MLS Columbus Crew SC

Crew's McBride Named to 2002 U.S. World Cup Team

Published on April 22, 2002 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release


COLUMBUS, Ohio - Columbus Crew forward Brian McBride is among the 23 players named today - live on the 6 p.m. edition of ESPN SportsCenter - by U.S. National Team head coach Bruce Arena to the 2002 U.S. World Cup Team. It marks the second such selection for the 29-year-old McBride, who competed in the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.

The U.S. World Cup team will convene May 1 in Cary, N.C., for a 10-day training camp before embarking on the "Nike Road to Korea" series of three international exhibition matches in May. The U.S. opens World Cup play on June 5 in Suwon, Korea, against Portugal. It has fashioned a record of 7-3-1 in 2002, to date.

Thirty-two nations qualify for the World Cup Finals, which are held every four years, and they are drawn into eight groups of four. The top two in each group, after a three-game round-robin, advance to the Round of 16, which begins the knockout phase of the competition.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 1996 Inaugural MLS Draft, McBride has been a member of The Crew since Day 1. He is the club's all-time leading scorer, with 45 goals and 37 assists for 127 points, and he ranks fourth on the U.S. National Team's all-time goal-scoring list with 18 in 58 career appearances.

"This is very exciting news for both Brian and the Crew organization," club General Manager Jim Smith said. "While there is no question we will miss him during his absence, we are very proud of his inclusion in the U.S. squad. He has earned his place and we know that he will - as always - represent the county, MLS and The Crew with class."

McBride will play his last match for The Crew for at least seven weeks this Saturday, April 27, when Columbus welcomes D.C. United to Crew Stadium. The World Cup squad will remain together from May 1 through the tournament and the U.S. will finish no earlier than June 14, the date of its third and final first-round match. The earliest McBride could return to the lineup is Wednesday, June 19, vs. K.C., meaning that he will miss at least seven Crew games.

Former Crew goalkeeper Brad Friedel - the 1997 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and Best IX keeper with the Black and Gold - was also named to the U.S. squad. A native of Bay Village, Ohio, Friedel currently plays in the English Premier League for Blackburn Rovers.

Maisonneuve and West Selected as Alternates

Crew midfielders Brian Maisonneuve and Brian West were named by Arena as alternates on the World Cup squad. They are among a pool of 10 players who will be eligible to replace injured players on the 23-man roster. Arena must submit his final selections to FIFA, soccer's world governing body, on May 20.

Maisonneuve, like McBride a veteran of France '98, has returned from serious ankle injuries to reenter the national-team picture. The 23-year-old West, one of the fastest players in MLS, has eaned four caps for the national team.

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Major League Soccer Stories from April 22, 2002


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