U.S. men

Reyna absent from otherwise healthy American roster chosen to face Germany March 27.

(Wednesday, March 20, 2002) -- Though injured midfielder and captain Claudio Reyna was not included on the roster for the United States’ upcoming March 27 friendly at Germany, coach Bruce Arena is encouraged by the present medical report.

Other than Reyna, the only American missing because of injury is Josh Wolff because of a sore right shoulder. "This is about the healthiest we've been in a long time," Arena said.

Reyna, who aggravated a right hamstring injury two weeks ago while playing for Sunderland in England’s Premier League was not selected for the match in Rostock, Germany which will be played at 2:30 p.m. (ET) and televised on tape delay at 10 p.m on ESPN and 11:30 p.m by Telemundo.

Arena said his star could have gone if it was necessary. "Claudio may be available for his game this weekend with Sunderland, but when we look at the big picture, for a player that’s been out a number of weeks it’s not worth the risk," he said. "If he has to, he could’ve probably played with us against Germany, but that’s maybe pushing him too hard too early when we’re thinking about the fact that he’s just coming back from an injury."

Reyna has been plagued with injuries for the past year, bruising his right knee with Glasgow Rangers in Scotland late in 2001 and then his left ankle January 1 after joining Sunderland.

"I'm confident Claudio will be ready for the World Cup," Arena said.

Twelve of the 20 players selected are based in Europe, including defender Cory Gibbs, 22, a Brown University product making his first appearance in a national team camp. Playing for St. Pauli which resides at the bottom of the German Bundesliga. Gibbs, a graduate of U.S. youth national teams, is unlikely to play.

"Basically, I want to look at him in person," Arena said. "I saw him as an (under-20) and saw a tape of him playing in Germany. He has a way to go, he’s a young defender, but it makes sense when we are playing in Germany to bring in as many of our German players as we can."

Six matches remain before the World Cup, which runs May 31 to June 30 in South Korea and Japan, and three games until Arena choose his 23-man roster for the quadrennial tournament. Arena said this week that he pretty much knows who 20 of those players are, but has kept that to himself and his coaching staff.

For this game, Kasey Keller will be in goal, but that is not indication he has an edge over Brad Friedel for the starting position. Keller is not playing for Tottenham Hotspur while Friedel is an essential element for Premier League rival Blackburn Rovers.

"We planned all along to play Kasey.," Arena said. "Blackburn is traveling to (the United Arab mirates) and it doesn’t make send to bring him in when he’d be in a backup role. Once this trip came up for Blackburn, at the club’s request, we decided to let him stay with them."

One player whose performance against Germany could determine whether he goes to the World Cup is defender Steve Cherundolo who is competing for the right back position. "I am thinking of starting him for this game," Arena said. "I haven’t seen Steve play this year, as I mentioned, but I know he’s been playing consistently for his club team (Hannover 96 which leads Germany’s second division). Whether this game will build into something that turns into a starting role, we don’t know. Steve is still at a point where he’s fighting for a spot on the roster. He’s had a good year this year and I know what kind of player he is. He’s got a pretty solid shot at making this roster."

At 6-1-1, the U.S. is off to the best start ever of a calendar year, thanks mostly to a strong defense which has posted six shutouts and conceded two goals while the Americans have scored 14. "You tend to give a lot of credit when there is a shutout to the back four and goalkeeper," Arena said. "It has been a total team effort, from the forwards back, that has made it a lot easier for our back four and goalkeeper."

The U.S. defeated Germany in its last two meetings, both in 1999, by scores of 2-0 and 3-0.

Managing editor Gary Davidson can be e-mailed at editor@soccertimes.com.