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Camp ends on positive note; exhibitions next

By TIMES WIRES
Published May 22, 2006

CARY, N.C. - Getting through training camp without injuries was one of Bruce Arena's goals. He appears to have made it.

After 10 days of workouts for the U.S. men's national team, Arena wrapped up camp Sunday, satisfied his team is healthy and ready for the first of its three tuneup games for the World Cup next month in Germany.

At Sunday's final practice, Arena reminded his players numerous times not to take each other down fighting for the ball. He wants them to save that aggression for the games.

"They're so competitive," Arena said. "Even in a light day like today, they're banging each other. If they could turn the switch on and off then they wouldn't be the type of competitors they are."

The only injury was to midfielder DaMarcus Beasley, who limped off with a slightly twisted ankle after colliding with teammates. Arena said Beasley's injury was not serious, and he should be ready for the first of three tuneup games, Tuesday against Morocco in Nashville.

Captain Claudio Reyna said the competitiveness is a good thing.

"With the World Cup coming up, guys aren't just happy to make the team," Reyna said. "They want to play. ... It just makes for a better team when everybody is working hard and pushing each other."

ENGLAND: American defender Jay DeMerit scored the first goal to help Watford earn promotion to the Premier League by beating Leeds 3-0 in Cardiff, Wales. Watford joins Reading and Sheffield United, the top two teams in the League Championship, in jumping to the EPL. "We've worked so hard all season and today the boys came together," said DeMerit, who has never played for a U.S. national team at any level.

FRIENDLY: Fabian Estoyanoff scored in the 33rd minute to lead Uruguay past Northern Ireland 1-0 in an exhibition in East Rutherford, N.J., between teams that failed to qualify for the World Cup.

OCEANIA: South African striker Keryn Jordan scored all three goals as amateur club Auckland City (New Zealand) beat Tahiti's AS Pirae 3-1 to win the Oceania championship and a place in December's FIFA world club finals in Japan.

[Last modified May 22, 2006, 01:05:14]