Galaxy’s Pena Snubs U.S. Team, Drawing Criticism From Sampson

Steve Sampson, coach of the United States national soccer team, Tuesday was “angry and disappointed” that Galaxy midfielder Danny Pena had refused a call-up to the national team.

Pena, 29, was one of four Galaxy players selected to take part in Thursday’s match between the United States and Ecuador at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, but he declined the invitation.

“Nowhere else in the world would that take place,” Sampson said. “It’s such an honor to be called up and you never know when you’ll be called up again.

“It was an opportunity for him to show what he could do at the international level.

“I’m angry, I’m disappointed and I think it’s unfortunate because there are not that many more opportunities between now and the World Cup [in France next summer] to show what you can do.

“This hampers his international career substantially.”

Pena cited the Galaxy’s battle for a Major League Soccer Western Conference playoff berth and its CONCACAF Cup of Champions quarterfinal match against Luis Angel Firpo of El Salvador on Aug. 13 as reasons for his decision.

Galaxy defenders Robin Fraser and Greg Vanney accepted Sampson’s invitation and began training with the team earlier this week. Also, Galaxy striker Eduardo Hurtado joined the Ecuador squad in preparation for the game, the U.S. team’s final warmup before its World Cup ’98 qualifying match against Costa Rica on Sept. 7 at Portland, Ore.