USA Latest news, scores, etc.

[Frank Cunha]

2. U.S. SOCCER: Bruce Arena on USA-Mexico

Here's some of what U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena said Monday in a nationwide media teleconference ahead of Wednesday's match against Mexico at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. (kickoff 7:30 p.m. CT; TV: Telemundo, FoxSports World, HDNet, live, 8:30 p.m. ET).

On if a new player can make an impression this close to World Cup qualifying.

"A player can make a very favorable impression at this game. It's a good game against one of the better teams in CONCACAF, and I think that if you can perform well in this game then you are the type of player that can help us in qualifying."

On why the MetroStars' Jonny Walker has been selected from the pool of MLS goalkeepers the most this year.

"One thing that has separated him from the MLS keepers as far as the domestic keepers go is that he is more consistent. I think that has to do with his experience playing a little longer than some of our other keepers. He has more big-game experience having been in South America and some good competitions there. We have a number of MLS goalkeepers that are fairly comparable and Jonny's experience gives him an edge over most of them."

On the atmosphere he expects at the games.

"Anytime we play Mexico in the U.S. the crowd is generally pro-Mexico. It is a good experience for our players. We kind of look at these as a road game, not a home game. It is good for our young players to get this kind of experience to help them prepare for World Cup qualifying."

On the Mexican squad being closer to their usual full squad and if that puts the U.S. at a disadvantage.

"I don't think so. We never worry about that. Whenever we play Mexico or anyone else, our objective is when we step on the field is to win the game. We feel the players we have on this roster are certainly capable of beating Mexico."

[Soccerdad]

"I am sure that we will beat them. We have an open account with them that will not get resolved in an exhibition match. We have to pay them back during qualifying or in the World Cup."

man, I sure hope we show well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Frank Cunha]

its going to take a while before they going to get revenge of the 2-0 in the WC

[Soccerdad]

a LONG WHILE I hope

[Frank Cunha]

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

"There's never a lot of soccer being played in these games, because it's always so scrappy. It's always a hard fight."
-- U.S. midfielder DaMarcus Beasley, on meeting Mexico. (Dallas Morning News)

"Apart from having more fans in the stadium, El Tri tends to be the one that takes the initiative, we're the team that attacks and plays soccer, and that's what we are going to do."
-- Mexico forward Jared Borgetti. (Dallas Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

"For us in New England, it's similar to the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. It's like playing your older brother in your back yard. No matter when you're playing, you don't want to lose."
-- U.S. forward Taylor Twellman. (Dallas Fort Worth Star-Telegram)



1. USA-MEXICO: Coaches use friendly to prepare for World Cup qualifying

The United States and Mexico face off Wednesday night at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas (kickoff: 7:30 p.m. CT; TV: Telemundo, FoxSports World, HDNet, live, 8:30 p.m. ET).

The game is the 49th meeting between the two teams. Mexico leads the series with a 28-10-10 (W-L-T) record but the United States is 5-3-1 under Coach Bruce Arena.

For both teams, the match is a warmup before the second round of World Cup 2006 qualifying in the CONCACAF zone in June.

Arena has called in 17 MLS players and Conor Casey, whose 13 goals with German Second Division club Karlsruhe tied Joe-Max Moore's record for the most goals by an American-born and -bred player in a European pro league.

Mexican coach Ricardo Lavolpe brought only two players (Salvador Carmona and Jared Borgetti) who faced the United States in the 2002 World Cup. He included four players (Diego Martinez, Mario Perez, Francisco Rodriguez and Luis Perez) from his under-20 team that beat the United States, 4-0, in February to qualify for the 2004 Olympics.

Mexican star Cuauhtemoc Blanco was scratched from the traveling party to Dallas because of unidentified legal issues in the United States.

2. USA-MEXICO: Last 10 games

May 8, 2003 Tie 0-0 Friendly Houston
June 17, 2002 USA 2-0 World Cup Jeonju, South Korea
April 3, 2002 USA 1-0 Friendly Denver
July 1, 2001 Mexico 1-0 World Cup qualifier Mexico City
Feb. 28, 2001 USA 2-0 World Cup qualifier Columbus, Ohio
Oct. 25, 2000 USA 2-0 Friendly Los Angeles
June 11, 2000 USA 3-0 U.S. Cup 2000 East Rutherford, N.J.
Aug. 1, 1999 Mexico 1-0 (OT) Friendly Mexico City
March 13, 1999 Mexico 2-1 U.S. Cup 1999 San Diego
Feb. 15, 1998 Mexico 1-0 Gold Cup Los Angeles

3. USA-MEXICO: Rosters

USA
GOALKEEPERS
Kevin Hartman (Los Angeles Galaxy) 2 caps/0 goals
Jonny Walker (MetroStars) 2/0

DEFENDERS
Chris Albright (Los Angeles) 9/1
Ritchie Kotschau (Colorado) 12/1
Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado) 0/0
Frankie Hejduk (Columbus) 55/5
Eddie Pope (MetroStars) 59/5

MIDFIELDERS
Chris Armas (Chicago Fire) 52/2
DaMarcus Beasley (Chicago) 30/4
Bobby Convey (D.C. United) 21/1
Richard Mulrooney (San Jose) 14/0
Pat Noonan (New England) 1/0
Kerry Zavagnin (Kansas City) 4/0

FORWARDS
Conor Casey (Karlrsuhe/GER) 1/0
Landon Donovan (San Jose) 47/15
Jovan Kirovski (Los Angeles) 60/9
Taylor Twellman (New England) 6/0
Josh Wolff (Kansas City) 22/6

MEXICO
GOALKEEPERS
Oswaldo Sanchez (Guadalajara)
Moises Munoz (Morelia)

DEFENDERS
Omar Briceno (Tigres)
Ricardo Osorio (Cruz Azul)
Salvador Carmona (Guadalajara)
Francisco Rodriguez (Guadalajara)
Mario Perez (Necaxa)
Duilio Davino (Club America)
Hector Altamirano (Santos)
Mario Mendez (Toluca)

MIDFIELDERS
Diego Martinez (Necaxa)
Rafael Garcia (Toluca)
Israel Lopez (Toluca)
Pavel Pardo (Club America)
Octavio Valdez (Pachuca)

FORWARDS
Omar Bravo (Guadalajara)
Jared Borgetti (Santos)
Emilio Mora (Veracruz)
Jose de Jesus Mendoza (Club America)

[Frank Cunha]

first 5 minutes in the game 0-0, big crowd

[Frank Cunha]

Convey playing as a left defender for Bocanegra, only Casey was brought from Europe, basically a MLS national team

[BethlehemFC]

Watching snatches of it on Telemundo -- but there is playoff hockey on. Only a friendly and I'm the hockey nut.

[Frank Cunha]

so far the USA been the best team
USA 0-0Mexico

Donovan just hit the cross bar

[BethlehemFC]

Thanks for the update, Frank.

[Frank Cunha]

end of first half 0-0


United States was the better team in the first half, I don't think Mexico had one corner the whole half

[BethlehemFC]

I see still 0-0 around the 70 minute mark.

[Frank Cunha]

its been all USA, Mexico one corner kick against 13 for the USA, if Mexico score's will be on a brake away but they don't deserve it

[Frank Cunha]

over 45,000 fans

[Frank Cunha]

my opinion the Dallas team should invited all the fans to a Dallas burn game, with today's stub, what do you think?