A U.S. national team made up almost wholly of Major League Soccer players has completed its first full week of training at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., and just more than a week remains before the squad will kick off the New Year with a series of friendly matches, starting with a Jan. 22 meeting with Canada at Torero Stadium in San Diego (8 p.m. ET).
Some 30 players have been working on fitness and ball skills under U.S. manager Bruce Arena, as the MLS contingent gets an early start on preparations for the new domestic season. Following the game against Canada, the U.S. will then host Norway on Jan. 29 at The Home Depot Center (5 p.m. ET, ESPN2), Japan at SBC Park in San Francisco on Feb. 10 (11 p.m. ET, ESPN2) and Guatemala on Feb. 19 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas (2 p.m. ET, ESPN2).
Injuries and call-ups
Colorado Rapids defender Pablo Mastroeni suffered a partially torn quadriceps in his left leg during a crossing drill Monday. He is expected to be out of action for six to eight weeks. He should be ready to resume full training by the time Rapids head coach Fernando Clavijo opens his club's preseason camp.
Los Angeles Galaxy defender Chris Albright is recovering quickly from a bruised right knee. He has resumed fitness training with the U.S. team.
Late arrivals at the U.S. camp include Kansas City Wizards midfielder Kerry Zavagnin, called in to replace the injured Mastroeni, and D.C. United defender Bobby Boswell, making his first visit to the full national team. Boswell is the fifth member of the Black-and-Red to be called into the camp, joining teammates Freddy Adu, Brian Carroll, Ben Olsen and Santino Quaranta. Zavagnin is the fourth representative of the Wizards summoned for duty, joining Jimmy Conrad, Chris Klein and Josh Wolff.
Pizza Hut Park to host first U.S. national team event
Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas, home of FC Dallas, will host its first-ever U.S. national team event on Feb. 19 when the men's team takes on CONCACAF rivals Guatemala at 2 p.m. ET (live on ESPN2 and Telemundo). Tickets for the game are on sale now and can be purchased at FCDallas.net.
Pizza Hut Park hosted the 2005 MLS Cup Final in which the Galaxy captured their second league title by defeating the New England Revolution 1-0 in extra time.
FC Dallas star forward Carlos Ruiz is the leader of the Guatemala national team, which finished in fifth place on the region in World Cup qualifying, just one win away from a finish that would have secured the chapines a playoff spot with an Asian team. The Guatemalans have never beaten the USA on U.S. soil, most recently suffering a 2-0 defeat in Birmingham, Ala., and securing a 0-0 tie in the return match in Guatemala City during the final hexagonal for Germany 2006.
AEG treats the team to Clippers game
AEG, owners of MLS's Chicago Fire, the as yet-unnamed Houston franchise, the Los Angeles Galaxy and the MetroStars treated members of the U.S. national team to a Los Angeles Clippers (NBA) game on Tuesday night at the Staples Center.
Around 15 players enjoyed a meal at the stadium club and seats in the AEG suite at mid-court as they watched the Clippers break a three-game home losing streak with a 90-73 victory over the Orlando Magic.
World Cup just five months away
Arena continues to evaluate U.S. talent on the way to finalizing a roster that will represent the country at the 2006 World Cup, which kicks off on June 9 in Munich. The U.S. has been drawn into Group E for the tournament and will face the Czech Republic (June 12), Italy (June 17) and Ghana (June 22) in opening-round play. The U.S. team will be based in Hamburg during the competition.
In addition to the friendly matches rapidly approaching in the U.S., U.S. Soccer has also secured a match with World Cup hosts Germany on March 22 (2 p.m. ET, ESPN2 and Telemundo). Further contests in Europe leading up to the tournament are still in the works.
Jonathan Nierman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
