Chicago anyone?

[AreliusII]

England Includes Crouch in Weakened Squad for U.S. Soccer Tour
May 12 (Bloomberg) -- England soccer coach Sven-Goran Eriksson today named an understrength squad for this month's tour to the U.S., selecting Southampton striker Peter Crouch for the first time and calling up Tottenham midfielder Michael Carrick and Liverpool goalkeeper Scott Carson.

England is scheduled to play the U.S. national team for the first time since 1994 on May 28 at Soldier Field, Chicago. Eriksson's side then travels to Giants Stadium in New Jersey for a match against Colombia three days later.

Crouch and Carrick were named after players withdrew because of injury, club commitments or the need to rest. The first game is a week after England's F.A. Cup final between Manchester United and Arsenal, and three days after Liverpool plays A.C. Milan in the Champions League final. United manager Alex Ferguson and Arsenal's Arsene Wenger have questioned the need for the tour, while Eriksson may not get another chance to look at new players before next year's World Cup in Germany.

``This is a great platform for some of the Premier League's bright young stars who have yet to become established in the England team,'' said Adrian Bevington, a spokesman for the English Football Association.

England tops its World Cup qualifying group after six of 10 matches. Without the tour, Eriksson would only have had three days with the national team before naming his squad for the tournament, Bevington said.

Crouch was selected in the absence of forwards such as Manchester United's Wayne Rooney, 19.

Late Arrivals

Rooney will miss both matches to rest at the request of Ferguson, while Real Madrid's Michael Owen will join up for the Colombia game after completing the Spanish league season. England captain David Beckham, also of Madrid, will do the same.

Crouch, 6-foot-7, has 16 goals in 33 appearances for Southampton this season, nine of them as a substitute. Carrick returns after making his second appearance for England against the Netherlands in 2001 and leaving West Ham to join Tottenham.

Carson, who joined Liverpool in January and is the Reds' second-choice goalkeeper behind Jerzy Dudek, receives an opportunity in the absence of Paul Robinson of Tottenham.

Crystal Palace striker Andy Johnson has another chance after appearing as a winger on his debut against the Netherlands in February. Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing was also called up after a first appearance against the Dutch.

No Rio

Rooney's United teammate Rio Ferdinand, a defender, was also omitted because Ferguson said he has a knee problem.

Ferdinand missed the first month of the season while completing a ban for missing a drug test and has played in 12 straight matches for United, including the full 90 minutes in a 3- 1 loss to Chelsea two days ago.

Other absentees include Liverpool's Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, Frank Lampard and John Terry of Premiership champion Chelsea, Newcastle's Keiron Dyer and Nicky Butt and Robinson. Bayern Munich's Owen Hargreaves will feature in the second game after the German season ends.

According to the Daily Mail and Independent, England's Premier League is seeking greater influence over the national team, which is run by the F.A., the national ruling body.

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore has submitted a report to a commission looking into the F.A.'s structure saying ``trust is lacking in the game at every level.''

England has won five and lost two of its seven matches against the U.S., avenging a 2-0 loss in Boston in 1993 with victory by the same score in London a year later. England has beaten Colombia twice, most recently at the 1998 World Cup, and drawn twice in four meetings.



FULL SQUAD
Robert Green Norwich City
Scott Carson Liverpool
David James Manchester City
Sol Campbell Arsenal
Matthew Upson Birmingham City
Wes Brown Manchester United
Gary Neville Manchester United
Ashley Cole Arsenal
Phil Neville Manchester United
Glen Johnson Chelsea
Jermaine Jenas Newcastle United
Stewart Downing Middlesbrough
David Beckham Real Madrid
Michael Carrick Tottenham Hotspur
Joe Cole Chelsea
Owen Hargreaves Bayern Munich
S. Wright-Phillips Manchester City
Alan Smith Manchester United
Michael Owen Real Madrid
Peter Crouch Southampton
Andy Johnson Crystal Palace
Jermain Defoe Tottenham Hotspur
To contact the reporter on this story:
Ryan Mills in London at at rmills5 [at] bloomberg.net.

[Stucki]

Not the best to represent the 3 Lions, but still a strong squad. May they be crushed by the Stars and Stripes.

[Aerick]

Originally Posted by AreliusII

... Crouch, 6-foot-7 ...

Holy Crap!!!! That's a big dude!

[Stucki]

You should see him play, he looks like Shawn Bradley towering over people. Okay like Bradley did when he still actually got any playing time.

[theholmes]

With all those missing, this should be a huge opportunity for little Joe Cole to shine. He's come on fire the last part of the season. I have never seen an Englishman keep a ball on his foot like Joe can. (Spaniards, Argentines for sure, but English?) Pablo Mastroeni and/or Chris Armas are going to have a handfull.

[AreliusII]

http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=169301&itype=&iCategoryID=0

U.S. Soccer To Host Coaches Symposium in Conjunction With U.S. MNT Game vs. England on May 27-28

5/12/05 6:18 PM


‘A’ Licensed Coaches May Earn Up To Two CEUs;
Registration Includes Ticket to Match at Soldier Field

CHICAGO (April 21, 2005) – U.S. Soccer will host a Coaches Symposium for May 27-28 in Chicago in conjunction with the U.S. Men’s National Team match against England on May 28 at Soldier Field. Highlights of the symposium include the opportunity to observe a Men’s National Team training session prior to the match and attend a “Chalk Talk” with U.S. MNT assistant coach Glenn Myernick.

National Staff Coach Roberto Lopez will lead the symposium, which begins on May 27 with a Check-in and Orientation session at 3 p.m. CT at Soldier Field. After the orientation session, coaches will attend the Men’s National Team’s training session at Soldier Field. Saturday morning kicks off at 9 a.m. with an “Under-17 Transition Model Training Session” headed by Lopez. The session is a model of a U-17 Men's National Team Program training session when discussing transitioning between offense and defense. The morning session will be followed by a break and then a “Chalk Talk” with Men’s National Team assistant coach Glenn Myernick at Noon on the U.S. vs. England scouting report.

Registration cost is $50 for members of the U.S. Soccer Coaching Organization and $60 for non-members. “A” Licensed coaches will receive up to two Continuing Education Units for attending. Cost is $60 for other coaches wishing to attend the symposium. Registration includes a ticket to Saturday’s match between the U.S. and England and registration is open to all coaches.

The symposium concludes with the match between the U.S. and England, who meet for the first time in the U.S. since June 9, 1993, when they faced each other in Foxboro, Mass. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. CT and coaches will be dismissed from the symposium at the end of the game.

Questions regarding the symposium can be directed to the U.S. Soccer Coaching Department at coaches [at] ussoccer.org or 312-808-1300.

*Download a registration form here

Tentative Symposium Schedule

Friday, May 27
1:45 p.m. Check-in & Orientation at Soldier Field – Roberto Lopez, Men's National Staff Coach
Soldier Field -- Gate 14
2 - 3:30 p.m. U.S. National Team Training at Soldier Field
Soldier Field Stands
3:30 p.m. Post-Training Talk -- Bruce Arena, MNT Coach
Soldier Field Stands

Saturday, May 28
9 - 10:30 a.m. “U-17 Qualifying” - John Hackworth
Soldier Field -- Temple Gate Room
12 p.m. “Chalk Talk” with Glenn Myernick, MNT Assistant Coach
Soldier Field -- Temple Gate Room
2 p.m. US MNT vs. England (Soldier Field)
Soldier Field
2:45 p.m. Half-time Report -- Roberto Lopez, Men's NSC
Soldier Field Stands
3:45 p.m. Post-Game Report -- Roberto Lopez, Men's NSC
Soldier Field -- Temple Gate Room

* Schedule subject to change

Fee Schedule
Coaches Organization Members $50
Non-member $60