Nations Cup Is Missing Something : Soccer: Top Mexican players will be elsewhere for games against United States and Canada.

Soccer’s North American Nations Cup, like much of what the sport tries to promote in the northern regions of the continent, might be an idea whose time has not come.

The U.S., Mexican and Canadian federations initiated the tournament to improve relations among themselves and enhance their national teams’ schedules. But even before the first ball was kicked at the inaugural event last year in Vancouver, there was disharmony because the United States, preparing for its first World Cup appearance in 40 years, did not send its best team.

This time, the Mexicans have decided they have a higher priority.

While many of their best players are in Buenos Aires for Wednesday’s exhibition against Argentina, a young, largely untested Mexican team will be at the Coliseum for tonight’s game against the United States and Thursday night’s game against Canada. Both games are scheduled for 8 p.m. In the finale, the United States and Canada will play Saturday at 1 p.m. at El Camino College in Torrance.

Inarguably, it would be better for the tournament’s credibility if Mexico’s best team were in Los Angeles. Perhaps not so obvious, the United States’ interim coach, John Kowalski, said it also would be better for his team.

“I’d rather play against their big names,” Kowalski said after Monday’s workout at the Coliseum. “Maybe they would feel they’re established and don’t have anything to prove. But I expect these players to have a lot of desire. They are young players who want to impress their coach.”

In order to win tonight, the Mexicans will have to play with more resolve than Olimpia of Paraguay did in Saturday’s 2-0 loss to the United States at Tampa, Fla. Olimpia’s coach complained afterward that his team played at about 30% of its capability.

Olimpia’s players no doubt were stunned to discover a U.S. team that, for a change, was hitting on most of its cylinders. There was nothing to suggest from recent results that the United States was prepared to win, or even score, against the South American club champion. The United States had not scored in its past six games.

In retrospect, however, the upset was almost predictable.

After the last shutout, a 1-0 loss to Bermuda Feb. 21, Coach Bob Gansler resigned. That ended months of speculation about whether he would be retained by the U.S. Soccer Federation. The players relaxed.

“The team often reflects the attitude of the coach,” U.S. assistant coach Joe Machnick said. “The players could feel the pressure that was on Bob. So they played like they were under pressure. But with John here, there’s no pressure. They know he’s the interim coach.”

Kowalski, the coach at Robert Morris College, said he could take no credit for the victory.

“I had this team for three days before the game,” he said. “How much can you do?

“I just told them to go out and play. We didn’t play a system; we played a game. Everybody had the green light. It was spontaneous.”

Kowalski said he believes his team will be particularly motivated for tonight’s game. Yugoslav Bora Milutinovic, who is expected to be named the U.S. national coach, arrived in Los Angeles Monday to meet with federation President Alan Rothenberg and plans to attend.

“Our players want to show him what they can do,” Kowalski said.