Bruce Arena Field Quotations

The naming of this 23-man roster is the end of a long and arduous process. Today, a new journey begins as we start final preparations for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. As usual, we will not make any bold statements or predictions. However, I can assure everyone that the team that steps on the field on June 12 against the Czech Republic will be a team that all Americans will be proud of.

Obviously we look forward to the game for a couple of reasons. Mexico is certainly and arguably our biggest rival in CONCACAF and that always makes for a good game. More importantly, any kind of positive result for the U.S. qualifies us for the next World Cup and that's been our objective since June of 2004. We obviously look forward to the game. We love playing in Columbus. We anticipate a great crowd, and one that's very supportive of the U.S. team. I'm confident we're going to field a strong team and play well.

We've been together as a group for a long time, and I think the group that we get on the field on Sunday is going to do fine. I expect that, I see it out of these guys every day in training, so hopefully it carries over on the field on Sunday.

As usual, we will not make any bold statements or predictions. However, I can assure everyone that the team that steps on the field on June 12 against the Czech Republic will be a team all Americans will be proud of.

We've got a bunch of guys in Europe as well as in MLS who want these opportunities to show that they belong on our next World Cup team. So we're going to put a pretty good team on the field for the next three games.

We realize that the respect that the Americans have at this point in time is small. Everything we earn, we have to earn on the field and that's fair enough.

I think the first half we were a little sloppy in different parts of the field, but I think in the second half we were much more solid. Obviously, we could have scored more goals.

I think the field conditions made it difficult for both teams. These games tend to be games of mistakes, because there's going to be a lot of technical errors on the field and the sloppy surface. I think both teams did well in that regard.

Our challenge is a pretty great one. This time around, I like our team on paper better than 2002, but you don't win games on paper. On the field is how the teams will be judged. ... With a good training camp, good preparation games and the right mental approach, this will be a team that will challenge anybody in the World Cup.

I like the fact that we're not playing at altitude (as in Mexico City), and Columbus is as good a venue as we can select. We have no excuses. We need to step on the field and win.

We have no excuses. We're playing at home. We're playing in a stadium we like. We need to step on the field and win the game.

I am happy that these next two games we're going to give them a chance to get on the field and show us what they can do. Our next game is vitally important for our opponent. If our guys can respond well on that game that speaks volumes for them.

He's a leader on the field and off.

With a good training camp, good preparation games and the right mental approach, our team will be a team that's going to challenge anybody on the field in this World Cup.