U.S. Soccer Team Faces Norway Today in Phoenix

The U.S. national soccer team plays its first game of the year today, meeting the national team of Norway at Arizona State’s Sun Devil Stadium.

Norway led Europe’s Group 2 in World Cup qualifying, beating England and the Netherlands. Norway was drawn into tough Group E for this summer’s World Cup. The New York-based group includes Italy, Ireland and Mexico.

Norway is expected to start eight of its English-based players, including goalkeeper Erik Thorsvedt (Tottenham Hotspur), defender Henning Berg (Blackburn Rovers) and striker Jostein Flo (Sheffield United).

Brad Friedel is expected to start in goal for the U.S. team, which will also have the services of Claudio Reyna, the collegiate player of the year. Reyna, a 1992 Olympian, recently led Virginia to its third consecutive title, and might be used as a second-half substitute.