U.S. team's youths on display tonight
Associated PressPublished September 7, 2005
GUATEMALA CITY - Chad Marshall has been old enough to drink for only two weeks and rising star Santino Quaranta still has more than a month before he turns 21.
But with a berth in next summer's World Cup already clinched, the pair are part of a U.S. youth movement vying for coach Bruce Arena's attention in tonight's qualifier at Guatemala's national stadium.
"We grew up together on the youth teams, too, so it's a fun opportunity for us," Quaranta, the youngest player on the U.S. roster, said Tuesday. "We're really looking forward to playing with each other again, and the younger guys are close anyway because you have a lot more in common."
The Americans earned their country's fifth straight spot in the World Cup with a 2-0 blanking of Mexico in Columbus, Ohio, last weekend. Just four starters from that match made the trip here, joining six teammates under 25.
Arena, who insists his squad still has a long way to go before it can hope to be a factor in 2006 in Germany, said it is still too early to determine how much those playing against Guatemala will have to do to make the World Cup roster.
"This is what international soccer's about, they're getting some real hands-on experience," he said. "So it only benefits them and benefits me in trying to put together a roster."
Eddie Johnson, 21, scored for the United States and so did Steve Ralston, another member of the roster for today's match, as the Americans topped Guatemala 2-0 in Birmingham, Ala., on March 30.
At 31, Ralston has more experience than many who made the trip here. He also scored Saturday against Mexico, but his own spot on the team for next summer is not guaranteed.
Four prospects suiting up for the United States have never played in a World Cup qualifier: Marshall, Marcus Hahnemann, Nick Garcia and Jimmy Conrad.
The United States has never lost to Guatemala in World Cup qualifying, but the teams played a 1-1 tie during a 2000 qualifier in Mazatenango the last time they met in this country.
Quaranta said the team feels extra loose with qualifying behind it, but that "obviously you have to do well because you don't get many chances like this."
"It's huge," said the midfielder who was 9 when the United States hosted the World Cup in 1994. "To get a chance to make the World Cup team and to be a part of this, the opportunity, it's unexplainable how big it is and how important it is for us all to do well."
Guatemala, meanwhile, is feeling the pressure as it tries to claw its way into the World Cup. "The United States isn't coming to lay down, but they will not have the pressure of earning points," said coach Ramon Maradiaga. "And we have to take advantage."
Mexico needs one point to become the second North and Central American and Caribbean team to qualify. Costa Rica leads the race for the third spot, three points ahead of Guatemala and Trinidad and Tobago.