U.S. men

Mastroeni injures left quadriceps, will miss 6-8 weeks; game with Guatemala set.

World Cup veteran Pablo Mastroeni will miss six-to-eight weeks after tearing his left quadriceps in a training drill. -- U.S. Soccer web site photo --

CARSON, Calif. (Tuesday, January 10, 2005) -- Midfielder Pablo Mastroeni suffered a serious leg injury in the United States men's training session today and will be out for six-to-eight weeks.

During a crossing drill, Mastroeni, a 2002 World Cup veteran and member of Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids, tore his left quadriceps.

Kansas City Wizards midfielder Kerry Zavagnin was called to replace him in camp, where 28 players are working out in preparation for a series of friendly matches leading up to this summer's World Cup in Germany.

Mastroeni, 29, has appeared 43 times for the U.S. men, playing in 11 matches in 2005. He appeared in nine of 18 of the World Cup qualifying matches in 2004 and 2005.

Earlier, four MLS players originally invited to camp -- goalkeeper Jonny Walker (MetroStars), defender Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), and midfielders Justin Mapp (Chicago Fire) and Ricardo Clark (Houston) left camp with injuries. Midfielder Chris Klein (Kansas City) and keeper Zach Wells (MetroStars) were summoned as replacements.

The U.S. Soccer Federation announced today the addition of a friendly against Guatemala February 19 at the new Pizza Hut Park, FC Dallas' home in Frisco, Tex.

The U.S. opens the 2006 schedule by hosting Canada January 22 at Torero Stadium in San Diego. Seven days later, the Americans take on Norway at Home Depot Center.

Next comes the second-ever meeting with Japan February 10 at SBC Park in San Francisco.

The Americans will use almost exclusively MLS players for all the games in January and February. Defender Heath Pearce, who plays for FC Nordsjælland in Denmark, is the only foreign-based player currently in camp.

There are two scheduled friendlies in Europe to give Americans playing overseas warm-up matches before the World Cup. The U.S. will take on Poland in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on March 1 and visit World Cup host Germany in Dortmund on March 22.

The U.S. men are preparing for their fifth straight World Cup appearance. The Americans open the first round against the Czech Republic June 12 at Gelsenkirchen, play Italy five days later at Kaiserslautern, then take on Ghana June 22 at Nuremberg to close Group E.

Forwards (6): Brian Ching (Houston), Nate Jaqua (Chicago Fire), Eddie Johnson (FC Dallas), Chris Rolfe (Chicago), Taylor Twellman (New England), Josh Wolff (Kansas City).

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