CARSON, Calif. - For the last decade, Eddie Pope has been one of the most polished and valuable defenders in America. His Major League Soccer accomplishments are unrivaled, while his two World Cup appearances for the United States also speak to his caliber.
Just one month removed from his 32nd birthday, Pope said he is not feeling the effects of age.
"I feel stronger than I've ever felt my whole career. I feel as fast if not faster and in better shape (than before)," Pope said.
A year ago, Pope was slowed by injuries. He played in 20 games for Real Salt Lake, missing time with a nagging knee injury he said he's overcome. For the U.S., Pope appeared in seven games and was not the force he had been in previous years. That honor went to Oguchi Onyewu, who made a splash in his first full year with the national team.
Now, however, Pope is showing signs of his familiar self. Against Norway, Pope scored a goal and was seven minutes short of playing consecutive 90-minute games for the U.S. for the first time since October 2004. He is the anchor of the current batch of players in U.S. camp and could be a centerpiece in a third World Cup this summer.
U.S. coach Bruce Arena has noticed the results of Pope's offseason training regimen.
"I've been very impressed with Eddie's approach to this camp," Arena said. "He worked harder in the offseason than he ever has and it was obvious from the start here."
Following Real Salt Lake's season, Pope said he made it a point to get in good shape. He followed a strict program outlined by a team strength coach geared toward helping him get fit heading into camp.
"It's rigorous, it's difficult, it's hard," Pope said of the training program. "It's a lot of intensive running, lifting, stretching and just preparing your body for the rest of the year. I think it's so rigorous that it gets you off to a right start to avoid injury and be in shape and be sharp. That's really helping me out coming in."
Arena has preached fitness and the importance of having the MLS-based national team players remain fit during the league's offseason, and Pope seems to be living up to that. Still, Pope's one-on-one defending remains his bread-and-butter.
"When you cut to the chase, that's what defenders are supposed to be about and that's his strength," Arena said. "Any time you have a solid presence in the heart of your defense that gives confidence to the goalkeepers and the players around him."
Pope played all but 10 minutes of the USA's appearances in the last two World Cups, in 2002 and 1998. At his current rate, he seems destined for more World Cup appearances in the center of the U.S. defense.
Although he said each World Cup is different, Pope pointed to a factor that helped the team reach the 2002 quarterfinals and could help carry the team in Germany.
"The good thing that we have and we had in 2002 and was a big, big change from '98 was that all of the guys get along really well. There are so many different dynamics but we all get along very well," Pope said.
"Even some of the young guys that come in, whether it's Freddy (Adu) or Eddie Johnson, they're younger than I am but I can sit down and have a conversation with them; we'll hang out and joke around. I think that's important. That was important in 2002 and that's what helped us be so successful. Luckily we still have that."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
