could you have written the script any better?
SH: “Anytime you're on the field you want to contribute. For me, being the first cap, it was kind of special, and then to get my first goal was overwhelming. I didn't really know how to celebrate. Looking back on it I was so excited to score and to help the team get the victory. Anytime I'm playing I want to make a good impression, and when you score that helps. It was kind of a similar feeling to scoring a goal in Beijing last summer. When you're running away from the goal, you realize what you've done. You've just scored for your country and that's one of the greatest feelings I've had.”

ussoccer.com: Your father, who was an important part of your life, passed away earlier this year. You must have been thinking about him throughout the memorable day on Saturday.
SH: “My dad has been my biggest fan since I was born and he was really excited to see me represent the U.S. I was close in January and the injury set me back. My mom watched the game from England and it was the first text she sent me. She texted me and said ‘Your dad would be smiling down on you, so proud of you.’ That is so special, and this whole year I feel like I've had just an extra hand helping me along. Since he passed away in February, soccer has really kept me going and kept me working hard. I just know that wherever he is now I'm making him proud and if he could have been there he'd have been jumping up and down going crazy for me.”

ussoccer.com: You mentioned the camp in January. You were in that camp and went the whole month without incident until a late injury meant you had to be scratched from the game day roster. After putting in so much work, how did you deal with that let down before the game against Sweden?
SH: “It was frustrating to say the least. I had rehabbed from an injury prior to coming in to January camp and gotten through the whole month with all the fitness. We put up a lot of hard work as a group and I felt like I put in a lot of hard work personally as well. The game at the end is the reward, and as a soccer player you live for that. The training is all in preparation for the games and not being able to play was really disappointing. I really wanted to make my first cap and I've been dreaming of that since I was a little kid. It was a minor setback in the end because I knew that if I kept working hard with Houston, more opportunities would come. I think the way it's worked out has worked out well.”

ussoccer.com: That must have only added to the motivation to get back into a position where you'd be able to make your first appearance for the national team...
SH: “I've had a number of setbacks in my career and I've always maintained that same belief and the same desire. The motivation has only got stronger and the more you get knocked back, the more you want to work hard and motivate yourself to get even further than you've been. It was definitely motivation to rehab from that injury and get back into the mix with the national team because that's been a goal of mine. I want to be at the World Cup and the Gold Cup is the start of that process for me.”

ussoccer.com: As with all of the guys here, you watched the U.S. team do well during the Confederations Cup in South Africa. What did you take away from seeing the tournament in South Africa?
SH: “For me, I was overjoyed for the guys and how well they did. Being in the U.S., it was great to see how the country rallied around them. Everybody was talking about soccer and for me it was great to see. I wish we could have won the tournament, but I think the noise that our team made showed that we can compete at that level. I think it's a good springboard for U.S. soccer. It creates more interest and more buzz and it can only be better for us in the future.”

ussoccer.com: Obviously a performance like that must give you motivation to want to be a part of a group that competes on a stage like that...
SH: “You want to be part of something that is special, and I think this group has that. Any time you're in with the full team there's always a special feeling around the group. We really believe in ourselves and who knows where it can take us. Hopefully all this hard work that's been going on the last few years can pay off in the World Cup.”
ussoccer.com: Now, after a good win on Saturday, these next few days are all about the quick turnaround and preparations for Wednesday's game...
SH: “It's just focus and that's all part of being a good professional. You need to know how to treat your body to get a ready for the quick turnarounds and take these games really seriously. The Gold Cup is a big tournament and it's a big chance for some of us to showcase what we can do and hopefully push ourselves into that team going forward into World Cup qualifiers.”

ussoccer.com: Honduras is always a popular draw here, and Wednesday's game should be an exciting event. As a team you must be keen to build on Saturday's win to open the Gold Cup…
SH: “You always love playing in those atmospheres where there are lots of people and two different styles going against each other. I'd imagine it will be pretty similar to the Chicago game [from June], which was mostly Honduran fans. That'll be a lot of fun. RFK is a good stadium with a nice pitch that will allow us to knock the ball around. I'm really looking forward to a good night against a team that is a quality side in CONCACAF. We want to keep this momentum going that we started in the first game.”

Oguchi Onyewu Signs for AC Milan

2009-07-07T07:43:00.000-07:00

U.S. Men's National Team defender Oguchi Onyewu signed for AC Milan today, putting pen to paper on a three year contract with the storied Serie A side.

Gooch finished out his contract with Belgian champions Standard Liege and signed for Milan on a free transfer.

Everybody in MNT Camp is excited about the move, and the guys were buzzing this morning on the bus. Gooch is going to stop by the hotel later tonight, so we'll be sure to congratulate him then as well...

Four Score

2009-07-06T16:33:00.000-07:00

Some fun 'four' facts about the win Saturday night against Grenada:

It is the first time the U.S. had four different scorers in a Gold Cup match
All four goalscorers were part of the 2008 Olympic Team
The 4-0 win marked the second highest margin of victory in team history in the Gold Cup, matching two identical scorelines against El Salvador in 2002 and 2007
Robbie Rogers became the first U.S. player to record multiple assists and also score a goal since Chris Klein did it in a 4-0 win against Guatemala on Feb. 19, 2006
If you add up the jersey numbers of the first three goalscorers (19+10+7) and divide by the fourth (9) you get 4

(Please don't ask who came up with that last one...)

And looking 'fourward':

The match against Honduras will be the fourth meeting between the teams in Gold Cup history, the U.S. holding a 2-0-1 advantage
There are now four remaining players on the roster in search of their first cap: Colin Clark, Sam Cronin, Jay Heaps, and Luis Robles

ok ... ok ... just one more (unless you have something to add):

The U.S. converted four penalties to defeat Honduras in the inaugural Gold Cup final in 1991

TT - There's No Place Like Home

2009-07-06T13:33:00.000-07:00

As we mentioned into today's Studio 90 News Update, the U.S. will be playing its 18th game at RFK Stadium since 1990. Amazingly, this is the first Gold Cup match the historic stadium will have hosted.

The question for you today is this: Which venue has hosted the most games for the MNT in the last 19-plus years. And as a bonus, where do we have the best winning percentage (in stadiums with more than five games played)?

Feilhaber In To Face Honduras

2009-07-06T05:39:00.000-07:00

U.S. head coach Bob Bradley has called Benny Feilhaber to the group that will face Honduras on Wednesday. One of seven roster additions following CONCACAF's extension of the U.S. pool to 30 players, Feilhaber made appearances in all five of the USA's matches in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, including a start in the final against Brazil. He arrived into D.C. last night and will take part in this morning's training session.

At this point, no other additions have been made for Wednesday's match.

Roommates and Teammates

2009-07-06T05:30:00.000-07:00

One of the first things players look at upon arrival is the rooming list to see who they will spending their non-field quality time with during the camp. With veterans the patterns are pretty well established, but with such a young group the pairings are a little less predictable. Or are they?

Here's a look at some of the roommates. We think you can make the connections yourselves:

Brian Ching and Stuart Holden
Robbie Rogers and Brad Evans
Jimmy Conrad and Davy Arnaud
Kenny Cooper and Clarence Goodson
Michael Parkhurst and Jay Heaps
Heath Pearce and Luis Robles

It's a Good Thing The MNT Bloggers Weren't Flying the Plane

2009-07-05T13:38:00.000-07:00

Well, for many reasons, but as a starting point because we flew to Dulles and not Reagan National. Also, we shared a plane with Haiti. Really nothing interesting to report there. They were first to board and sat in the back, the U.S. team sat in the front, and we're not sure a word was exchanged. Mostly because everyone slept the majority of the flight, which lasted about four hours and change. It's a 30-minute ride to the team hotel, and then back to business tomorrow to get ready for what is likely a pro-Honduran crowd Wednesday evening. Don't forget to get your homework done early - the U.S. game kicks off at 9 p.m. ET at RFK.

They Said It - Post Grenada

2009-07-05T13:30:00.000-07:00

Read the full post-match quote sheet here.

Some highlights:

U.S. head coach BOB BRADLEY

On the young players who made an impact tonight and the team's mentality looking to the next game:
“The idea of playing for your country is such a special honor and when your team wins and you're part of a good effort, that's what you want. You want it in your debut and every time you step on the field for the national team. In that regard we had a good game and I think as a group we're mature enough to not get ahead of ourselves and understand there's some travel and Honduras will be waiting for us in D.C.”

U.S. midfielder and ussoccer.com Man of the Match ROBBIE ROGERS
On his goal:
“I felt like they weren’t following me when I made late runs through the midfield, so I just tried to change it up with my run. Logan played a great ball, and I read the offside trap. I was going to pass the ball, but I wound up doing an OK job of finishing it.”

On the chemistry of the team:
“I think what really helped was the January camp, when we came in and worked for two or three weeks to prepare for the Sweden game. We all put in a lot of work during the January camp, and when you're sweating and working for each other it's nice to come out here and play together and get a good result.”

U.S. midfielder STUART HOLDEN

On getting his first cap:
“There were the usual butterflies. I’ve been close a couple times to getting a cap, so tonight to get the start and also to score – it couldn’t have been any better for me. I’m excited that we won first of all, and obviously to contribute and get a goal was a great feeling.”

U.S. midfielder LOGAN PAUSE
On getting his first cap:
“I dreamed about this my whole life. I was excited to get out there, and obviously a little bit nervous which is normal. As soon as the game starts, you get right into it. I just wanted to be able to contribute.”

The Travel Pod

2009-07-05T07:56:00.000-07:00

The Group B 'pod' makes its way across the country to Washington, D.C. today (why does this trip seem familiar?) to gear up for the July 8 matches at RFK Stadium.

All four teams travel together, as well as referees, CONCACAF officials, etc. Yes, on the same plane! The posse arrives into Reagan National about 5 p.m. ET.

U.S. Starts the Gold Cup with a Win

2009-07-04T22:30:00.000-07:00

The U.S. MNT started their defense of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in style, beating Grenada 4-0 at Seattle's Qwest Field on Saturday. Robbie Rogers led the charge, netting a goal and also tallying two assists, while Freddy Adu, Stuart Holden (in his first appearance for the MNT), and Charlie Davies rounded out the scoring.

ussoccer.com has a full match report and be sure to head there later for a video of post-match reaction as well.

Oh, and Happy Independence Day everybody!

USA Lineup vs. Grenada

2009-07-04T17:21:00.000-07:00

As you may have seen on our Twitter page, here's the lineup for today's game:

1-Troy Perkins; 6-Steve Cherundolo (capt.), 4-Chad Marshall, 3-Clarence Goodson, 2-Heath Pearce; 10-Stuart Holden, 8-Logan Pause, 5-Kyle Beckerman, 7-Robbie Rogers; 9-Charlie Davies, 19-Freddy Adu

Subs: 14-Michael Parkhurst, 16-Jay Heaps, 17-Kenny Cooper, 18-Luis Robles, 20-Santino Quaranta, 21-Brad Evans, 22-Davy Arnaud

We are about 15 minutes into the second half of the Haiti/Honduras game, and it's still scoreless here at Qwest field. In case you're wondering how the U.S. is going to warm up before the game, they'll be warming up in a tunnel in the bowels of the stadium. This game will finish around five minutes to six, so we'll probably take the field pretty quickly...

Studio 90 - Game Day from Seattle

2009-07-04T13:53:00.000-07:00

Click here to watch today's edition of Studio 90, which features a one-on-one with Brian Ching and a look at how Gold Cup success can translate into a spot on the World Cup roster.

TT - Gold Cup Goalscorers

2009-07-04T11:57:00.000-07:00

In the nine Gold Cup tournaments and four championships to date, there have been 36 different U.S. goalscorers. So we'll make it simple - especially since you will have one hand on a burger while thinking through this:

a) Who has the most all-time goals?
2) Who has the most goals in one game?
3) Who has the most career goals in the Gold Cup on this roster?

Celebrate Independence Day at Official U.S. Soccer Bars

2009-07-03T19:16:00.001-07:00

Imagine a day where you can see fireworks in the sky and on the pitch! The order changes depending on where you are in the United States, but the results are still the same. The Official U.S. Soccer Bars across the country are gearing up for a special holiday viewing of the U.S. Men's Naitonal Team, who seek their third consecutive Gold Cup title and start with a showdown against Grenada at 6 p.m. PT from Seattle.

(whaddya think - zebra or no zebra?)

Pacific Northwest Connections

2009-07-03T16:44:00.000-07:00

Plenty on this Gold Cup roster, starting with both current and former Sounders. Brad Evans patrols the middle for the newest MLS franchise, while Gold Cup winner Brian Ching spent the summer of 2002 with the A-League version of the local club. The Hawaiin native also matriculated at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., and discusses a very personal Seattle connection in tomorrow's edition of Studio 90.

There's also a trio of alumni from the University of Portland, starting with defender Steve Cherundolo, who is back in the U.S. squad for the first time since a hip injury sidelined him in October of 2008. Heath Pearce and Luis Robles crossed paths while playing for the Pilots. Coincidentally, all three ply their professional trade in Germany. And then there's 'Super' Dave Andrews, a longtime U.S. trainer who hails from Gig Harbor.

What does all this add up to? A boatload of ticket requests...

Training Talk for July 2

2009-07-03T08:40:00.001-07:00

We hit you with Studio 90 News yesterday and this morning we have an early dose for you. We spoke to Logan Pause, Stuart Holden and Sam Cronin to get their thoughts on the first few days of MNT camp:

Studio 90 News for July 2

2009-07-02T21:13:00.000-07:00

Here's today's Studio 90 News, which features brief interviews with Michael Parkhurst and Steve Cherundolo:

MNT Blog Q&A with Brad Evans

2009-07-02T18:01:00.000-07:00

Like many players on the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup roster, Brad Evans is getting a new experience as part of the U.S. Men's National Team. Evans was a part of the U-20 Men's National Team that played at the World Cup in Holland in 2005 back when he was attending UC Irvine. On that team, Evans played right back but, as he would learn when he turned pro, sometimes it helps to be able to play many positions. For Columbus, Evans patrolled the middle of the park, helping the Crew to their first ever MLS Cup in 2008. He made the jump to Seattle in 2009, drafted by the Sounders and former Crew coach Sigi Schmid in the expansion draft, and has featured in a variety of positions across the midfield for the Western Conference's surprise package. We sat down with Brad and asked the Arizona native about his experience so far in Seattle and the opportunity to play in the Gold Cup with the Men's National Team...

ussoccer.com: Describe how you made it to Seattle and tell us how you like the city so far?
Brad Evans: "I love it. It was a whirlwind of events. We won the championship on Sunday, flew back to Columbus on Monday, and Tuesday I packed up my bags. Wednesday was the expansion draft and I was flying home and I got a text message that I'd been selected. It was a quick turnaround, but overall it's been great."

ussoccer.com: Before the Sounders you played with the Columbus Crew for two years, culminating in an MLS Cup title. Was that the perfect way to sign off from the Midwest?
BE: "It was cool. My first year I was injured pretty much the whole year and Sigi gave me a chance playing in the middle after somebody else was injured. We made a good run and it was obviously a great experience. You'd like to keep everybody together, but the league is like that."

ussoccer.com: How do you prepare for the expansion draft?
BE: You talk with your family and talk about the next step and whether it might or might not happen. It's just the nature of the business and it's one of those things that you get used to. Nothing is ever guaranteed and I'm obviously really happy that I'm here. Seattle is a great place."

ussoccer.com: Coming here in the expansion year of the franchise means you also get to be on the ground floor of the Sounders foundation and the experience here in the Pacific Northwest...
BE: "It's great to be a part of building that. The first year is something we'll all remember and so far it's been an experience none of us expected. We kept hearing in pre-season that 15,000 season tickets had been sold, then 18, then 22, then 25 thousand. We watched it grow from the beginning and got off to a good start and the city really got behind us. They've always had great attendance for USL games, and this is a testament to all the hard work at the club.

ussoccer.com: Describe that memorable first game in Sounders history...
BE: "In my career it was the second best feeling behind winning the MLS Cup. We had played a few closed-door scrimmages in Qwest, and then to all of a sudden go from that to 33,000 was pretty special. Everybody soaked in the moment and it was definitely full of emotion. Going in at halftime, we were telling each other that we couldn't hear what we were saying out on the field. I was losing my voice screaming and my ears were ringing like I was at a concert. It was pretty intense. Talking to the guys here [in MNT camp], they're all looking forward to coming here to play this season, and the guys that have played here already talk about the crazy atmosphere."

ussoccer.com: In Columbus you played in the midfield, but you've been used all over the place in your career. What's it like to lineup on different areas of the field?
BE: "Watching the game nonstop you get a feel for what other positions are like, and speaking with other guys on the field, noticing different tendencies that each position has. Part of it is also coaches having trust in you, and hopefully you have the smarts to play more than one position. It's only to your advantage if you can play everywhere. You have a better chance of making it if you can increase your odds."

ussoccer.com: Is that something you enjoy?
BE: "Yeah, I do. That's part of the reason I found a little bit of success with the U-20s, because if I didn't play right back there was no way I was going to make the final trip. It might not be ideal for you, but at the same time it's one of those things where if you put on the U.S. jersey, you kind of do whatever you can to get on the field and find a place to fit in."
ussoccer.com: You are teammates with Kasey Keller in Seattle, who played for the national team a few times in his career...Did he have anything to say after you got called in?
BE: "He took me aside and said congratulations. He's gone through this system and he told me about what to expect. In Seattle, you know all the guys and there's a looseness from day to day. In the national team it's a different atmosphere as far as putting on your thinking cap or your hard hat and getting down to work. Especially for me, in my first time getting called in, it's to my advantage to just do what I know, work hard and fit in. I want to learn as much as I can from a different coaching staff's point of view. It's always good to get a new idea and learn from different players. Kasey had nothing but positive feedback and he said 'good luck and work hard.'"
ussoccer.com:For a lot of the guys here this is a new experience. What's it like sitting down to meals with guys that you're normally preparing to play against week in and week out?
BE: "It's definitely different for sure. When you do pre-game meetings with your club, you circle the board and say 'watch out for this guy,' and all those guys that are circled are the guys that are here with the national team. It's pretty surreal in a way. It gives you a chance to measure yourself when you all get together, and it's a testament to all the guys that we're able to come from all different places and hopefully make a run at this while we put our trust in each other. You learn that these are all awesome guys and it's for sure a pleasure to be here."
ussoccer.com: How about off the field? Having new teammates is always a learning process...
BE: "I'm rooming with Robbie, just as we did in Columbus. I'm getting to know guys more and you learn that they're great guys. You learn little things about families and kids and things like that. You hear about their different experiences, like from the overseas guys, and you show them what we have here in Seattle. Just little things like that make it a good place to be."
ussoccer.com: Do you have a goal for this 2009 Gold Cup?
BE: "I thought about that a lot. It's kind of tough to have a goal' when you're called into your first camp, since this is just one step. There's an ultimate goal for sure, but once you're here it doesn't mean much if you're here just for one camp. It'd be great to be around as long as possible and get some playing time, but one goal is also to just learn as much as I can from the coaching staff and the players. Coming into this camp is definitely one goal but now you have to set another one, so I'll have to think about that a little bit..."

ussoccer.com: What's the best part about living in Seattle?
BE: The best part is for sure the water. I haven't been around the water since college [at UC Irvine] and it's been almost three years removed. My fiancee and I have a great spot in Kirkland that is walking distance from everything. Just being around the mountains and being able to take ferry's across Puget Sound to check out other places is fantastic."
ussoccer.com: Off the field, what's your favorite activity or the best way to relax?
BE: "I like to cook a lot. Robbie and I lived together, and Chad and I as well, so they've been able to taste the fruits of labor a little bit. I did a few cooking shows in Columbus which was pretty fun. My step-dad is a great cook. Phenomenal. So that's just something I learned from him. It's cool to relax, watch TV and throw something together."

ussoccer.com: Hmmm...[MNT Blog is hungry]...What is your signature dish?
BE: "Lately I bought a grill and everything has been through that. On Wednesdays we have a great farmers' market in Kirkland where there's just fresh meats, cheese, and vegetables. I throw basically anything on the grill: steaks, chicken, anything I can."

Photos from Today's Training Session

2009-07-02T17:31:00.000-07:00

Another beautiful day in Seattle. That makes it easier to get up in the morning, even when you're jet-lagged after coming back from Johannesburg. For the full gallery of photos, head over to ussoccer.com or click here.

Conference Call With Gulati and Bradley

2009-07-02T16:35:00.000-07:00

Listen to the full audio podcast of today's media teleconference call with U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati and U.S. National Team head coach Bob Bradley. Today was their first exposure to the national media following the second-place finish in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Here are some quotes that we thought might interest you:

On Seattle as a host and the opportunity to play on the Fourth of July:
Bob Bradley: “To answer the second part first, it is always special to hear the National Anthem and I think on the Fourth of July there’s a little bit extra there. We are excited to be opening up the Gold Cup; the fact that it’s in Seattle is great in many ways, but as an organization they have done a tremendous job of getting themselves going on the right foot. Their team is very good, fun to watch, I think anybody who has seen any of their games, whether live at Qwest Field or on TV can see the passion their fans have for the team. You see jerseys all over the city. I mentioned earlier that the training facility is first class. They deserve credit for how they went about bringing their team into the league, and I think it’s great that we’re beginning the Gold Cup here.”

On midfielder José Francisco Torres:
Bob Bradley: “José has had a very, very busy schedule with his club team and in discussions we felt that it was important that he have a little bit of a break before things start up again. When we look at all the different factors, certainly the idea that next summer, players will be coming right from their clubs into training camp that leads into the World Cup. You have to make very difficult decisions about whether a player can go a couple years without a break or there’s a need in some cases for a player to have a little bit of a break now before he begins an important stretch.

On what Torres needs to work on to improve and continue to be part of the team:
Bob Bradley: “I think it’s just that he’s a young player. I think Pachuca has done a very good job of developing his talent. If you were to look at the way they have used him in the last couple of years, they have also brought him along at the right speed, and with all that in mind, we look at how he handles things every time he comes into camp. He did have an opportunity this year to have a number of appearances in his first year with the national team, and a number of starts, so I think that is a sign from us in terms of our feeling for what he can do for the national team. With any young player you try to move him along at the right speed—to make decisions about when it’s time to play more, when you need to maybe give it a little more time to see. So we’re in that process, it’s gone well so far and hopefully it will continue to move forward.”

On German-American Jermaine Jones:
Sunil Gulati: “We’ve had pretty regular communication with Jermaine’s representatives and advisors. He has both publicly and privately indicated that he would like to file for an eligibility switch. I think the paperwork for that has probably now been submitted to FIFA and the earliest he would be eligible to move would be the second of August which would be 60 days after the rule change came into effect. After that it comes down to the normal things, the health of the player and Bob’s selection.”

On German-American Jermaine Jones:
Bob Bradley: “From a coaching standpoint, you wait for things to be final. You never know how things go in terms of paperwork and that kind of thing. Once that’s all taken care of, then he will be a player that we can consider and then you take into account the obvious factors that you would with any other player.”