Galaxy Players Think Big
The hangover of winning a championship can sometimes linger longer than a team would like.
But for five Galaxy players who helped the team to the MLS Cup, Major League Soccer’s top prize, in November, the new year has brought into focus the work that is ahead.
Much of it though, at least for the time being, has little to do with the Galaxy and everything to do with the United States men’s national team.
Galaxy players involved range from Landon Donovan, a national team stalwart, to Ugo Ihemelu, a wide-eyed 22-year-old, with veteran goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, moderately experienced defender Chris Albright and potential up-and-comer Todd Dunivant completing the mix.
All five are in national team camp at the Home Depot Center, although Albright recently had knee surgery and could be sidelined until the end of February.
They are part of a group of 27 mostly MLS players seeking one of possibly 10 remaining spots on Coach Bruce Arena’s roster of 23 for this summer’s World Cup in Germany. Most of the national team’s top players are based in Europe.
“Sometimes players come in here and they feel like they have to do something different or they have to make changes,” said Donovan, a veteran of the 2002 World Cup and 73 national team appearances. “But the reason you’re here is because Bruce saw you with your club team and he likes the way you play.”
For Hartman, who made his first appearance for the U.S. in 2000 against Jamaica and has three caps, this camp represents a chance to earn one of three goalkeeper spots on the World Cup roster.
Veteran Kasey Keller, who plays for Borussia Moenchengladbach in the German Bundesliga, will be the U.S. starter. Some say Marcus Hahnemann, who plays for Reading in England’s first division, could have the edge at No. 2 -- Tim Howard, a backup for Manchester United, is another possibility -- leaving one spot open.
“Kasey’s obviously going to take one of the spots, but the other two, I would hope that Bruce would take at least one MLS goalkeeper,” Hartman said. “Whether that works out or not is beyond me.”
Competing with Hartman are Matt Reis of the New England Revolution, Brad Guzan of Chivas USA and Zach Wells of Houston.
“I just want to work as hard as I possibly can, get fit for the year and if I get opportunities, to make sure I show as well as I possibly can,” said Hartman, 31, the all-time MLS leader in goals-against average at 1.16. “Hopefully I’ll be in [Arena’s] mind when he makes those decisions.”
For a player such as Ihemelu, who completed his rookie season after being drafted in the first round from Southern Methodist, the spotlight of the national team can be intimidating.
“Everybody said the intensity would be different, but it’s a lot more intense than I thought it would be and a lot faster,” he said. “It’s hard. I’m not going to lie. It’s tough. I try not to stress over it too much because there’s a lot of great players in front of me.”
Ihemelu played in 25 games for the Galaxy last season but is in his first national team camp.
Another newcomer to the national stage is Dunivant, a teammate of Donovan for the last three seasons, two of which were in San Jose with the Earthquakes.
He has never played for the national team, but Dunivant has been in camp before and he has an important asset -- he’s a natural left-sided defender.
“Left back is a thin spot, not just on this team but all over the world,” Dunivant said. “That’s a niche that hopefully I can kind of fill. I’m going to take it one step at a time, try to make the friendlies and see how that goes. And if I do well and things fall right, you never know.”
Arena announced Tuesday that he would keep all 27 players in camp the rest of the month as they prepare for games today in San Diego against Canada and Jan. 29 at the Home Depot Center against Norway, so players such as Hartman, Dunivant and Ihemelu will continue to get chances to impress. The U.S. also plays Japan on Feb. 10 in San Francisco and Guatemala on Feb. 19 in Frisco, Texas, and will select an 18-player roster for each game.
Donovan is another story. As the team’s senior member in camp -- he will turn 24 in March -- his roster spot for Germany is assured. Not that he’ll allow such a mentality to enter his mind.
“I don’t want to be the guy that comes in thinking that my spot’s secure,” he said. “I want to show an example. I think that’s important for me. It brings my level up and I think it’s going to help me throughout the year.”
Whatever happens with the national team, the players agree that the time spent together in camp can only help the Galaxy, which begins preparing for the season Monday. The Galaxy plays host to South Korea in a friendly Feb. 8.
“That’s going to help a ton,” Donovan said of the month of training. “Just the confidence you gain from being here.”
Said Dunivant: “It’s great for us, it’s great for the team because we come back and we can hopefully carry some of that intensity right over to the Galaxy.”
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The facts
What -- International soccer friendly.
* Who -- United States vs Canada.
* Where -- Torero Stadium, University of San Diego.
* When -- 5 p.m.
* Update -- This is the first of 10 preparatory matches the U.S. will play before leaving for Germany in June to compete in the 2006 World Cup. Three U.S. players from the 27 in camp have been sidelined by injury -- Galaxy defender Chris Albright, Colorado Rapids defensive midfielder Pablo Mastroeni and New England Revolution winger Steve Ralston. Canada Coach Frank Yallop has selected a team built around players on their winter break from club teams in Scandinavia and domestic players from minor leagues in Canada. The U.S. is 11-8-8 against the Canadians since 1925 but is 6-0-5 over the last 20 years.
* Tickets -- (619) 260-7550
-- GRAHAME L. JONES
