into the top spot in the region in World Cup qualifying. Two early goals carry the Ticos to a 3-1 victory, helping Costa Rica leapfrog the U.S.
It's prophetic - not because of the fans but because of how the Americans would play. The morning of the match, the headline in one San Jose newspaper reads "Welcome to Your Nightmare." team plays in an environment such as Costa Rica's famed Saprissa Stadium, where the ceiling tiles shake in the visitors' locker room. The message is clear: Security is tight, especially when the U.S. So what if somebody comes on our floor? Would you shoot them?" Tucked into the holster against his hip is a black revolver. The guard speaks little English but understands. He wants to know whether the guy is packing. But 19-year-old Altidore, his hands stuffed with five packs of chewing gum, is curling his toes around a soccer ball and flicking it back and forth to the guard. Fewer players roam the halls or leave their doors open. A day earlier, after teammate Pablo Mastroeni, a midfielder, told Donovan it would be easier to play if he trimmed his nails, Donovan instantly walked out of the room to find the clippers. Landon Donovan is especially addicted to making music. So they play cards, watch movies, surf the Internet, solve crosswords or practice the guitar. Even in the Switzerland of Central America, the players could be targets. State Department security official has told the team not to leave the hotel, not to wander to the mall across the street or the Hooters down the road. Searching for life's fast-forward button.Ī U.S. Instead, Altidore, a forward, casually strolls the players' hallway at the hotel, passing a soccer ball back and forth with the security guard assigned to the floor. But for now, Jozy Altidore isn't worrying whether Costa Rican fans will pelt the team with batteries or hurl plastic bags filled with blood or urine. national team enters hell's pitch and the whistle blows. "How quickly can you let go mentally, physically and tactically of what you do with your club team and pick up where you left off with the national team? The sooner everyone figures that out, the better off we'll be." "It's the biggest challenge we face every time we get together," says midfielder Landon Donovan.
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Then there's defender Jonathan Bornstein, who forgot his passport in Los Angeles and needed early-morning assists from FedEx and a manic Miami cab driver to make the flight.īut now, finally, they're all together as they begin the process of quickly rediscovering the on- and off-the-field chemistry it will take to beat Costa Rica, one of the toughest opponents in their region. By the time it's all over, yeah, we very well might be sick of each other."Īlthough 11 members of the 23-man travel squad have been around for a five-day training camp, others such as goalkeeper Tim Howard and midfielder Benny Feilhaber arrived just in time to meet the chartered flight at Miami International. "It's always good to see everybody and catch up," says Bocanegra, the captain and a defender. Each day will bring another opportunity to improve, another chance to prepare for the ultimate goal: the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, which begins June 11. There will be good days and bad, inspiring victories, disappointing defeats, and physical, mental and emotional exhaustion.
The players and coaches know what's ahead: World Cup qualifiers in hostile territory, Confederations Cup matches against the greatest teams in the world, and defense of the team's 20 Gold Cup championships. men's national soccer team hasn't been together in 61 days, since its April World Cup qualifier against Trinidad and Tobago, but the 2½-hour flight from Miami to Costa Rica marks the beginning of a summerlong world tour that will feature 14 matches on three continents and in four time zones. Carlos Bocanegra watches "The Tudors." Pablo Mastroeni works the USA Today crossword puzzle, and Oguchi Onyewu leans his head against the airplane's body and sleeps. The jet has just taken off, barely climbed into the thick, puffy clouds when Bob Bradley pulls out a laptop and begins watching video of the team his players will face in less than two days, Costa Rica.Ī few rows back, Charlie Davies and Clint Dempsey play computer chess.
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