Regis Is Now Trying to Be National Asset

Four days. That’s all the time David Regis has had to accept being an American.

The idea perhaps won’t sink in until the Martinique-born Regis (pronounced Reggie, as in Reggie Jackson) enters the locker room at Portland’s Civic Stadium this morning and is handed a U.S. national team jersey.

That’s when the butterfly dance will begin in the pit of his stomach, when his hands will feel clammy and his nerves will be on edge.

Then again, perhaps not.

Regis, 29, is an experienced player, with several professional seasons behind him in France and Germany. That he received his American citizenship only last Wednesday, and that he has 90 minutes or less this afternoon to prove he belongs on the U.S. World Cup team might not bother him at all.

In its next-to-last warm-up game before leaving for France, the U.S. plays Kuwait in a 12:30 p.m. match that is both an audition for Regis and a chance for several other players to solidify starting roles.

Strikers Brian McBride and Eric Wynalda, for instance, have something to prove.

Wynalda, the United States’ all-time leading scorer, is coming off knee surgery, has missed several games and needs to regain his sharpness before the World Cup opener against Germany on June 15.

He has only games today and next Saturday against Scotland in Washington to do so.

McBride, who narrowly missed a handful of scoring opportunities in a 0-0 tie against Macedonia in San Jose last Saturday, is coming off a concussion suffered an hour into that game.

“I had headaches until Wednesday,” McBride said Saturday, adding that team doctors had not allowed him to head the ball until Friday.

Coach Steve Sampson knows goals will be difficult to come by in France, and the status of his two strikers is of prime concern.

“He’s progressing every day,” Sampson said of Wynalda. “We’re starting to see the liveliness and enthusiasm of the old Eric Wynalda in training, but I have to say it’s still up in the air how much playing time he’s going to get [today].

“I think the true Eric Wynalda will come to the surface. He desperately wants to make a statement in this World Cup, and I trust that he will do everything possible to prepare himself to do just that.

“With a proven goal-scorer, we’re going to give it as much time as possible. There’s no question that Eric will remain on this team.”

McBride needs to rediscover his scoring touch.

“He could have done wonders for himself if he scored a few goals against Macedonia,” Sampson said. “So the jury is still out.”

McBride’s status, at least as a starter, is far from secure, even though he played exceptionally well in the 3-0 victory over Austria in Vienna last month. Sampson, somewhat bizarrely, has even considered Roy Lassiter, a national team player not included among the 21 already named to the 22-player World Cup squad.

Midfielder Tab Ramos became the 21st selection in midweek, with Regis expected to be the 22nd. But Lassiter’s six goals in as many games for Major League Soccer’s D.C. United has caught Sampson’s attention.

“There is always the option of bringing in someone like a Roy Lassiter, who is scoring a lot of goals, in exchange for the third goalkeeper,” Sampson said. “That option is open to me until June 2 [when official rosters have to be submitted to FIFA].”

Later, however--and much to No. 3 goalkeeper Juergen Sommer’s relief--Sampson discounted any such move. Of course, he might change his mind again if the goals don’t come today against Kuwait.

Kuwait is supposed to provide the U.S. with some sense of how it will feel to play against Iran on June 21 in Lyon. The last time the teams met was June 27, 1992, when the U.S. won, 3-1, in Zaragoza, Spain, during the Barcelona Olympics.

A similar score today would take the pressure off the American strikers going into a much tougher game against Scotland, which tied Colombia, 2-2, at East Rutherford, N.J., on Saturday.

In the meantime, the focus will remain on Regis, whose very limited English and unfamiliarity with his newfound countrymen and teammates might limit his role.

By Saturday, Sampson had not decided whether to start him or to bring him into the game later. The latter choice appeared more likely.

In Regis’ favor is the fact that he can play several defensive positions, either as a sweeper, a marking back or a defensive midfielder. That he is naturally left-footed makes him especially valuable on a team that lacks left-sided defensive players.

In a back line that occasionally looks disconnected, he could become the French connection.

Wait, he’s an American now. Has been for four days.