Four Players Named to All-Tournament Team

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.

Pre-game Quote Sheet: USA vs. Mexico

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."

Clarence Goodson and the Saga of the Missing Jersey

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

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

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

Heading to the Final

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

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

Conrad Update

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...

USA Lineup vs. Panama

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

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...

Kicking Contest - The Video

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

Pre-Game Primer

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.

Twitter Interview Transcript

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!

Photos from Today's Training Session

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.

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

Pictures from Our First Session in Philadelphia

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.

Train Trip Highlights

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:

USA Lineup vs. Haiti

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...

MNT Blog Q&A with Michael Parkhurst

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.