USA
Arena Names 2006 World Cup Roster
By Shane Killian
May 2, 2006
Bruce Arena's squad selection produced only a few surprises.
After months of speculation, U.S. Manager Bruce Arena has named the 23 players that will represent the United States in the 2006 World Cup.
The roster, with a few minor exceptions, was fairly predictable. Left off the team was World Cup veteran Gregg Berhalter and New England Revolution forward Taylor Twellman. Kansas City defender Jimmy Conrad and Houston forward Brian Ching took their roster spots. Both Berhalter and Twellman were among the 13 players named as alternates.
With the emergence of Major League Soccer, Arena has had the largest pool of professional players to choose from in U.S. soccer history. Since the last World Cup, Arena looked 85 players in 59 competitive matches and compiled a record of 36-9-14.
"The naming of this 23-man roster is the end of a long and arduous process that has carried the U.S. National Team throughout the CONCACAF region and the world over the last 3 1/2 years," said Arena. "It is unfortunate that I am not able to bring all these players to Germany. I am extremely grateful for the effort and professionalism that all our players exhibited throughout the process."
The team will begin preparations for Germany May 10 in Cary, N.C. and will have three friendly matches at the end of the month.
"Today, a new journey begins as we start final preparations," Arena said. "As usual, we will not make any bold statements or predictions. However, I can assure everyone that the team that steps on the field on June 12 against the Czech Republic will be a team that all Americans will be proud of. We look forward to preparing for an exciting and demanding challenge, and we appreciate the support of all Americans."
Twelve players return from the 2002 World Cup roster, led by team captain Claudio Reyna. The New Jersey native became the first U.S. Men's National Team player to be named to the FIFA All-World Cup Team in 2002.
"It's extremely special for me because, I think, growing up in America, I would have just been pleased with playing in one World Cup and now to enter my fourth World Cup is something that I can't really get my head around that it's happened," Reyna said. "I think it was a bit of luck, the timing of my age for the first World Cup but it's something that I could have never dreamed of."
Reyna and 2005 U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year Kasey Keller are set to become the only players in U.S. Soccer history to appear on four World Cup rosters.
The squad carries a wealth of experience, with an average age of 28.6 and an average of 44.2 caps. Eleven players on the roster have appeared in at least one World Cup match; at the same time, 11 players are making their debut on a World Cup roster.
The team is nearly evenly balanced between those playing professionally abroad and those playing in Major League Soccer. In 2006, 12 players will come from Europe while 11 play in MLS, the same ratio as the 2002 team.
Ben Olsen is the only player on the 23-man roster not to play in a single World Cup qualifier in the 2006 campaign.
Arena has also nominated 13 alternates to the squad, who will be available for selection should any injuries occur. After the official 23-man roster is submitted on May 15, a player may only be replaced on the roster as a result of an injury.
2006 U.S. World Cup Roster
Goalkeepers: Marcus Hahnemann, Tim Howard, Kasey Keller
Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Cherundolo, Jimmy Conrad, Cory Gibbs, Frankie Hejduk (replaced by Chris Albright), Eddie Lewis, Oguchi Onyewu, Eddie Pope
Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley, Bobby Convey, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Pablo Mastroeni, John O'Brien, Ben Olsen, Claudio Reyna
Forwards: Brian Ching, Eddie Johnson, Brian McBride, Josh Wolff