Los Angeles Galaxy - World Cup Players Press Conference Quote Sheet
May 3, 2006
Featured speakers: Steve Sampson, Landon Donovan and Chris Albright
Los Angeles Galaxy head coach Steve Sampson, on Chris Albright being named to U.S. World Cup team: "I am extremely happy for Chris and the entire Galaxy organization is very happy for him. It is a well earned selection to the world cup team. Chris has played exceptionally well over the last few years and especially over the past month. I know how disappointed he was 24 hours a go and I know how excited he is know. It is a great loss for the Galaxy during this period, but it is an opportunity for someone to step in his place and to get some critical minutes. We will manage without him and I just want everyone to know how extremely proud of him, and what a great honor for he and Landon [Donovan] to be a part of this World Cup squad."
Sampson, on the expectations on Landon Donovan: "I think the greater the challenge, the better Landon plays. If you listen to his interviews, one of the things I like hearing from him is that when people talk about the U.S. matching up with the Czech Republic or Italy, his comment is, 'Why not us?' 'Why can't we go into those games and think about winning,' and that is the kind of mentality our national team needs in order to have success. I think Landon is set at the second forward position with the Galaxy and the national team, he is becoming more and more comfortable in that midfield role position. I think he is versatile, I think he has shown that his leadership in the midfield has taken this national team to a different level. I think his ability to score goals in critical matches has taken this national team to another level. I just love his mentality."
Sampson, on U.S. 2006 World Cup Team: "I think it is probably one of the toughest groups that we have ever had to play in a first round. But, it is a World Cup team that has the most talent and experience of any other World Cup team. I believe that we are prepared for the challenge. I think the balance of players that Bruce [Arena] has chosen is good and it is understandable to have the experienced players from Europe, but I also believe the players that are representing MLS will do an outstanding job if called upon. I would have no concerns of any one of those guys stepping in if called upon."
Sampson, on difficulties of selecting a World Cup roster: "It is very difficult. I think you need to listen to your assistants, I think it is obviously appropriate to solicit the input from key players as well. Then again, maybe Bruce is the type of coach who has no issues with making the decisions by himself, and sometimes that is the very best way. If you do listen to too many people, it can grey your thought process. Picking a roster is a very, very difficult thing to do. There are so many factors - team chemistry, players that have played well with each other, players that are playing exceptionally well right now in the league. I think Brian Ching is a great example of that. He is doing exceptionally well for Houston and made his way on to the World Cup squad and I think deservedly so. You have players that have done well at the domestic level and not so at the international level. There are players that excel at the domestic level and struggle at the international level. For Bruce, he needs to find out whether these guys can handle the pressure of international competition and do well at that level."
Sampson, on the difference in mentality from the 1998 squad to the 2006 team: "I think the mentality of wanting to win was equally as good in 98 as it is right now. I do think that the league is much better than it was n 96 and 97. The experiences that our current national team has been through I think are more challenging in the domestic league and with the players playing in Europe and the expectations on them in Europe. I do believe that this is a team, one that is thinking like a team, and that is very, very important going into the World Cup."
Sampson, on expectations on U.S. team at World Cup: "I think getting out of our group would show an enormous amount of progress. Knowing this team however, they are not going to be satisfied with that. I really believe that if we can get out of our group, it is not out of the realm of possibility to be a semi-finalist."
Sampson, on how the U.S. could be perceived if it does not make the quarterfinals again: "To the people who understand the game, and study the game and analyze the game, if the team plays exceptionally well and it comes down to a bad referees decision or one mistake, I think it would be harsh to evaluate the team based on that. Too often, we in the United States too often look at results, and I think there is a lot more to the game of soccer and showing signs of progress than just results in itself. However, I understand better than anybody else how the mainstream media and mainstream sports fan in the United States only looks at results, and that is eventually what we get defined as."
Sampson, on the difficulty of advancing in the World Cup: "The United States does not have the advantage of playing Germany, Italy, Spain and the best African countries and other great nations in official competitions. We tend to play them in friendly competitions and there is a big difference between the two. Our official competition is here in the CONCACAF region, so to prepare for a world championship using friendly international matches is extremely difficult for our American players to rise above those circumstances. I think our federation does a decent enough job of providing the type of games that Bruce [Arena] needs to prepare. But playing in a European Championship every two years and a World Cup every two years and playing against the best players in the world in the best leagues in the world week in and week out, that is the biggest challenge for the United States. The better our league gets over time, the easier that transition will be."
Sampson, on 2006 World Cup team: "I do believe this is the best national team in the history of the United States, given the experience they have, given the leagues they play in, given the growth of MLS and soccer here in the united states and given the results they have got over the last four to eight years. I do believe this is our best team and also our greatest challenge."
Galaxy and United States forward Landon Donovan, on adjusting to playing different teams in the World Cup: "I think style of play is important. We are not used to playing African teams and the way they play. Maybe we get a little bit of that with the Caribbean teams, but style plays a big role and that plays a big role in how Bruce selects the team. The Czech Republic plays differently than Italy which is different than Ghana and they are all different than Mexico, Costa Rica and El Salvador. I think that factors into it too."
Donovan, on the effect playing in the 2000 Olympics had on his career: "For me, that was a big growing up period. I don't think I started in those games, and at that point I was very immature and very upset that I wasn't playing. At the same time, I was proud to be part of a team that was doing well. I have so much more insight now, I know so much more. At that time, I was just enjoying it and having fun at the Olympics. We weren't necessarily supposed to do much in those Olympics, but that is why sports and soccer are so much fun. In a one game situation, especially now, teams are so good in the world that even if you aren't the best team, if you play a certain way and are successful and make it difficult on teams, you can be successful. That Olympic team was hard to beat, we played hard and had great leadership and then had attacking players that made plays and that is what a tournament like that boils down to."
Donovan, on U.S. in the World Cup: "I try not to analyze too much. It is about performing in three games. Either you perform or you don't. You can talk about it all you want. Either you bring it or you don't for three games. That is what our objective has to be."
Donovan, on maturing into a leadership role with the Galaxy: "Steve [Sampson] demands it. Coming here, getting to come back here and getting paid comparably a lot of money compared to other guys in the league, I don't feel that I can just be another guy on the field. I have to do that. I have to do more. That is not fair. I can't look at a guy like Herculez [Gomez] last year making $16,000 a year and tell him to come on. I'm the one who has to come on. That situation really woke me up and made me more of a leader and made me more professional. I can't not perform any more. I have to perform every game."
Donovan, on taking on a leadership role with the national team: "I now have the confidence. Before I was maybe lacking the confidence to get in people's faces, to say something. I feel like I've learned enough about the game that I know I am right about it and I know in situations that I am right and I feel comfortable doing that now. Bruce demands it too. Especially when you get the [captain's] arm band, you don't have a choice. That is your job."
Donovan, on his relationship with U.S. head coach Bruce Arena: "It is great. It hasn't always been great, but it was never terrible. There were times when I just wasn't sure where his head was about me. But over the last year and a half I have gained a tremendous amount of respect for Bruce. He just gets it. He understands everything about soccer. He understands everything that needs to go into it and he is thinking so far ahead of what you need to do as a player. Over the years, he has gotten more comfortable and more relaxed and more confident. Four years ago, our game plan was for us to fight and find a way to get results out of the game. That has always been the American mentality, but especially in the last year he has demanded that we open up and play more. We played Norway here at the beginning of the year and if we got in a dogfight with them it was going to be an ugly game, but he wanted us to open up and go at them. And we are good enough soccer players now that we can do that, and he believes that. He is trying to make players know that it is okay to turn and pass the ball under pressure, they can deal with it. I think that will help us in Germany. When we started believing in ourselves, really, at the end of the 2002 World Cup, we were good. Against Germany, we were very, very good. When you are in it, you don't realize it. But we were a good team. We are not going to throw five guys forward every time, but we need to be more confident in what we can do. We are good enough."
Donovan, on what upsets Bruce Arena: "Lack of effort. I think most coaches are like that. If the ball gets stolen in the final third, that is no problem. But if you fail to make a play because you are being lazy or if you fail to make a play because you are not thinking, that is when he gets angry. It doesn't happen often, but I remember one game we played Haiti a few years ago in Haiti and snuck a goal out to tie the game. We were awful and our attitude was awful and our effort was awful and he got into us afterwards hard."
Donovan, on the pressures of being the face of American soccer: "The last 3-4 weeks have been pretty hectic. I have been doing a lot of different things, flying here to there. Four years ago, that would have killed me. I would have been emotionally and physically exhausted. I'm content right now and I don't mind it. I like doing those things. When you get out there and do it, and get in front of a microphone or a camera, you have a chance to represent soccer and get us somewhere. I take that responsibility and try to take advantage of it."
Donovan, on being recognized in public more as the World Cup approaches: "It happens. It happens at the dry cleaners. Generally, in most restaurants by waiters or cooks. People are just excited about the World Cup. Everyone has their team and wants to talk about it. I think people are just excited, and it is good because people aren't just excited about the World Cup or their team, they are excited about the U.S. team and they want us to do well."
Donovan, on handling the U.S. expectations: "You can't create pressure and that kind of environment. But handling the expectations and pressure is a big part of it. When you are an underdog and not expected to do well, that is easier. That is an easier road to take. Now, not that people around the world are expecting us to advance, we have that pressure and we know what it means to soccer here. We have to deal with that. Now, when we go to Panama or Guatemala, we have to win those games. It isn't like before when we would be satisfied with getting a tie on the road and a point at home. We have to win those games and I try to say that to everyone as much as possible. Bruce agrees with me when I say that. That is our mentality and that is how England, Holland and Brazil approach their games. They have no choice. When they play a game they have to win, and that is the only way to get better."
Donovan, on being a focal point for opponents: "There is nothing you can do about it. I have to hope the referees protect you, but there are a lot of MLS games where coaches assign defenders to me or there are a lot of players around me, and you just have to be better than that. Kobe Bryant deals with it on a nightly basis. He deals with it and still succeeds, so that is my challenge."
Donovan, on attitude of other countries toward the United States: "I think there is still a lack of respect. When we played England in Chicago we did a press conference with Sol Campbell and you could tell from some of his answers, there is not respect. That is the attitude of the rest of the world. When we played Germany last month, they expected to crush us like we were some small team that has never been to a World Cup. That is the attitude that they had and it pisses me off. We thrive on that."
Donovan, on if he is using the criticism of his time in Germany to motivate himself for the World Cup: "I can't say it is my motivation. I get motivated by being with the team and wanting to perform for myself, for Bruce and for the team. For now, I am just excited to be there and I want us to do well. It doesn't matter if I score or if I play well, I just want us to succeed.
Donovan, on his memories of the 2002 World Cup: "It was fun. It was just fun. From the media perspective, I never did anything close to the media appearances that I did before and after the World Cup. I was just this young kid in this huge world, a kid in a candy store. I didn't understand or appreciate what was going on. I have a better understanding of that now. I'm glad it was that way. It was so much fun; I just have so many memories."
Donovan, on playing with DaMarcus Beasley: "We have grown apart a little big over the years, but when we play there is a mutual respect. When we are in the hotel rooms or practice or in the training room, we just know each other and I think that translates on the field. With national teams, there are very few players that you really feel that way with because you just don't play with them enough. With him, I know exactly where he is going to be on the field and exactly where he wants the ball and vice versa. It is definitely an advantage."
Donovan, on his thoughts of returning to Germany after his brief stint with Bayer Leverkusen: "I don't harbor any ill will or I don't hate Germans or Germany. I was very immature as a person and as a soccer player and a professional when I was there. The first time all I ever asked for was a chance and that didn't come and that was frustrating. The second time I had a chance and I didn't do well with it. I can rant and rave and say they didn't treat me right, but I had a chance to play well and perform and I didn't. Is there blame to go both ways? Probably, but I can't just blame them. I have to be honest with myself and I know that it wasn't the right situation for a lot of different reasons. You can call it what you want, you can call it weak, but I wanted to play soccer. That is what I do for a living and I am not going to sit around for six, seven, or eight games playing well, and not get a chance. It is not an ego thing, I just want to play soccer, I want to have fun playing soccer and that wasn't happening."
Donovan, on talented U.S. midfield: "It is a good and difficult problem for Bruce. Without a doubt he wants John O'Brien on the field if he is healthy. He wants Claudio [Reyna] on the field, he wants Beez [DeMarcus Beasley] on the field and he wants me on the field. Bobby [Convey] has played well and so has Clint Dempsey. The thing Bruce is good about is getting his best players on the field. He figures out who his best eleven guys are and works around that. He figures out a way, and you saw that in Korea. That is great to know as a player, and you have to be prepared for that. Fortunately, we have guys that can do that. Bruce is going to get the best eleven guys on the field."
Donovan, on John O'Brien: "He knows what he is doing. He is going to be fine. If he can't go, then Bruce will bring someone else in. But, if Johnny is healthy then you absolutely want him out on the field."
Los Angeles Galaxy and United States National Team defender Chris Albright, on being named to U.S. World Cup team: "Obviously I am thrilled. First of all, my heart goes out to Frankie. He is a good friend of mine and not just as a teammate. My heart goes out to him, I know he and is family is disappointed at this time. I want to wish him all the best in his recovery. After that, as Bruce told me we have to worry about Germany and getting prepared to do some good things over there. I am thrilled to be a part of such a talented team with talented veterans that I grew up admiring that I can now be a part of. I'm excited to be selected."
Albright, on the turnaround in his feelings in a 24 hour period of named to the roster after being left off it originally: "Yesterday I was driving home from the aquarium with my wife, we wanted to kill some time and get away yesterday morning. My agent called me and asked me how I was doing and at that point I thought I was doing fine. He said that Landon had called him and told him that I had received the alternate e-mail. I was obviously extremely disappointed; I thought I had a good shot at being included. We are a deep team and it probably came down to a numbers thing. I was extremely disappointed, the World Cup is a once every four year thing, and I looked at it like this was one of my only shots, so as you can understand I was a bit bummed and shocked at the same time. Then today I was sitting at my computer and I got an instant message from Pam Perkins, the national team administrator asking if I had talked to Bruce. I called Bruce and he informed me that Frankie had been injured and I would be replacing him and that I was going to be on the team. It was about 2 o'clock and so it was about 24 hours. I don't know what my emotions are right now it has been such a whirlwind, but I am thrilled to be a part of it."
Albright, on getting ready to prepare for U.S. training camp: "I have to wrap my mind around being involved in the World Cup squad and think about being as fit as I can possibly be when I get in there. I have two big games with the galaxy both Saturday and Wednesday, and I need to help the galaxy get the points before I have to go away for awhile and then I can focus on getting ready for Germany."
Albright, on what Bruce Arena has told him about his position on the team: "I haven't really spoken with him specifically about my involvement with the team. I have played mostly right back, but some left back and left midfield for the national team. I think I can help out in the midfield if there is a hole that needs to be filled. I assume the versatility is a factor. That is something that I can bring to the team and I will do my best wherever he needs me to fill in."
