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El Salvador New Chance For USA Players
The match against Honduras is one the players and coach will want to put behind them.
Feb 12, 2010 1:51:00 PM
By Andrea Canales
CARSON, Calif. -- As the domestic-based players of the USA national team gather for a camp in preparation for the next international game versus El Salvador on February 24 in Tampa, Florida, there is little time spent looking in the rear-view mirror of the wreckage that was the team's last game - a loss to Honduras.
"We were unlucky to go down a man and give up a PK, but I think everyone is really eager to get this camp started and work hard," said midfielder Robbie Rogers to Goal.com. "Losing like that, hopefully we can learn from it and hopefully we can become a better team from it."
Coach Bob Bradley is evaluating players not only for starting spots versus El Salvador, but also as possible World Cup options this summer, as well as possibilities further off in the future.
"It’s opportunities for guys," Bradley said of the camp, while acknowledging, "There weren’t many who played at the level that we would expect against Honduras."
Though previous World Cup rosters have featured a close to 50/50 mix of players based in Major League Soccer and abroad, it's likely that the lineup for the World Cup will have only a few spots manned by MLS players.
Bradley, though, would not guess at any likely percentages, not with friendlies still to be completed and other factors played out. ''At this point, the safest thing to say would be that there is a solid nucleus of players that have been important and we hope that those players are healthy and ready to go," said the coach.
Even if only a few chances are available, the players in camp are eager to prove themselves. "All the guys are really excited and want to do well," Rogers said.
Some new faces who missed the Honduras game can perhaps have an impact. Forward Brian Ching is one player who took more offseason time, passing up the January camp.
"I needed that," Ching defended his decision. "Physically, I feel strong and I feel mentally rejuvenated. I’m ready to make a push for a World Cup spot."
In one of the camp scrimmages, Ching appeared in good form already, battling for the ball well in front of the goal.
"You’re always playing with good players when you come here, so it‘s always a privilege," said Ching. "I enjoyed it, but I always enjoy it, even playing with the other guys here. Today I was paired with Jeff Cunningham, and it’s good to play with him, or Robbie Findley, or even Conor Casey. It’s just a treat to come into camp and play with some of the best players in the country."
Squandering the chance to show their true quality was what bothered Rogers the most about the Honduras match.
"As a team, we didn’t complete passes as well as we would have liked," Rogers noted. "Our shape would get broken down easily after they would complete a pass. Sometimes it's tough, especially when we’re in preseason."
As Ching well knows, the window of opportunity sometimes doesn't open at all. Though he was thrilled to make the World Cup roster in 2006, Ching never got a chance to appear in a match.
"It’s extremely disappointing," Ching admitted. "Of course, if you make it there, you want to play."
Ching explained that his lack of World Cup playing time motivated him even more to do well now.
Whichever players can prove to be a difference-maker versus El Salvador, could well move notches higher in the national team pecking order - hopefully high enough to make the World Cup cutoff.
Get all the latest US National Team news with Goal.com's dedicated page.
"We were unlucky to go down a man and give up a PK, but I think everyone is really eager to get this camp started and work hard," said midfielder Robbie Rogers to Goal.com. "Losing like that, hopefully we can learn from it and hopefully we can become a better team from it."
Coach Bob Bradley is evaluating players not only for starting spots versus El Salvador, but also as possible World Cup options this summer, as well as possibilities further off in the future.
"It’s opportunities for guys," Bradley said of the camp, while acknowledging, "There weren’t many who played at the level that we would expect against Honduras."
Though previous World Cup rosters have featured a close to 50/50 mix of players based in Major League Soccer and abroad, it's likely that the lineup for the World Cup will have only a few spots manned by MLS players.
Bradley, though, would not guess at any likely percentages, not with friendlies still to be completed and other factors played out. ''At this point, the safest thing to say would be that there is a solid nucleus of players that have been important and we hope that those players are healthy and ready to go," said the coach.
Even if only a few chances are available, the players in camp are eager to prove themselves. "All the guys are really excited and want to do well," Rogers said.
Some new faces who missed the Honduras game can perhaps have an impact. Forward Brian Ching is one player who took more offseason time, passing up the January camp.
"I needed that," Ching defended his decision. "Physically, I feel strong and I feel mentally rejuvenated. I’m ready to make a push for a World Cup spot."
In one of the camp scrimmages, Ching appeared in good form already, battling for the ball well in front of the goal.
"You’re always playing with good players when you come here, so it‘s always a privilege," said Ching. "I enjoyed it, but I always enjoy it, even playing with the other guys here. Today I was paired with Jeff Cunningham, and it’s good to play with him, or Robbie Findley, or even Conor Casey. It’s just a treat to come into camp and play with some of the best players in the country."
Squandering the chance to show their true quality was what bothered Rogers the most about the Honduras match.
"As a team, we didn’t complete passes as well as we would have liked," Rogers noted. "Our shape would get broken down easily after they would complete a pass. Sometimes it's tough, especially when we’re in preseason."
As Ching well knows, the window of opportunity sometimes doesn't open at all. Though he was thrilled to make the World Cup roster in 2006, Ching never got a chance to appear in a match.
"It’s extremely disappointing," Ching admitted. "Of course, if you make it there, you want to play."
Ching explained that his lack of World Cup playing time motivated him even more to do well now.
Whichever players can prove to be a difference-maker versus El Salvador, could well move notches higher in the national team pecking order - hopefully high enough to make the World Cup cutoff.
Get all the latest US National Team news with Goal.com's dedicated page.
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