Sampson Experiments in 4-0 Victory

If only it were really this easy.

The United States scored its first victory in France on Tuesday, sweeping aside French Second Division team Gueugnon, 4-0, on goals by Brian McBride, Cobi Jones, Brian Maisonneuve and Ernie Stewart.

The match in Trevoux was the final warmup for the Americans before they play European champion Germany in Paris on Monday in the opening World Cup game for both teams.

“Maybe all that finishing work is starting to pay off,” Coach Steve Sampson said.

Sampson used the game to try to build some depth into the team at various positions. He said he was pleased by the performance of everyone who took part.

“I was very surprised at the work rate of Frankie Hejduk,” he said. “I thought he did very well for 45 minutes. Obviously, he’s nowhere close to being 90-minutes fit [because of a hamstring injury], but he’s certainly 45-minutes fit. I was very pleased with the directness of his play and his ability to get in behind the defense.

“I played Mike Burns as a marking back and as a wide player in midfield, and he did very well in both positions.

“I had a chance to look at Tab Ramos and Joe-Max Moore both as defensive midfielders. I would say both did very well in those positions, especially Tab in his ability to find people over distance and Joe-Max’s ability to play-make from a deep position.

“Brian McBride had a good 45 minutes and played as well as he did, if not better, than against Macedonia [in San Jose on May 16]. And this time he finished, with a goal in the first 45 minutes.

“So I played a number of different people in different positions to provide us with depth for the tournament and I think it was very successful.”

Only two players did not play. Midfielder Chad Deering was sidelined because of a sore ankle that needs an additional 24 hours rest. Defender Marcelo Balboa has two infected toes, for which he has been given antibiotics.

The U.S. team will remain at its base at the Chateau de Pizay in Saint-Jean D’Ardieres near Lyon before traveling to Paris on Saturday.

The only unusual incident Tuesday occurred when an Argentine television crew had to be chased away after it was spotted filming the match through a fence.