For the majority of the season, FC Dallas forwards Kenny Cooper and Carlos Ruiz are teammates and share a common goal -- helping FCD win games and make the playoffs. But later this month, the Hoops duo will be on opposite sides of the field when the United States and Guatemalan national teams square off on March 28 at Pizza Hut Park.
The game will mark Cooper's second call to the U.S. selection, while Ruiz is a long-time veteran of international play for his home country. Both are clearly looking forward to the matchup in their home stadium.
"I'm really excited and feel honored to be invited back to the camp," Cooper said. "I don't know what my involvement will be in the games. But I want to go in there and work hard. I'm excited about that."
Ruiz agreed.
"It's going to be the first time that I play against Kenny for my national team and it's going to be fun," he said. "We need to play well in this game because the U.S. is one of the teams in our group in the (CONCACAF) Gold Cup. We expect to play well and look to be a much better team."
Last year for FCD, Cooper and Ruiz were the Hoops' top two scorers with 11 and 13 goals, respectively. New head coach Steve Morrow is expecting more of the same from his dynamic duo this year and is happy his two strikers were called into their respective national teams.
"It's great for both players and congratulations to both of them," Morrow said. "It's always a big honor to get involved with the national team. The downside for me is that they will spend time away from the team, which is always difficult. It's an important time to have everybody together and that (losing them) isn't easy to cope with. It's great for both of them and I think they're looking forward to playing each other. Having it here adds extra excitement to it as well."
For Ruiz, this will mark the second consective year he has played for Guatemala in Frisco against the U.S. Last February, he was in a similar situation, facing a recent FCD teammate in Eddie Johnson, who had just been traded to Kansas City. No matter who he is lining up against, Ruiz is happy to be playing in such familiar surroundings.
"For me, it's going to be like a regular weekend game," he said. "But for my older teammates, it's going to be different because we don't have a stadium like this in Guatemala. We have to understand that the U.S. plays quickly and has fast players. We have to understand the type of soccer that they play and try to be a much better team."
The match will be especially meaningful for Cooper since he is one of three Dallas natives, along with center back Drew Moor and midfielder Ramon Nunez, currently on the FCD roster.
"That would certainly be a cool opportunity," Cooper said. "To play for my club team at home in front of my family and friends is awesome and certainly unique. I don't know how many people get to do that. Myself, Drew and Ramon are all pretty lucky to be able to do that. If I had the opportunity to do that with the national team, that would certainly be cool."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
