US coach keeps cards close to chest for Czech opener

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, May 23: Coach Bruce Arena said it was too early to speculate on who would make the United States line-up for their World Cup opener against the Czech Republic on June 12.

Arena's team plays three friendlies in the next six days before departing for Germany, and he insisted it was premature to predict the team to face the powerful Czechs in their Group E opener in Gelsenkirchen.

''I'm not working on my line-up for the Czech game,'' Arena told reporters before today's meeting with Morocco.

''We have a game tomorrow against Morocco. Maybe we'll all get hit by a bus after the game tomorrow. I'm not working on the line-up for the Czech Republic, that's God's honest truth.'' The US plays Venezuela on Friday in Cleveland, Ohio, before a tune-up against Latvia on Sunday in East Hartford, Connecticut. The team departs for Germany on June 1 and will be based in Hamburg.

''You (media) must think I'm insane, but I'm not looking at it that way. I will worry about the opening game later, it's way too early. A lot of stuff happens between now and the finals.'' On Sunday, the US wrapped up a 12-day training camp in Cary, North Carolina, with all 23 players declared fit to play.

Eddie Lewis, who played Sunday in Leeds United's 3-0 defeat to Watford in the playoff final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, probably won't play today, but is expected to play a prominent role in the finals at either left back or on the left side of midfield.

Injury-plagued midfielder John O'Brien, who has played only 12 times for club and country since 2002, is another key member of the US squad who is relishing the opportunity to see some action.

''I'm feeling pretty good now, but I'll just have to see how it goes in a real game.'' O'Brien was one of three players to play every minute of the 2002 finals where he scored the Americans' opening goal in a 3-2 win over Portugal.

With Claudio Reyna potentially shifting to a holding midfield role, O'Brien could find himself directing the US attack, but as if a gag order was put on the team, O'Brien would not comment on his status for the Morocco match.

''Everyone's in the team, but as far as the starting line-up, who knows?'' he joked. ''I'm just hoping to see some action in at least two of the three games.'' The US will play Angola in a closed-doors match on June 5 in Hamburg.

After the Czech Republic, they face other Group E rivals Italy on June 17 in Kaiserslautern and Ghana on June 22 in Nuremburg.

REUTERS