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Travel might prompt retirement of two

USLAN, South Korea -- The loss to Germany on Friday might have been Claudio Reyna's final game with the national team.

The captain, tired of repeated flights from Europe to World Cup qualifiers in North and Central America and the Caribbean, said he isn't sure he wants to commit to another four years of travel.

"It's probably something I'll decide on in the next couple of months," Reyna said.

Reyna will be 32 by the time of the 2006 event in Germany. It would be a chance to be on a World Cup roster for the fourth time. (He was on the 1994 roster but sat out with a torn hamstring.)

In December, he became the most expensive American player when Sunderland acquired his rights from his Scottish club, Glasgow Rangers, for $6.8-million. He's entering his first full season in the English Premier League, has a 3-year-old son and his wife, Danielle, is pregnant.

"I just want to sit back, reflect on things and enjoy this," Reyna said.

Goalkeeper Brad Friedel also isn't sure if he'll return for another four years. He will be 35 in 2006 and recently re-signed with the Blackburn Rovers of the Premier League.

"You have to look at how the next couple of years play out," said Friedel, who got married last year. "You never know what injuries will come. You never know what new family members will come."

THE FUTURE II: Landon Donovan said he might return to Bayer Leverkusen, the German team that has him under contract and loaned him to San Jose of MLS. But he was trying not to think about it while at the World Cup.

"Sure, I'd be interested to go back if it's the right situation," he said.

And what is the right situation?

"A place where I'm happy," he said, "where I have a chance to play."

ARENA TALK: Coach Bruce Arena said he was open to staying on as coach.

"That possibility exists," Arena said. "That's a decision that more than one party would need to make. We'll have to sit down and talk and see what they're thinking. I'll only do it if we think we can continue to move forward and make it better."

U.S. officials have said they would wait until after the World Cup to discuss Arena's future, but it's virtually inconceivable it wouldn't want him back.

FANS COME OUT: More than 7,500 people, some from as far away as Florida, watched on large screens inside and outside Crew Stadium, home of Columbus' MLS team.

They stood during the closing moments as the United States looked for the tying goal and stayed on their feet clapping when it fell short.

With an American flag draped over his shoulders, Ken Nekic was upbeat.

"Something like this is a dream come true," he said. "These guys are playing with all their heart."

At Ben's Half Yard House in Dallas, more than 450 people beat drums and waved noisemakers. Some draped themselves in American flags, and others looked like traditional Texans in jeans and boots.

"I'm not even really a soccer fan," said Mark Wolff of Dallas. "I'm on the bandwagon."

And The Cock n' Bull Pub in Santa Monica, Calif., did not close so about 200 people chanting "U-S-A, U-S-A" could huddle around televisions.

Exchange student Daniela Schuster, of Bonn, Germany, was the only person supporting the European squad.

"I'm keeping a low profile here," he said.

ALL-WORLD CUP: Four Americans were selected for consideration for the all-star team. Friedel, Reyna, Donovan and Brian McBride were among 53 players selected by the FIFA Technical Study Group for consideration. The team will be announced Friday.

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