Recently in U.S. Men's National Team Category

It's getting to be now or never for domestic-based players on the bubble for the U.S. World Cup roster.

Bonus quote -
Here's Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan on Stuart Holden, who he observed is probably his main rival for a World Cup roster spot. The two have never played for the U.S. in the same XI, he said:

"When I was out of the team he was just coming into the team. There's definitely a correlation between the two of us - we play a similar position, we play a similar style. Hopefully we both go, but we'll see. He's a good friend of mine, but it's going to be tough. Maybe one of us will go, maybe neither of us will go."

Good to see Omar Gonzalez keep his place; now the central defender needs to get his first cap.

He was the only Galaxy player named to the squad; Chivas USA contributes three players.

The 23-man roster of domestic-based players gathers Wednesday at Home Depot Center to prepare for the friendly against El Salvador Feb. 24 in Tampa, Fla.

Quotable:

"These are important opportunities for these players as we continue to formulate our plans for the roster for the World Cup," said Coach Bob Bradley. "This camp and the game against El Salvador provide a chance for the coaching staff to get one more long look at this group. El Salvador demonstrated during World Cup qualifying that they are a difficult team to beat, so we expect a good match."

Notable: All these players were in last month's USMNT camp in Carson except for striker Brian Ching and newly-signed Philadelphia Union defender Michael Orozco.

Here's the full roster:

goalkeepers - Troy Perkins (D.C. United), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), Zach Thornton (Chivas USA)

defenders - Kevin Alston (New England Revolution), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles Galaxy), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Michael Orozco (Philadelphia Union), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)

midfielders - Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Dax McCarty (FC Dallas), Chris Pontius (D.C. United), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)

forwards - Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake)

And after his USMNT performance last month at the HDC, let's just be glad Jimmy Conrad wasn't picked again.

So this is why Harkes wrote that terribly written autobiography, "Captain for Wife, um Life."

And interesting, too, that England and the U.S. will meet this year in the nations' respective World Cup openers.

Will England's John Terry be there?

NEW YORK (AP) -- Breaking more than a decade of silence, former U.S. soccer coach Steve Sampson said Tuesday he dropped John Harkes from the national team roster two months before the 1998 World Cup because the American captain was having an affair with the wife of teammate Eric Wynalda.

Harkes has long denied having an affair with Amy Wynalda.

Wynalda brought up the situation Monday night during a discussion on "Fox Football Fone-In" about a scandal in England over an alleged relationship between current English captain John Terry and the former partner of Wayne Bridge, his teammate on the national squad.

Sampson told The Associated Press on Tuesday he was glad the story was coming out now because "maybe people will have a little better of an understanding of what happened in the final months leading up to the World Cup."

After advancing to the second round of the 1994 World Cup at home, the U.S. finished last in the 32-nation field at the 1998 tournament in France, getting shut out by Germany, then losing 2-1 to Iran and 1-0 to Yugoslavia.

"It wasn't about losing 2-0 to Germany or losing to Iran," Sampson said. "There was more to it than that that impacted I believe the outcome of this team."

Wynalda said he spoke out during the program he co-hosts on Fox Soccer Channel because he was asked about Terry, who has been front-page news since Saturday in British newspapers.

"There's a lot of similarities between what happened to us in '98 and what's happening now to England," Wynalda told the AP. "It's an unfortunate time for England, because I know how that can affect a team firsthand. Obviously, we all know how we did in the World Cup in '98."

Sampson was replaced by Bruce Arena after the tournament.

Harkes was a member of the 1990 and 1994 U.S. World Cup teams and became the regular captain before he was dropped by Sampson in a surprise move on April 14, 1998. He made 90 international appearances from 1987-90.

"I am not going to rehash the things that have happened in the past," Harkes said Tuesday in a telephone interview. "1998 was devastating to me and my family. It was hard enough not to play in the World Cup, but it was even difficult to go through that time period, the most difficult time period of my life."

Sampson said Tuesday that Roy Wegerle, another U.S. player, came to him and assistant coach Clive Charles between the Feb. 25 game at Belgium and the March 14 match against Paraguay in San Diego and said he had personal knowledge of the affair. Charles died in 2003 and Wegerle, now retired, did not return a phone call Tuesday.

In 1998, Sampson said Harkes, then 31, was dropped because the midfielder refused to play a more defensive role. Sampson also cited "leadership issues" but didn't elaborate.

Sampson, much criticized by players during the World Cup and fired after the U.S. was
eliminated, defended his decision to hide the truth. He said he discussed his decision at the time with then-U.S. Soccer Federation president Alan Rothenberg, secretary general Hank Steinbrecher and current president Sunil Gulati, a longtime member of the leadership.

"I felt that these are the kinds of issues that need to stay in the locker room and within the team and not (be) exposed to the public," Sampson said. "The private issues for me were the most serious issues. I think I could have lived with everything else and kept John on the team if it had not been for the private issues. It's one thing to have an affair outside the team. It's another to have one inside. ... There are just certain lines that one cannot cross."

Rothenberg said Tuesday he had no memory of any discussion of the matter, Gulati declined comment and Steinbrecher did not return a telephone message.

Wynalda, however, insists an affair did take place.

"I'm calling it an inappropriate relationship. It was a major contributor to why I'm no longer married," said Wynalda, a father of three who separated from his wife in 2003 and then divorced.

Wynalda said that when Sampson informed him in the spring of 1998 that he was dropping Harkes, Wynalda tried to persuade the coach to change his mind. Sampson didn't recall such a conversation, but said that doesn't mean it didn't take place.

"At that time, I felt that he was still a player that could help our cause and he was still one of the best 22 players in our country," Wynalda said.

Wynalda and Harkes played together just once after that, when called in by Arena for a January 2000 exhibition in Chile. "At that point, it was still manageable," Wynalda said.

Harkes, the U.S. college player of the year in 1987 at Virginia, was one of the first
Americans to make the move overseas, playing for Sheffield Wednesday, Derby, West Ham and Nottingham Forest in England during the 1990s. He also was among the early players in MLS, playing with D.C. United, New England and Columbus before his retirement in 2002.

Like Harkes, Wynalda was among the early U.S. players in Europe, playing for Saarbruecken and Bochum in Germany before appearing for San Jose, Miami, New England and Chicago in MLS.

Wynalda was an analyst for ESPN's soccer coverage in 2006 and 2007, and joined Fox last year.

He was appointed last month as a part-time assistant coach of the U.S. under-20 team.

Harkes also worked for ESPN's 2006 World Cup coverage and replaced Wynalda as a lead analyst for ESPN two years ago.

Now working for different networks, both are preparing for this year's World Cup. Wynalda also is writing a book.

"I've suffered quite a bit through this whole process. My healing is over, so I'm OK to talk
about it," Wynalda said.

Sampson, who plans to broadcast for Futbol de Primera radio at this year's World Cup, said he wanted people to know that he and Harkes mended their relationship in 2005 and exchanged a handshake.

"Maybe now people will have a little bit more of an understanding as to why I made such a critical decision back in 1998," Sampson said. "The last thing I wanted to do was drop John Harkes from the team because I really did believe that he was an outstanding leader on the field."

U.S. 1 Honduras 3

How to sum this one up Saturday in Carson?

Here's one way.

In general, there was way too much of this from Honduras and forward Jerry Palacios, seen here celebrating what was a sweetly taken second goal for the Central Americans (Photos by Steve McCrank).

And there was far too little of this
from the likes of second half sub Conor Casey, seen here making one of very few U.S. efforts on goal (the U.S. finished the night with all of two shots on target).

Here's another, from the always understated coach Bob Bradley:

"It wouldn't be a game where we're picking players who stood out."

Um, no.

He called the passing "poor," observed that the U.S. put itself in a "bad" position to start the game (joke your way out of that one, Jimmy Conrad) and that it was a "big task" for this particular group of (10) players to come back from behind.

And let's face it, any game where your most effective offensive threat is central defender Clarence Goodson is not going to be remembered as a vintage attacking performance.

Here's left winger Robbie Rogers, who moved to left back (a position he has practiced in the last few U.S. camps, BTW) when Jonny Bornstein moved into the middle after Conrad was sent off:

"I'm kind of bummed we started the year this way, but we'll keep our heads up, we'll keep moving forward.

"I thought we let them pass the ball, get a little bit too comfortable. It's tough when you play a team who are good technically and tactically. They can move the ball around and you're playing a man down.

Here's Rogers on why he took the 35-40 yard shot that hit the post:

"(I) just felt it. (I'm) kinda mad it went the other way. Wish it would have hit the post and went in."

Game story.

A wider view.

Check out Steve McCrank's photo gallery from the game here.

By the way, was this not the best performance by former Galaxy forward Carlos Pavon at the HDC?

For a lot of these players it will be the last time we see them in a national team camp, if previous January camps are any guide.

But some who attended, like 35-year-old former Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, back in camp for the first time since starting the first two games of 2006, at least had realistic goals while there:

"It was a great opportunity to stay in shape, stay sharp and get back in with the team. I was excited about it and had a great time."

The Wizards open preseason training Monday. Hartman was off to make a phone call to see if he needed to be there right away.

Finally, I'll leave you with this thought.

The new 2010 USMNT media guide was handed out before the game today. Among the player profiles (surprisingly) included: Schalke 04 midfielder Jermaine Jones. But it's too late for him to make the roster given his recent injuries and the lack of USMNT games before Bradley names his World Cup squad. Isn't it?

The U.S. regroups in Carson in early February with a camp before traveling to Florida for the Feb. 24 game against El Salvador.

U.S. 1 Honduras 3

This one is mercifully over (if you're a U.S. fan).

Conor Casey shooting wide in second half stoppage time with only the goalkeeper to beat pretty much summed up this poor effort.

A crowd of 18,626 - the largest to see a U.S. friendly at Home Depot Center - witnessed this one and it's hard to think of an American player who stood out tonight (although Robbie Rogers was pretty active and did hit the post).

In 2002, 13 of the players in the U.S. January camp ended up on that year's World Cup team and four years later 10 of the campers went to Germany.

Less than a handful who played in this one - perhaps Rogers, Bornstein and Feilhaber - will head to South Africa.

We'll see if Bob Bradley says anything of note in the post-game press conference.

U.S. 1 Honduras 3

The U.S. pulled a goal back in the 70th minute, Clarence Goodson heading Brad Davis' corner kick into the net at the far post.

U.S. 0 Honduras 3

Oh, dear.

An intricate three-man move inside the U.S. penalty box was finished off by the Kansas City Wizards' Roger Espinoza in the 53rd minute to give the Hondurans a comfortable three-goal cushion.

Robbie Rogers blasted a 35- to 40-yard shot off the Honduran post out of nowhere a couple of minutes before that, but he's about the only U.S. player with his shooting boots on: Sacha Kljestan and Kyle Beckerman have both shot high over the bar with ghastly efforts.

U.S. 0 Honduras 2

We'll let former U.S. National Team Coach Bruce Arena sum this one up so far:

"I think the best team is ahead," he said. "Honduras is a much more experienced team at the international level and it shows."

Stats don't always tell the complete story in soccer but this one does: The U.S. has zero shots on goal, Honduras three (the official stats say two, but I don't believe that's correct) - and, of course, they scored on two of them.

Arena, BTW, was up in the press box at half time to react to being named to the National Soccer hall of Fame.

"It's a great individual accomplishment," he said, while observing hundreds of people throughout his career helped him achieve the honor.

Updated: Central defender Clarence Goodson has come in at the half for striker Jeff Cunningham to plug the gap left by Jimmy Conrad's sending off.

U.S. 0 Honduras 2

Jerry Palacios just got on the end of a cross Carlos Pavon whipped in, connecting with a diving header from six yards in the 38th minute while central defender Chad Marshall did a fine impersonation of a statue.

Pretty goal, but the U.S. is in real danger of losing its undefeated record in January games here in Carson.

The U.S. are down a goal and down to 10 men after 19 minutes.

Captain Jimmy Conrad received a second yellow for holding a player in the box as Carlos Pavon took a shot that went over the bar. Conrad had picked up his first yellow for a midfield clip in the sixth minute that frankly looked accidental.

Pavon scored on his second effort from the spot, a low strike just inside the far post after the first was called back for some reason (encroachment, perhaps?).

U.S. Soccer announced the honor just before kickoff here in Carson.

Arena topped a Builder ballot that also included former Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid, MLS Commissioner Don Garber and D.C. United GM Kevin Payne. Arena was named on 78 percent of the ballots.

Those on the Builder ballot must have had a major impact on American soccer for at least a decade and one is elected annually.

Arena qualifies by virtue of 18 seasons at the University of Virginia that included five national championships, eight years as U.S. coach with a record of 71-30-29 and stints in MLS with three clubs, notably D.C. United, where he won two MLS Cups.

He is also a two-time MLS Coach of the Year.

Welcome to Honduras North aka Home Depot Center, Carson.

A predominantly blue and white clad crowd here tonight at the Home Depot Center.

The U.S. was roundly booed when they ran out to warm-up at about 5:25 p.m.

I'm told about 150 members of the LA Riot Squad are here tonight, which may be the largest single group of Americans in attendance.

Here's the U.S. starting XI (4-4-2): Troy Perkins, Marvell Wynne, Jonathan Bornstein, Chad Marshall, Jimmy Conrad (capt.) Benny Feilhaber, Kyle Beckerman, Sacha Kljestan, Robbie Rogers, Robbie Findley, Jeff Cunningham.

Bench options: Nick Rimando, Heath Pearce, Clarence Goodson, Brad Davis, Conor Casey, Dax McCarty, Alejandro Bedoya

No room for Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez, unfortunately.

The U.S. will wear all white tonight.

Former Galaxy striker Carlos Pavon is up front for Honduras, who will play a 3-4-3; former Chivas USA midfielder Amada Guevara is in midfield.

The game is on Fox Soccer Channel.

And there's a special announcement coming up in 20 minutes or so, stay tuned.

As of Friday about 13,000 tickets - about 75 percent of them purchased by Hondurans - had been sold for tonight's 6 o'clock friendly (live on Fox Soccer Channel) at Home Depot Center in Carson between the U.S. and the Central American nation.

A large walk-up crowd is expected so officials are urging fans to get there early. Especially more Americans.

Still, that means U.S. defender Jonathan Bornstein, right, should have plenty of fans on hand, as colleague Phil Collin points out.

I plan to blog from the game, so if you can't be at the game check back this evening for updates.

For earlier posts related to the game:

*Here's how you can buy Bornstein's boots.

*Check out Coach Bob Bradley's thoughts on tonight's opponent.

*More from goalkeeper Troy Perkins, midfielder Benny Feilhaber and others is here.

Chivas USA and U.S. international defender Jonny Bornstein is auctioning off the pair of boots he wore when he scored a goal for the U.S. on the final day of World Cup qualifying that sealed Honduras' trip to South Africa and made him a national hero in the Central American nation.

Bornstein, of Los Alamitos, has autographed the boots and put them up for sale on eBay today with 100 percent of the proceeds to go to the American Red Cross to aid in their relief efforts in Haiti.

"The devastation and suffering in Haiti is a tragedy for everyone," said Bornstein. "One of our teammates, Jozy Altidore, is the son of Haitian immigrants and still has many family members there. It's heartbreaking to see what is happening, and we hope to be able to help in any way we can."

The auction runs through Wednesday and bidding has reached $750 as I write this post.

To bid, click here..

And if you're unfamiliar with Bornstein's dramatic contribution to Honduran football history, read this from the U.S. Soccer press release:

On Oct. 14, 2009, the final day of qualifying and the end of a journey lasting nearly 18 months, the U.S. had already earned a spot in the World Cup by defeating Honduras four days earlier and was committed to winning first place in the group. In order for Honduras to qualify that day, they needed to win against El Salvador and for the U.S. to at least tie against Costa Rica.

Having secured their victory against El Salvador and watching helplessly as the U.S. trailed Costa Rica with only seconds remaining, their despair turned to incredible joy when Bornstein headed home a corner kick from Robbie Rogers to even the match at 2-2, setting off a jubilant celebration of U.S. fans at RFK Stadium and in the streets of Honduras thousands of miles away. On an emotional night for the U.S. team, the tie ensured first place in the group for the second straight cycle, and lifted Honduras into their first World Cup in 28 years.

Bornstein became an instant celebrity in Honduras, even receiving an invitation to visit through the press from the president of the country. To this day, he gets daily messages of thanks from Honduran fans. There is even a Facebook page dedicated to him called "Gracias Jonathan Bornstein.

A grab bag of Southern California-related soccer news this morning:

*The MLS off-season is over (sort of). The league permits teams to open training camp today.

Galaxy players will report to Home Depot Center Monday for physicals and fitness work in the gym, but won't hit the practice field until Feb. 1. The trio of young Brazilians GM and coach Bruce Arena signed won't be there Monday though; they're awaiting visas. Chivas USA opens camp Tuesday.

MLS clubs must be roster (and salary cap) compliant, with 20 senior players and four developmental, by March 1.

Look for the complete MLS schedule to be released in the first week of February. And as of Wednesday, players under contract in other countries may be signed by MLS clubs through April 15.

*U.S. Coach Bob Bradley was asked whether Landon Donovan playing in the EPL against English players the Americans will see in their opening World Cup game is a good thing. Um, yeah.

*Hotshot UCLA striker Sydney Leroux scored a brace and was named player of the game as the U.S. crushed Jamaica 6-0 Thursday in its opening CONCACAF qualifier for the U-20 World Cup. Game details here.

*PDL team the Ventura County Fusion will play against the Mexican Under-21 team at 7:30 tonight at Buena High School in Ventura, 5670 Telegraph Rd. Tickets are $20 adults, $10 kids under age 12. Kids under the age of six get in free.

*As always, click the link at top right for an exhaustive run-down of the weekend's games, but I'll be paying special attention to:

Chelsea-Preston North End 4:30 a.m. Saturday (FA Cup fourth round) Fox Soccer Channel

Fulham-Accrington Stanley 7 a.m. Saturday FSC (giant killing possibility?)

Leeds United-Tottenham Hotspur 9 a.m. Saturday FSC (the leaders of League 1 play an EPL outfit)

Tigres-CD Guadalajara 5 p.m. Saturday KVEA

U.S.-Honduras 6 p.m. Saturday FSC

And there's two big derbies Sunday: Inter Milan-AC Milan 11:30 a.m. on FSC and River Plate-Boca Juniors at 5 p.m. for those of you who get Fox Sports Espanol.

I'll blog from the U.S.-Honduras game Saturday so check back in then (or better yet if you're local, come on down; I suspect the U.S. could use the support).