Soccer Confederations Cup, Turkey v USA
USA manager Bruce Arena faces his toughest task yet as national team coach, that of overhauling the USA player pool as the Americans prepare for World Cup 2006 qualifying. Winning is never secondary for Arena but the overhaul process begins Thursday when USA kicks off its 2003 Confederations Cup campaign and will continue during the CONCACAF Gold Cup later next month.
The largely domestic roster is a mixture of 2002 World Cup holdovers like Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley and veteran Earnie Stewart, and players looking to make a good impression on Arena on a global stage. Chief among the newcomers is goalkeeper Tim Howard. The MetroStar has big shoes to fill in the absence of Brad Friedel and Kasey Keller.
TEAM FORM
Last Five (Most Recent First): TLLWW
Turkey have righted the ship after a black month of April in which they suffered a tough qualifying loss in England along with a humiliating friendly defeat (0-4) away to the Czech Republic. In their two games since then they have managed to take command of their qualification group by beating Slovakia and Macedonia within the span of four days.
Last Five (Most Recent First): WWDWW
USA has played seven times in 2003, winning five and losing one. In the loss a youthful American squad was over-run by a youthful Argentina. But recently Arena’s men have produced convincing wins over New Zealand and Wales, and they held Mexico to a scoreless draw.
TEAM NEWS
Many of Turkey’s biggest names have been given time off this tournament in order to recover their form or fitness. Hasan Sas, Ilhan Mansiz Hakan Sukur and Emre head this impressive list of absentees, thought the country’s hottest new star Nihat Kahveci will join up with the team once he completes his excellent season with Real Sociedad this Sunday. 18 of Turkey’s 23-man squad (including U-21 stars Huseyin Kartal, Servet Cetin, Ibrahim Toraman, Selcuk Sahin, Tuncay Sanli and Fatih Sonkaya) have been plucked from the domestic league so there will certainly be some undiscovered gems on display for anyone not familiar with the Turkish Super Liga.
With the exception of starting defender Eddie Pope who had to withdraw last week due to an injury, the Americans in France are fully healthy. With Pope sidelined the trifecta of key players who are missing is now complete as there will be no Claudio Reyna in midfield, no Brian McBride in the attack. The trio, arguably the best at the three field positions in the United States are all at home for this tournament.
LOOK OUT FOR
Turkey: Yilidiray Basturk
The burden of creativity will rest on the slender shoulders of Basturk due to the absence of some many of Turkey’s finest attackers. Bayer Leverkusen’s pint-sized ball-wizard has never been at a lack for confidence, however, and he will be looking to put on a show knowing that he will be closely watched by the likes of Arsenal.
United States: Landon Donovan
The San Jose Earthquakes forward seems like a grizzled veteran at age 21. Donovan shined at the World Cup, scoring two goals during the run to the quarterfinals. Only Oliver Kahn could prevent Donovan from leading USA to the semis. Donovan has appeared in six of USA’s seven matches in 2003 giving him 35 caps at the senior level. The 21 year-old’s versatility has made him a favorite of Arena’s, and expect Donovan to be involved thoroughly in the USA attack against Turkey.
