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Adu practices with US national team
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-06 10:25
CARSON, Calif. - Freddy Adu remembers the day he found out he had earned a
shot at making this year's U.S. World Cup roster.
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Wearing a U.S.
soccer team practice jersey, Freddy Adu, 16, talks with reporters after a
training session for the U.S. men's national soccer team.
[AP]
| "I actually saved that e-mail,"
he said, smiling. "It was so exciting for me."
The 16-year-old is among 28 players who reported this week to the national
team's first training camp of the year. Adu, who had never been invited to
practice with the national team before, ran and went through shooting drills
Thursday during the first full day of workouts, then played a scrimmage in which
his side won.
"I'm actually looking to impress right now," he said. "I'm going to work my
butt off. I'm going to do whatever I have to do to try and make this team
because that's always been my goal. There's no holding back now."
At the same time, the D.C. United forward is considered a long shot to make
the 23-man roster, and he knows it.
"Half the team is already sorted out with the European guys," he said.
"Realistically, there are maybe two or three spots left on the team."
Coach Bruce Arena said Thursday that he expects half the roster to be
comprised of European-based Americans, with the other half coming from Major
League Soccer.
"Our expectations for Freddy are not great," he said. "It's just good to get
him in here and give him a feel of what this is about with the national team and
see where he is and compare him with others."
But Adu isn't letting that get him down.
"You never know what might happen," he said. "They might take you for a
different reason, other than being out there and scoring goals. They might even
take you for being a good teammate."
Landon Donovan and DaMarcus Beasley were just 20 at the 2002 World Cup, and
the pair helped the Americans to a quarterfinal finish — the best showing for
the United States since 1930. Donovan doesn't discount Adu's chances.
"Just watching him today, he's a lot more comfortable, a lot more confident
than the first time I saw him," Donovan said. "I don't think Bruce brings too
many people in to just gain experience. If he thinks he can help us, he's going
to bring him."
Donovan was vacationing on St. Lucia, with no access to television or the
Internet, when the World Cup draw took place on Dec. 9.
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